The 3.8-liter V6 that sold more than a million Tellurides is gone. In its place, a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and for the first time, a hybrid.
That one engine swap is the whole story of the 2027 Kia Telluride redesign. Everything else downstream. Pricing. Fuel economy. Towing. Whether you should wait for the 2028 or buy a leftover 2025. Kia bet that most three-row shoppers will trade V6 refinement for turbo torque and hybrid efficiency. Six weeks into showroom availability, the math on that bet is starting to come into focus.
I pulled every trim’s pricing from Kia’s own media site, matched the two powertrains against each other on five-year ownership costs, and looked at where the new Telluride leaves current owners considering an upgrade. The result isn’t a spec sheet. It’s a buyer’s decision matrix.
Key Takeaways
- V6 replaced: The 3.8-liter V6 is dead. A 2.5-liter turbocharged four makes 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque in gas form, 329 hp and 339 lb-ft as a hybrid. Peak horsepower drops 17; peak torque climbs 49 lb-ft.
- Hybrid fuel economy: 35 mpg combined (FWD) or 31 mpg combined (AWD). The outgoing V6 was rated 23 mpg combined.
- No 2026 model: Kia skipped the 2026 year entirely, jumping from 2025 to 2027.
- 12 gas trims, 4+ hybrid trims: Gas pricing runs $39,190 (LX FWD) to $56,790 (X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD). Hybrid starts at $46,490 (EX FWD) and climbs past $57,000 for the X-Line SX-Prestige.
- Destination: $1,545 on every configuration.
- X-Pro is gas-only: The off-road trim with 9.1-inch ground clearance, E-LSD, all-terrain tires, and recovery points is not offered as a hybrid. Buyers who want both capability and efficiency have to compromise.
- 5-year fuel savings: Hybrid FWD saves roughly $2,700 in fuel versus gas FWD at 12,000 miles/year. Hybrid’s $7,300 price premium does not fully recoup through fuel alone.
- Cross-shop: The 2026 Hyundai Palisade shares the platform and powertrains. Different positioning, same bones.
New Platform, Larger Footprint
The numbers reveal where the extra metal went. A 2.7-inch wheelbase stretch (from 114.2 to 116.9 inches) translates directly into more legroom for second- and third-row passengers. Overall length grew 2.3 inches. The proportions shift accordingly: boxier shoulders, a flatter roofline, and a stance that borrows visual DNA from Kia’s EV9 electric flagship.
Flush door handles sit recessed into the bodywork. Vertical headlamp signatures frame a squared-off grille. The rear gains a full-width light bar that runs unbroken between the taillamps. None of this is subtle. Kia wanted the second-generation Telluride to look immediately different from the first, and the design team succeeded.
The V6-to-Turbo-4 Tradeoff: What You Gain, What You Give Up
The outgoing 3.8-liter V6 produced 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Smooth. Proven. Paired to an eight-speed automatic that shifted without drama. Telluride loyalists will miss it.
Its replacement: a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 274 hp and 311 lb-ft. Peak horsepower drops 17. Peak torque climbs 49 lb-ft, and it arrives lower in the rev range. In everyday driving, that means more low-speed thrust off a stoplight and less need to row the gearbox for passing power on grades.
The hybrid pairs that same 2.5-liter turbo with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic instead of the gas model’s eight-speed. Combined output: 329 hp, 339 lb-ft. Kia hasn’t published an official 0-60 figure.
What the tradeoff looks like in practice
Towing capacity stays at 5,000 pounds for gas models. The hybrid drops to 4,500 pounds. For a 22-foot travel trailer or a ski boat under 4,000 pounds loaded, both powertrains handle the job. For a 25-foot pontoon or a 5,000-pound equipment trailer, gas is the only option in the 2027 lineup.
Noise character changes. A V6 under load produces a smooth, linear buildup that most drivers read as refinement. A turbocharged four produces a different kind of sound. More urgent, less euphonious. Owners transitioning from the first-generation Telluride will notice this immediately. Whether that registers as a downgrade depends entirely on your ear.
Long-term reliability is the question nobody can answer yet, but Kia’s 2.5-liter turbo has a track record worth considering. The same engine family powers the Sorento X-Pro, K5 GT, and Sportage X-Pro. Kia’s Sorento reliability data shows the 2.5T in those applications has not generated turbocharger-specific complaint patterns through the first few model years, though five-plus-year ownership data is still accumulating. The industry’s broader shift from naturally aspirated sixes to turbocharged fours is a decade old at this point. It’s no longer a science experiment.
The real question isn’t whether the turbo-4 can do the job.
It’s whether buyers who chose a Telluride specifically because it had a V6 are willing to accept the new formula. Some will cross-shop the Toyota Grand Highlander, which still offers a 2.4-liter turbo (plus a Hybrid MAX option) but at least avoids asking V6 shoppers to downsize within the same brand. Others will decide torque and efficiency gains outweigh the engine nostalgia.
Hybrid Fuel Economy: The Strongest Argument
EPA rates the 2027 Telluride Hybrid at 35 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 31 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. The hybrid FWD carries a projected range of 637 miles per tank.
For comparison, the 2027 gas Telluride lands at 22 mpg combined FWD, per EPA estimates compiled by Kia dealerships and early fuel-economy reporting. The outgoing 2025 V6 managed roughly 23 mpg combined. That means the new gas turbo-4 is basically flat on fuel economy versus the V6 it replaces. The hybrid does all the efficiency heavy lifting in this redesign.
The sound-bite savings numbers you’ll see in other coverage compare base gas ($39,190 LX FWD) against the starting hybrid ($46,490 EX FWD). That comparison is apples-to-bananas. The hybrid starts at a higher trim than the gas base. To figure out what this powertrain swap actually costs a buyer, the math needs to line up trim-to-trim.
Five-Year Ownership Math: Hybrid vs Gas, Trim-to-Trim
I ran the numbers across matching trims. Assumptions: 12,000 miles per year, $3.50 per gallon regular fuel, five-year hold, destination included in MSRP, no incentives or resale adjustments factored in. These aren’t lease calculations. They’re a straight cash-cost look at the powertrain decision.
| Scenario | MSRP + Dest. | Fuel (60K mi) | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| EX FWD Gas (22 mpg) | $45,335 | $9,545 | $54,880 |
| EX FWD Hybrid (35 mpg) | $48,035 | $6,000 | $54,035 |
| EX AWD Gas (~20 mpg) | $47,335 | $10,500 | $57,835 |
| EX AWD Hybrid (31 mpg) | $50,035 | $6,775 | $56,810 |
| SX-Prestige AWD Gas (~20 mpg) | $55,435 | $10,500 | $65,935 |
| SX-Prestige AWD Hybrid (31 mpg) | $58,135 | $6,775 | $64,910 |
Hybrid wins every trim-matched comparison, but the margins are thinner than the 35-mpg headline suggests. EX FWD: hybrid saves $845 over five years. EX AWD: hybrid saves $1,025. SX-Prestige AWD: hybrid saves $1,025. All before accounting for resale value, which hybrids in this segment currently hold better than gas equivalents.
Push the miles up. At 15,000 annual miles, hybrid FWD savings climb to roughly $1,820 over five years. At 18,000 miles a year, the gap widens past $2,800. For drivers logging 60-plus miles per day, the hybrid is the obvious pick. For suburban drivers who run closer to 10,000 miles a year, the five-year math is close to even.
Three variables can flip the calculation faster than fuel savings alone:
- Gas prices. At $4.50 per gallon instead of $3.50, EX FWD hybrid savings grow to $1,900 over five years. At $3.00, savings shrink to $430.
- Maintenance differential. Hybrid battery warranties cover 10 years / 100,000 miles federally. Anything outside that window is risk. Kia’s transferable powertrain warranty (10 years / 100,000 miles for the original owner) applies to both.
- Resale value premium. If hybrid three-rows continue to hold a 3-5 percent retained-value advantage at five years, the math tips further toward hybrid regardless of fuel prices.
The answer for most buyers: if you’re getting an EX or higher anyway, the hybrid is the smarter pick. If you’re trim-shopping from the LX or S end, the gas model stays in play because those trims aren’t offered as a hybrid.
Interior: Curved Screens and Wireless Everything
Two curved 12.3-inch displays sweep across the dashboard in a single housing. One handles instruments. The other runs infotainment. The layout mirrors the approach Kia refined in the EV9 and EV6, and it works well in those vehicles.
Wireless phone charging arrives as a dual-pad setup, meaning front passengers can charge simultaneously without cables. Available massage seats join the options list for the first time in a Telluride. Second-row captain’s chairs remain standard on upper trims.
Third-row access should improve with the stretched wheelbase. That was consistently the first-generation model’s weakest point: adults fit back there, technically, but nobody volunteered for the job twice.
Complete Pricing: Gas and Hybrid
The 2027 gas Telluride spans 12 trim-and-drivetrain combinations. The X-Line variants add AWD-only rugged-adjacent styling (roof rails, raised ride height, terrain mode tuning). X-Pro is the full off-road build.
2027 Telluride Gas Pricing (Before $1,545 Destination)
| Trim | Drivetrain | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| LX | FWD | $39,190 |
| S | FWD | $42,090 |
| S | AWD | $44,090 |
| EX | FWD | $43,790 |
| EX | AWD | $45,790 |
| X-Line EX | AWD | $47,290 |
| SX | FWD | $48,790 |
| X-Line SX | AWD | $51,790 |
| X-Pro SX | AWD | $53,690 |
| SX-Prestige | AWD | $53,890 |
| X-Line SX-Prestige | AWD | $54,890 |
| X-Pro SX-Prestige | AWD | $56,790 |
2027 Telluride Hybrid Pricing (Before $1,545 Destination)
| Trim | Drivetrain | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| EX | FWD | $46,490 |
| EX | AWD | $48,490 |
| SX | FWD | $51,490 |
| SX-Prestige | AWD | $56,590 |
| X-Line SX-Prestige | AWD | $57,590 |
Destination adds $1,545 to every configuration. The base LX lands at $40,735 out the door before taxes, fees, or dealer markup. The top-line X-Pro SX-Prestige gas trim totals $58,335 with destination. The top hybrid, X-Line SX-Prestige AWD, reaches $59,135. Hybrid buyers cannot order X-Pro in any configuration.
Buy Now, Hold for 2028, or Grab a 2025 Leftover?
Three-row buyers right now are looking at four real options. Each one has a different risk and reward profile.
Option 1: Buy the 2027 Gas
For buyers who do not need maximum efficiency and want a lower entry price, the 2027 gas lineup gives them most of what the redesign offers. Larger footprint, better interior tech, updated styling, same 5,000-pound tow rating as the V6.
The engine story is the main point of anxiety.
If you plan to own past eight years, you’re placing a bet on the long-term durability of the 2.5T in a heavier chassis than it’s previously powered. If you plan to lease or trade within five years, it’s a non-issue.
Option 2: Buy the 2027 Hybrid
Best for buyers logging more than 12,000 miles per year who want EX-or-higher trim equipment anyway. The fuel-economy math works trim-to-trim. Drivers who live in high-gas-price markets (California, Washington, anywhere $4+ per gallon is routine) should push straight to hybrid. The ceiling on availability matters: no hybrid in LX or S trim, no hybrid in X-Pro. Buyers who want a fully-loaded family-only trim get hybrid. Buyers who want off-road capability have to choose capability over efficiency.
Option 3: Grab a Leftover 2025
Dealers still have 2025 inventory at incentive pricing through mid-2026. For buyers who specifically want the V6 and are nervous about Kia’s turbo-4 in a three-row, a 2025 Telluride with an MSRP discount of $2,500-$4,000 plus 0.9-1.9 percent financing offers real value.
The tradeoff: you get the outgoing interior layout, last-generation infotainment, and the smaller wheelbase. In five years, the 2025 will likely hold resale value better than expected because it’s the last of the V6 Tellurides.
That’s not speculation. It’s the pattern every V6 holdout vehicle has followed: Chrysler Pacifica V6, Pentastar-era Durango, outgoing Acura MDX V6.
Option 4: Wait for the 2028
There is no 2028 reason to wait.
The 2027 is the new platform. The 2028 will likely be a carryover year with minor trim adjustments. Waiting buys you nothing except potentially softer 2027 pricing if incentives open up later in the model year. For a new platform, first-year production risk is real. Kia’s recent launch record (Sportage redesign, Sorento redesign, EV9) has been clean. But buyers uncomfortable with any first-model-year buy can slide to 2028 for minimal penalty.
My lean: the 2027 Hybrid EX AWD is the sweet spot for most three-row shoppers in this segment.
It’s the most affordable path to hybrid ownership with AWD, and the five-year math works. Buyers who want the least expensive way into the new platform should grab a gas EX FWD instead. V6 purists: a leftover 2025 is your answer, and it should get progressively more affordable through summer as 2027 deliveries ramp.
Old vs. New: What the Numbers Show
| Specification | 2025 Telluride | 2027 Gas | 2027 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8L V6 | 2.5L Turbo-4 | 2.5L Turbo-4 + Electric Motor |
| Horsepower | 291 hp | 274 hp | 329 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 339 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto | 8-speed auto | 6-speed auto |
| Base Price | $35,990 | $39,190 | $46,490 |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 in | 116.9 in | 116.9 in |
| Towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | 4,500 lb |
The base price jumped $3,200 between generations. Adjusted for the additional equipment that LX trim now includes as standard, the increase reflects industry-wide pricing trends rather than aggressive repositioning. The Telluride remains competitive against the Toyota Grand Highlander, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot.
X-Pro: The Off-Road Play (Gas Only)
The Telluride X-Pro carries over from the first generation but gets meaningful upgrades for 2027. Ground clearance hits 9.1 inches. An electronic limited-slip differential improves traction on loose surfaces. All-terrain tires come fitted from the factory, along with front and rear recovery points and skid plates underneath.
Critical detail for hybrid-curious buyers: the X-Pro is not available as a hybrid. X-Pro SX starts at $53,690 AWD. X-Pro SX-Prestige tops the gas lineup at $56,790. Both use the 2.5T gas engine, the 8-speed automatic, and a 5,000-pound tow rating. Buyers who want genuine off-road capability and hybrid efficiency in the same vehicle will need to look outside the Telluride lineup entirely.
Whether the market wants a serious off-road three-row SUV is a separate question. Toyota proved the demand exists with the 4Runner and Sequoia TRD Pro trims. Kia is betting the Telluride audience includes a slice of buyers who want capability, not just appearance.
The Bottom Line
The 2027 Telluride bets that most three-row shoppers will trade V6 refinement for turbo torque and hybrid efficiency. Trim-to-trim, the hybrid’s five-year math wins by $845 to $1,025 before resale. The gas turbo-4 is flat on fuel economy versus the outgoing V6, which makes the gas-only X-Pro the only trim that’s unambiguously better than what it replaces. If you drive more than 12,000 miles a year and you’re already shopping EX-or-higher, get the hybrid. If you want the least expensive 2027, the gas EX FWD is the pick. If you specifically want a V6 and you’re nervous about a turbocharged four-cylinder hauling 4,500 pounds, grab a leftover 2025 while dealers are discounting them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kia skip the 2026 Telluride?
Kia bypassed the 2026 model year rather than sell a carryover first-generation design alongside the incoming redesign. The 2027 represents a complete platform change, and Kia accelerated its arrival instead of bridging the gap with a minor refresh.
Does the 2027 Telluride still have a V6 engine?
No. The 3.8-liter V6 that powered every previous Telluride is discontinued. All 2027 models use a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, available as a gas engine (274 hp, 311 lb-ft) or a hybrid (329 hp combined, 339 lb-ft).
What is the fuel economy of the 2027 Telluride Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2027 Telluride Hybrid at 35 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (34 city / 36 highway) and 31 mpg combined with all-wheel drive (30 city / 32 highway). The gas model lands around 22 mpg combined FWD.
Is the 2027 Telluride hybrid worth the price premium over gas?
Trim-to-trim at 12,000 miles per year and $3.50 per gallon, the hybrid saves $845 to $1,025 over five years. At higher mileage (15,000+ per year) or higher gas prices ($4+ per gallon), savings grow past $2,000. For buyers shopping EX trim or higher, hybrid is usually the smarter pick. For LX or S buyers, the gas model stays in play because hybrid isn’t offered at those trims.
How much does the 2027 Kia Telluride cost?
The 2027 Telluride ranges from $39,190 (LX FWD gas) to $57,590 (X-Line SX-Prestige AWD hybrid) before a $1,545 destination charge. The gas lineup spans 12 trim-and-drivetrain combinations. The hybrid is offered in fewer trims, starting at $46,490 for EX FWD.
Can the 2027 Telluride Hybrid tow?
Yes, at reduced capacity. The hybrid is rated for 4,500 pounds versus 5,000 pounds for the gas model. Both exceed most competitors in the three-row hybrid SUV segment, but the 500-pound gap matters for buyers towing boats or trailers near the limit.
Is the X-Pro available as a hybrid?
No. The off-road X-Pro trim is gas-only. Buyers who want both off-road capability and hybrid efficiency have to compromise or look at a different vehicle. The X-Line trims are available in gas only as well and carry lighter off-road upgrades (roof rails, raised ride height, terrain modes) without the X-Pro’s electronic limited-slip differential.
What is the Telluride X-Pro?
The X-Pro is the Telluride’s off-road trim. It includes 9.1 inches of ground clearance, an electronic limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and front and rear recovery points. X-Pro SX starts at $53,690 AWD; X-Pro SX-Prestige tops the gas lineup at $56,790. X-Pro is not offered as a hybrid.
How does the 2027 Telluride compare to the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2027 Telluride and the redesigned 2026 Palisade share the same platform and powertrains. The Telluride leans rugged and offers the X-Pro off-road trim. The Palisade leans luxury-ish. Pricing and dimensions are closely matched. Cross-shop both if you care about brand-specific dealer experience or styling preference.
Is the 2027 Kia Telluride bigger than the previous model?
Yes. The wheelbase grew 2.7 inches (from 114.2 to 116.9 inches) and overall length increased 2.3 inches. The additional space primarily benefits second- and third-row passengers.
When can I buy the 2027 Kia Telluride?
The 2027 Telluride Gas is on sale at Kia dealerships now. The hybrid arrived in showrooms starting March 10, 2026. Both variants are available for ordering and delivery. Leftover 2025 inventory is still at many dealers with incentive pricing through mid-2026.
Official specs and photography: Kia Media Newsroom
Article Last Updated: April 22, 2026.
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Michael Kahn is the publisher of The Weekly Driver, serving as writer, photographer, and content creator. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for adventure, he specializes in uncovering the stories and experiences of automobile enthusiasts. Michael’s work is inspired by his love for off-the-beaten-path road trips, global exploration, and the pursuit of exceptional culinary experiences, all captured through the lens of a world traveler and automotive enthusiast.