Thirty minutes into a drive in the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige, the driver’s seat started pushing and moving against my lower back, and it surprised me, because I had forgotten switching on the timer. I still can’t tell whether the lumbar program helps or just shifts pressure around my spine, though the seat itself is fairly comfortable.
I have driven this Telluride around Sacramento since October 20, 2026, on city streets and freeways. It wears $995 Terrain Brown Matte paint over a $56,790 X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD, and with $250 carpeted floor mats and the $1,545 destination charge, the window sticker reads $59,580.
Key Takeaways
- $59,580 as tested. The X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD lists at $56,790, plus $995 for Terrain Brown Matte paint, $250 for floor mats and $1,545 for destination.
- A 2.5L turbo four powers the X-Pro. It makes 274 hp and 311 lb-ft through an 8-speed automatic, and the EPA rates the X-Pro at 17 mpg city, 22 highway and 19 combined on 87-octane regular.
- Towing is 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,653 pounds without them, according to the owner’s manual.
- 9.1 inches of ground clearance, 255/60R18 all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, front and rear recovery hooks and a standard hitch come with the X-Pro.
- The X-Pro comes with the turbo four. The 329-hp Telluride Hybrid is sold in EX, SX, X-Line SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line SX-Prestige trims.
- Payload is 1,157 pounds. Seven 150-pound adults leave about 107 pounds for luggage.
- Meridian’s Dynamic Bass setting rattled the door panels where the speakers sit.
- NHTSA lists two 2027 Telluride recalls, both for seat belt parts.
The Second-Generation Telluride and Its 274-hp Turbo Four
The 2027 Telluride is the second generation of the three-row SUV Kia launched as a 2020 model. Kia’s figures put it at 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase.
Power comes from a 2.5L turbocharged four with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft, an engine I covered in my 2027 Telluride first look.
Kia sells the X-Pro as the off-road trim with the turbo four. The 329-hp hybrid, rated at 35 mpg combined in front-drive EX form, comes in EX, SX, X-Line SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line SX-Prestige versions.
Hybrid models tow 4,500 pounds. Kia’s 2027 Telluride page carries the configurator.
Assembly and parts content
Kia Georgia built this SUV in West Point, Georgia, on January 13, 2026, according to the door-jamb label. Its window sticker names Korea as the engine’s country of origin, the United States for the transmission, and 50% U.S. and Canadian parts content, with 35% from Korea.
Door Handles, a Console Grab Handle and a Column Shifter
Both the door handles and the grab handle on the center console feel aggressive, and the design is unique. Gears are selected with a lever on the steering column, which works a little differently from the shifters in earlier Kia models.
Two wireless charging pads hold a phone well. An orange indicator sits above them, just below the climate controls and USB ports. It glows solid while a phone charges and flashes when the phone overheats, and it is easier to spot than charging indicators I have found hard to see in other vehicles.
My new iPhone 18 Pro Max posted an overheating warning on the pad even though it didn’t feel hot in my hand, and I don’t know if the phone or the charger caused it.
Both front seats and the second-row captain’s chairs are heated and ventilated, and they are covered in SynTex, Kia’s synthetic leather, with SynTex suede inserts.
On the driver’s side, the Ergo Motion seat has a Smart Posture Assist mode that adjusts the hips and waist after an hour of driving, plus Lumbar Stabilization with timer settings of 30 minutes or one hour.
Cargo space measures 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.3 behind the second and 86.9 with both rows folded, by Kia’s figures.
With captain’s chairs, this one seats seven. A door placard caps occupants and cargo at 1,157 pounds, so seven passengers at the owner’s manual’s planning figure of 150 pounds each total 1,050 pounds and leave about 107 pounds for bags.
Driving the Telluride X-Pro in Sacramento
Acceleration is smooth from a standstill and at speed. Visibility out of the boxy cabin is decent, and the Telluride is pleasant on the freeway and getting through Midtown.
Kia carries over its familiar driver-assistance suite: Highway Driving Assist 2, Lane Following Assist 2, navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with curve adjustment, Safe Exit Assist, a surround-view camera, the Blind-Spot View Monitor and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Meridian audio and the Dynamic Bass rattle
Audio quality from the Meridian premium system is strong. Its Dynamic Bass toggle, which Kia’s screen describes as providing “rich and deep bass that creates an intense and energetic sound experience,” does add low end, and it also rattles the door panels where the speakers are mounted. With the music turned up loud, I am not sure the doors are meant to take it.
A separate Meridian Intelli-Q setting adjusts the sound to vehicle speed in four steps, from off to “Largest Change.”
X-Pro Hardware, 5,000-Pound Towing and a Compact Spare
X-Pro equipment swaps in 18-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, X-Pro suspension, front and rear recovery hooks, a tow hitch, a ground-view camera with an off-road display, carbon-look interior accents and a liftgate lamp.
Kia rates ground clearance at 9.1 inches. I kept this Telluride on pavement.
An off-road page on the center screen shows tire pressure at each corner, pitch and roll angles, oil pressure, battery voltage, and oil, transmission and coolant temperatures. On one evening drive it read 36 psi at all four tires, 2 degrees of roll, 207°F oil, 201°F transmission fluid and 205°F coolant.
Every gas Telluride, X-Pro included, is rated in the owner’s manual to tow 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,653 pounds without them, with a 500-pound maximum tongue weight.
The manual also says not to tow during the first 1,200 miles, to stay under 60 mph with a trailer, and to keep to 45 mph or less on long uphill grades.
Roof rails support 880 pounds spread evenly while parked, and the manual names a roof tent among the loads they can carry. The limit drops to 220 pounds while driving. Crossbars are a dealer accessory. The spare is a T155/90R18 temporary tire inflated to 60 psi.
Fuel, Maintenance and Recalls
Regular 87-octane fuel is fine, as is gasoline with up to 15% ethanol; the manual rules out E85. The 19-gallon tank works out to about 361 miles at the EPA’s 19 mpg combined rating, by my math, and about 418 at the 22 mpg highway figure.
Oil changes call for 6.13 quarts of full-synthetic 0W-30 every 8,000 miles or 12 months, dropping to 5,000 miles or six months for towing, roof cargo, salted roads or extreme cold.
Transmission fluid is replaced every 56,000 miles on the severe schedule, which covers owners who tow, drive mountain roads, sit in stop-and-go traffic or make lots of short trips.
Spark plugs and brake fluid are due every 48,000 miles, with a 48-month limit on the brake fluid.
NHTSA records two recalls for the 2027 Telluride. Campaign 26V135 covers a third-row center seat belt buckle that may not latch. Campaign 26V356 covers a driver seat belt retractor that may lock and keep the belt from extending. Dealers fix both for free, and owners can check a VIN on NHTSA’s site.
Owner complaint data for the first-generation 2020 to 2025 models is in The Weekly Driver’s Kia Telluride reliability database.
Warranty coverage runs 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain and five years or 60,000 miles for basic and roadside, per the window sticker.
Highs
- Smooth acceleration from the 274-hp turbo four
- Orange wireless-charging indicator is easy to read at a glance
- Heated and ventilated seats in the first two rows
- 9.1 inches of clearance and a standard hitch
- Runs on 87-octane regular
Lows
- Dynamic Bass rattles the door panels
- Phone overheat warning on the wireless charging pad
- Compact spare on an off-road trim
- About 107 pounds of payload left with seven adults aboard
- EPA-rated 19 mpg combined
2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige Specifications
| Specification | 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD (as tested) |
|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $56,790 |
| Options | Terrain Brown Matte paint $995, carpeted floor mats $250 |
| Destination | $1,545 |
| As-Tested Price | $59,580 |
| Engine | 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder |
| Power | 274 hp |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive with Terrain Mode, electronic limited-slip rear differential |
| EPA Fuel Economy | 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined |
| Fuel | Regular unleaded, 87 octane (up to E15) |
| Fuel Tank | 19 gallons |
| Towing | 5,000 lb with trailer brakes, 1,653 lb without; 500 lb tongue weight |
| Payload (occupants and cargo) | 1,157 lb |
| GVWR | 6,261 lb |
| Ground Clearance | 9.1 in |
| Tires | 255/60R18 all-terrain, 35 psi; T155/90R18 temporary spare |
| Seating | 7 (second-row captain’s chairs) |
| Cargo Volume | 22.3 cu ft behind 3rd row / 46.3 behind 2nd / 86.9 maximum |
| Length / Wheelbase | 199.2 in / 116.9 in |
| Roof Rack Load | 880 lb parked / 220 lb driving |
| Assembly | West Point, Georgia |
| Warranty | 10 yr / 100,000 mi powertrain; 5 yr / 60,000 mi basic |
Verdict
At $59,580, the 2027 Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige pairs a smooth 274-hp turbo four with 9.1 inches of clearance, climate-controlled seats in two rows, decent visibility and a 5,000-pound tow rating. It carries a temporary T155/90R18 spare, and anyone who plays music loud should leave Dynamic Bass switched off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige?
The 2027 Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD lists at $56,790 before the $1,545 destination charge. The SUV I tested added $995 Terrain Brown Matte paint and $250 floor mats for a total of $59,580.
Is the 2027 Telluride X-Pro available as a hybrid?
The X-Pro comes with the 2.5L turbo four. The 329-hp Telluride Hybrid is offered in EX, SX, X-Line SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line SX-Prestige trims.
What is the towing capacity of the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro?
The owner’s manual rates the gas 2027 Telluride, including the X-Pro, at 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,653 pounds without them, with a 500-pound maximum tongue weight. The 2027 Telluride Hybrid tows 4,500 pounds.
How much ground clearance does the 2027 Telluride X-Pro have?
Kia rates the 2027 Telluride X-Pro at 9.1 inches of ground clearance. The X-Pro also gets 255/60R18 all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip rear differential and front and rear recovery hooks.
What gas mileage does the 2027 Telluride X-Pro get?
The EPA rates the 2027 Telluride X-Pro at 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. It runs on 87-octane regular unleaded gasoline.
How big is the gas tank on the 2027 Kia Telluride?
The 2027 Telluride’s fuel tank holds 19 gallons, according to the owner’s manual. At the X-Pro’s 19 mpg combined rating that works out to about 361 miles per tank.
What oil does the 2027 Kia Telluride take?
The 2.5L turbo takes 6.13 quarts of full-synthetic SAE 0W-30 meeting API SP or ILSAC GF-6. The normal change interval is 8,000 miles or 12 months, shortened to 5,000 miles or six months under severe conditions such as towing.
What engine does the 2027 Kia Telluride have?
The 2027 Telluride uses a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder making 274 hp and 311 lb-ft, or a 329-hp turbo hybrid.
What spare tire does the 2027 Telluride X-Pro have?
The X-Pro carries a T155/90R18 temporary spare inflated to 60 psi, according to the door placard.
Where is the 2027 Kia Telluride built?
Kia Georgia builds the 2027 Telluride in West Point, Georgia. The window sticker on the X-Pro I tested lists a Korean-built engine, a U.S.-built transmission and 50% U.S. and Canadian parts content.
Has the 2027 Kia Telluride been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists two 2027 Telluride recalls: 26V135 for a third-row center seat belt buckle that may not latch, and 26V356 for a driver seat belt retractor that may lock. Dealers repair both at no charge.
The manufacturer provided the vehicle for this review with a full tank of gas.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
https://theweeklydriver.com