The Kia SUV that blurs the line between mainstream and premium

Published Aug 27, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Adam Gray, a seasoned automotive journalist and content creator from the UK, joined the How-To Geek editorial team in January 2025. As an automotive journalist for How-To Geek, Adam breaks first-to-report news on the latest in automotive tech, as well as penning automotive features and reviews. Adam is also a contributor to one of How-To Geek's sister sites, TopSpeed, where he uses his media accrediation with manufacturers' press offices to gain access to the latest vehicles for subsequent review. Prior to joining How-To Geek, Adam worked on a freelance basis, contributing automotive content to a variety of business and lifestyle publications. His experience also includes time spent serving as senior editorial & auction content manager for SBX Cars, automotive content writer for Supercar Blondie, motoring editor for Portfolio North, and motoring editor - North East for Reach plc. When he's not putting the latest vehicle through its paces or testing out its tech, Adam can be found at his local ice rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC. Adam also enjoys spending quality time with his three children: Ellie, Oscar, and Heidi. The Kia Telluride has always sat in an interesting spot. It’s a mainstream three-row SUV, but the newer model pushes much harder into the kind of design, comfort, and technology you'd normally expect from something wearing a more expensive badge. The biggest change is under the hood. The 2027 Telluride is available with a 329-horsepower hybrid powertrain, giving Kia's big SUV more power while also improving fuel economy. But the hybrid isn't the only reason the Telluride feels more upscale. Kia has given the cabin a lounge-like feel and loaded it with the kind of technology that makes the SUV feel considerably more expensive than its badge suggests. In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Kia and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, the EPA, J.D. Power, and TopSpeed. The Telluride looks more expensive than it is Kia's new design gives it a more upscale presence Credit: Kia The 2027 Telluride takes a more distinctive approach to SUV styling, mixing rugged lines with cleaner, more imposing surfaces. Its tall front end, slim vertical headlights, and Star-Map amber daytime running lights give it a look that's hard to confuse with the average three-row SUV. The higher X-Line models lean further into the rugged side, with chunkier rocker panels, a thicker roof rack, and larger wheels. That gives buyers some choice in how they want the Telluride to look without losing the more polished design that runs across the lineup. It's a big part of why the Telluride can make a premium impression before you even get inside. The Telluride's interior is where the premium feel really shows Kia gives even the mainstream SUV a more polished cabin Step inside the 2027 Telluride, and the cabin is designed to feel more like a lounge than a typical family SUV. The dashboard uses a wide, layered layout, while higher trims add touches such as dual wireless charging trays, giving the interior a more considered feel. A 12.3-inch connected-car infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard. Move up to the SX and above, and you get a second 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, dual sunroofs, multicolor ambient lighting, and a 14-speaker Meridian audio system. That's where the Telluride's premium argument becomes easier to understand. You aren't just getting a big SUV with a nicer-looking exterior; the cabin is doing a lot of the work to make the vehicle feel more expensive. More power and better mileage make a strong combination Credit: Kia The big mechanical change for 2027 is the new hybrid powertrain. It combines a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor built into a six-speed automatic transmission, producing 329 horsepower. Unlike many hybrids, the Telluride doesn't use an e-CVT. The six-speed automatic is designed to give the hybrid a more familiar driving feel, while the electric motor helps provide smooth, responsive power when you need to accelerate or pass. Base Trim Engine 2.5L I4 Hybrid Base Trim Transmission 6-speed automatic Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 258 HP @5000 RPM Base Trim Torque 260 lb.-ft. @ 1800 RPM Make Kia Model Telluride Hybrid It also brings a meaningful efficiency benefit. The Telluride Hybrid is rated at an EPA-estimated 35 mpg in mixed driving, making it the most efficient version of the lineup while also reducing the workload on the turbocharged engine. The Telluride still works as a proper family SUV There's plenty of room for passengers and everyday gear Credit: Kia The Telluride's appeal isn't just about making a good impression. It's still a three-row SUV designed to carry people and their stuff, which gives all that extra polish a practical purpose. That matters because the more upscale features don't come at the expense of the Telluride's basic job. You still get the flexibility of three rows, while higher trims can add captain's chairs and more comfort-focused equipment for longer trips. So, while the new Telluride is clearly aiming higher with its design and cabin, it hasn't forgotten why people buy a three-row SUV in the first place. The Telluride's higher trims push the premium angle further You can get a more luxurious cabin without leaving the Kia lineup Credit: Kia The upper Telluride trims add another layer of comfort and equipment. The SX Prestige, X-Line SX Prestige, and other top versions can be equipped with synthetic suede and leather upholstery, wood or carbon-look trim, a head-up display, heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, and second-row captain's chairs. Those features aren't just about making the cabin look nicer. They also make the Telluride better suited to longer trips, particularly when you have passengers in the second row and want them to have some of the same comfort features as those up front. The hybrid gets its own SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige versions at the top of the range, so buyers who want the new powertrain don't have to give up the Telluride's most upscale equipment. The Telluride is designed to be comfortable on long drives A quiet cabin helps it feel more expensive Credit: Kia Even the regular 2.5-liter turbo Telluride is designed around a smooth, comfortable ride. The suspension is soft enough to handle rough roads without feeling sloppy through corners, while extra sound insulation and acoustic glass help keep the cabin quiet, particularly on higher trims. That matters on longer trips, when a quiet cabin and comfortable ride become more noticeable than any individual feature. The upscale materials and technology get your attention, but a quiet cabin and relaxed ride are the things you'll notice every time you spend a long stretch behind the wheel. The Telluride gives buyers more choice than just “premium” You can still choose a version built around capability Credit: Kia The Telluride isn't solely focused on comfort and upscale features. If you want something more rugged, the X-Pro version is available with the regular internal-combustion engine rather than the hybrid. That makes the lineup a little more interesting. The hybrid makes the most sense if efficiency, power, and refinement are your priorities, while the X-Pro makes more sense if you care more about the Telluride's rugged side. So, Kia hasn't completely traded the SUV's practical character for a more upscale image. You can still choose the version that fits how you actually plan to use it, rather than simply paying more for nicer trim. The Telluride blurs the line between mainstream and premium It offers a lot of what buyers want without a luxury badge Credit: Kia The 2027 Telluride brings together the things that matter most in a family SUV: three-row practicality, a comfortable cabin, modern technology, and a choice of powertrains that includes a powerful and efficient hybrid. Kia hasn't sacrificed the Telluride's practical character in the process, either. It still feels like a family SUV first, with the added refinement making it more appealing to buyers who might otherwise look at something more expensive. That's ultimately what makes the Telluride stand out. It isn't trying to become a luxury SUV, but it has moved close enough to that territory that the distinction isn't as obvious as it once was.