As it enters its second generation, Kia’s popular Telluride SUV has become so important to the South Korean automaker that some company officials refer to it as the “Selluride.”
Kia has sold 85,418 Tellurides through the end of July 2026, up from 71,913 it sold during the same period last year, according to sales figures the company released on July 31. The only Kia vehicles that have sold better so far in 2026 are the Sportage and the K4/Forte, with 110,990 and 85,673 units, respectively.
Kia said the Telluride sold 11,816 units in July 2026 alone, which company officials said helped boost the brand’s overall performance in the month.
I drove the hybrid version of the 2027 Kia Telluride SUV for a week to see whether it lives up to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Midsize Hybrid SUV and Newsweek “Best New SUVs” awards.
The Kia Telluride X-Line SX Prestige hybrid model I tested is the highest trim of the popular three-row SUV, and it starts at a little over $57,000. Entry-level Kia Telluride hybrid models start at just under $46,500. The hybrid Telluride is available in five trims.
I’ve recently tested several electric and hybrid SUVs, including the Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Toyota Grand Highlander, Mazda CX-50 and Toyota RAV-4. Here’s what I learned after a week behind the wheel of Kia’s popular three-row hybrid SUV.
What Makes the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Stand Out?
The Kia Telluride hybrid offers a broad range of features, smooth handling and an appealing curbside exterior.
In a week of testing, the Kia Telluride’s interior and cargo area felt spacious for daily driving needs. The second-row captain’s chairs offer easy access to the third-row seating, but they limited the option to seat three passengers across the second row in a bid to expand the rear cargo space for a late summer family beach road trip.
I enjoyed the Kia Telluride hybrid’s large infotainment screen and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The gear selector, mounted on a lever on the right side of the steering wheel near the wiper controls rather than a traditional gear shift, took some getting used to.
How Does the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Drive?
The 2027 Kia Telluride hybrid offers a smooth, comfortable ride with sturdy handling. Its acceleration is quick enough to keep daily driving fun.
The standard Lane Keep Assist steered me back into place a few times when I didn’t realize I was drifting too close to the edge of a lane.
A daily driver might easily forget they are driving a hybrid SUV because the Kia Telluride handles like a car. The Kia Telluride hybrid gets an estimated 30 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on highways. The model I tested got over 450 miles on a single tank of gas, mostly in local driving.
The Telluride hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system engine. Kia said the Telluride offers up to 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque.
Will the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Fit Your Lifestyle?
The Kia Telluride hybrid is 196.7 inches long, 77.6 inches wide and 66.1 inches tall.
The X-Line SX Prestige hybrid model I tested offers 21.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which I found sufficient for a couple of carry-on-sized suitcases and light grocery hauls. With third seats folded, cargo space expands to 47.7 cubic feet, enough for full-size luggage and big grocery hauls.
With both rows folded, cargo space goes up to 88.3 cubic feet, which is enough for small pieces of furniture.
The Kia Telluride hybrid seats seven passengers and the second-row rear seats felt spacious enough for a 5-foot-9 adult male. The third-row seats could be a tight fit for anyone larger than a young child or small teenager, but the extra seating is always an option that is nice to have.
Is the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Worth It?
The Kia Telluride hybrid starts at just over $46,000 before taxes and additional fees, making it an average-priced option compared with many of the other new crossover SUVs on the market.
The base model Kia Telluride hybrid costs less than the average price of a midsize crossover SUV, which was $50,144 in July 2026, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. The hybrid Telluride is available in five trims, ranging from the base model EX, which starts at $46,490, to the X-Line SX Prestige, which starts at $57,590.
The X-Line SX Prestige model I tested comes with 21-inch wheels and heated and ventilated first- and second-row seats. It has a Meridian premium audio system with 14 speakers.
I enjoyed the X-Line SX Prestige trim I tested, but I probably would opt for the slightly less expensive X-Line SX trim that starts at $54,490 and offers several features that are also found in the more costly version.
The Kia Telluride hybrid competes in the hybrid three-row SUV segment with models from competitors such as the Toyota Grand Highlander, Mazda CX-90 and the Hyundai Palisade, which all have available hybrid models.
Who Should Buy the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid?
The 2027 Kia Telluride hybrid is worth considering if you need a family SUV with sturdy handling and a powerful engine that gets great gas mileage. It can also haul a family of up to seven people.
The X-Line SX Prestige model I tested comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. It has a 360-degree surround-view monitor and driver-assistance safety systems like blind-spot view monitor, forward-collision avoidance assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, highway driving assist and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist.
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at [email protected].
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