One of the biggest sales success for Kia has to be the Telluride. Yes, Kia has had many successful vehicles, but breaking into the full-size 3-row SUV market is a tough nut to crack, and not only did Kia enter, it came in with a winner that many consider best in class.
That was the 2020 model year, and weʻve been waiting to see whatʻs next, and here it is! The all-new 2027 Telluride with loads of upgrades. And on top of that all, Kia goes right into the frenzy of “upgraded off-road” models with the X-Pro adding some swagger and capability.
So we were excited to road test the ʻ27 Telluride X-Pro!
Bigger and Bolder
Kia takes an already handsome vehicle and makes it even more exciting. Up front, the Tiger Nose grille is wider, filling almost the full width of the front with tall vertical headlights that wrap around the corners. Adding to the aggressive looks, our X-Pro models wears a bold mesh-type grille that looks especially mean.
The profile gets some added toughness with a broad-shouldered look, and small details like flush door handles and sculpted notches in the wheel wells give some visual pop. You also can see that it’s a bit larger – the wheelbase is nearly 3-inches longer, and overall length is up 2.3 inches.
Even though it is larger, aerodynamics are impressively improved, going from a drag coefficient of 0.33 to slippery 0.30. Like the front, the X-Pro profile makes a bolder statement with blacked-out wheel arches, mirrors, and lower door trim. Showing off some off-road cred, the X-Pro rides tall in the saddle, with a raised 9.1-inches of ground clearance and unique 21-inch blacked-out wheels.
The rear echoes the front’s tall vertical lines, with slender taillights, and an X-Pro specific blacked out lower bumper. Finishing off our tester’s macho looks were the Terrain Brown Matte paint, a satiny gold finish that is really fresh and pops. While we love the look, be aware that like other matte paint finishes, Terrain Brown requires special cleaning products and should be hand-washed only – something not all owners will want to sign up for. It is gorgeous, though!
Upgraded Cabin
The new cabin feels similar to the previous model with a wide horizontal dash that emphasizes the wide cabin and a big embrace of tech and luxury. Taking a closer look shows some new choices – some we like better than others. The three spoke steering wheel looks more modern, and we like the drive and terrain mode switches below the airbag, an easy reach. And there’s less of the metallic tone trim which actually makes the new model feel a bit more elegant and European. There’s also interior trim that looks like a mix between camouflage and carbon fiber that Kia calls Engineered Carbon that’s pretty cool.
You still get dual 12.3-inch digital displays, with a screen shape that’s slightly more squared off for a fresh look. Both displays are handsome and crisp, and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto look great on the widescreen, and Kia’s AI generative voice assistant makes giving voice commands natural and easy.
We also like the update to the secondary and climate controls. The previous model had many of them on a metallic tone strip that was difficult to read, while other controls were a bit fussy. The new model is simplified with black soft touch controls, and a few toggles for temp and airflow that really make getting comfy super easy.
Another change is a small roller for volume right above the climate controls – handy and easy to use, although to be honest, the roller on the steering wheel works just as well. Win-Win!
One problem carried over from the previous model is a visual dead zone in between the screens, where the Telluride displays some of the climate displays, and you have to crane your head around the wheel to see it – a bit of a nuisance in an otherwise beautifully thought-out interior.
Another change that we’re not crazy about is moving the traditional shift lever from the center console to a stalk on the steering column. The stop/start button is on the same lever, and you twist the stalk forward for Drive, backward for reverse, and push the end for park. It makes sense – once you get used to it – and it opens up the center console for more space for dual wireless phone chargers and massive cupholders. But in an off-road styled model like the X-Pro, we kind of missed a traditional trucky shifter.
Dual grab handles on the center console carry over from the previous model, and they do add to that capable, go anywhere vibe. We also like the seat heater/cooling/massage controls now on the door panel – makes sense and simplifies the dash.
One of the things that made the original Telluride a big hit was usable 3rd row seating. We think the driver’s seat is the best in the house, and on our tester that means a blend of SynTex and SynTex suede, Ergo Motion driver’s seat with massage feature and under thigh extension – heated and cooled as well, it’s an extremely comfortable perch.
The heated second row captain chairs are limo-comfy too – and we like how they tumble forward for easier access to the third-row seats. Another plus – that 3rd row will fit adults in a pinch, but probably best for short trips. Cargo space is good even with the 3rd row up, and the seats fold forward easily with a quick pull of a strap on the back of the seats. The 2nd row captain’s chairs also fold flat, leaving you with a humongous cargo hold.
Our tester was the Prestige model, and that means added goodness with digital rearview mirror – a real plus when you’re loaded with people or cargo, remote parking, Ergo Motion driver’s seat, acoustic rear door glass, power steering column, head-up display and 115-V power inverter. So, while the exterior says rough and rugged, the interior is downright luxurious!
Off-Road Ready
Driving the Telluride remains an excellent experience. We were a little sad that the previous 291-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 is gone, and now and you have a choice of 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo and turbo hybrid models. Our tester was the non-hybrid, and although the 274 horsepower seems like less, torque is up to a strong 311 lb.-ft, a 49 lb.-ft gain over the previous model. 22 mpg highway is impressive.
That’s low-end power that you can feel off the line, and while 0-60 mph is around 7 seconds, it feels quicker, and the quick-shifting 8-speed automatic keeps things on the boil. And when you’re not hard on it, the big 4-cylinder is impressively quiet and refined. A built-in tow hitch lets you take advantage of a strong 5,000-lb towing capacity. If you feel the need for more speed, the hybrid ante’s up to 329 horsepower and 339 lb.-ft. of torque.
Even if you don’t ever go off-road, the tall suspension serves up an impressively buttery ride – hey a vehicle that looks tough but rides like a luxury car – that’s a win-win! A new rack-mounted power steering system gives a more precise feel, and despite its size, the Telly is easy to maneuver around town and the 360-degree monitor helps make parking a snap.
The big question we found ourselves asking – is the X-Pro really a step up in off-road capability? Yes, it is. You ride tall in the saddle with 9.1-inches of ground clearance, an exclusive suspension, electronic limited-slip differential, locking center differential, and multiple drive modes including Terrain mode. And let’s not forget the cool orange front and rear recovery points, and all-terrain tires.
But there’s more! There’s an all-new Ground View Monitor that displays a composite view of the ground when driving below 6 mph. It uses onboard cameras and can be selected from the new off-road vehicle status screen accessed through the infotainment system. It’s full of useful info, including, pitch, roll and steering angle. Exclusive X-Pro Ground Lighting illuminates front, side and rear areas to enhance your view – great for a muddy campsite!
On road or off, we also loved the confidence of the Advanced Driver Assist System which has basically everything you could pretty want in tech, short of full-on hands-free driving. Like other Hyundai and Kia models we’ve driven, the systems are extremely well integrated and easy to use.
Big Price?
The Telluride line up starts with the LX at $39,190 – with chiseled looks, three rows of seats, lots of safety, tech and a powerful and fuel-efficient turbo engine, we think it’s an exceptional value. If you want the rugged looks and added capability, the X-Pro SX starts at $53,690.
Our X-Pro SX Prestige tester is the top of the line (at least in non-hybrid models) and comes in at $56,790. It’s so well equipped that the only two options were the Terrain Brown Matte Paint ($995) and carpeted floor mats ($250). Add in $1,545 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $59,580.
And we’d like to remind you that you’ve got Kia’s amazing 10-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Basic Warranty standard – adding to the value story.
If you can do without the 3rd row seats, or need something with even more off-road capability, we’d point you to the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser we recently tested. It’s a great vehicle, but comparably equipped it’s over $11,000 more at $71,200 – a significant step up. We also like the Honda Passport Trailsport – also slightly smaller, but with new impressive off-road chops, and a strong value at $54,355.
And finally, you should definitely look at the Telly’s sibling Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro at $51,470. While many of the interior upgrades are shared with the Kia, under the hood of the Hyundai is a 287 horsepower, 3.5-liter, V6 that can’t quite keep up with the Telluride – but it’s a very impressive value.
Bold new looks, powerful and efficient powertrains, added off-road capabilities and a loaded, spacious, and upscale 7-passenger interior the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige is our favorite 3-row SUV!
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