Michael SatterfieldIt has been a long time since I had a test vehicle that stopped people in their tracks wherever I went, but the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD did just that.
Our test vehicle, finished in Terrain Brown Matte over a black interior, attracted attention nearly everywhere it went. People approached it in parking lots. Strangers asked questions at gas stations. Neighbors came over for a closer look. Even those who were not especially interested in cars seemed impressed by the new Telluride’s broad shoulders, upright proportions, and unusual matte finish. The reactions were not polite variations of, “That’s nice for a Kia.” People were genuinely impressed by how the Telluride looked. Several assumed it cost considerably more than its $59,580 total MSRP.
That may be the clearest indication of what Kia has accomplished with the completely redesigned Telluride. The first generation established the model as one of America’s favorite three-row SUVs. The 2027 version arrives looking more confident, more expensive, and far more distinctive.
A Design That Demands Attention
The original Telluride was handsome, but the second generation is considerably bolder. Its squared-off body, tall front fascia, broad grille, vertical lighting elements, and nearly level roofline give it the visual presence of a proper full-size SUV. A few weeks earlier we drove the X-Line trim level, which was nice, but the X-Pro’s off-road styling takes the Telluride to another level.
The X-Pro treatment with matte and gloss-black exterior trim, unique front and rear fascias, visible recovery hooks, high-utility roof rails, and black 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Kia gives the X-Pro 9.1 inches of ground clearance, which is a meaningful increase over the 7.4 inches offered by the standard Telluride.
Terrain Brown Matte is the right color for this version. The $995 finish shifts with the light, moving between bronze, tan, and muted brown. It brings out the Telluride’s flat body surfaces and black detailing without making the SUV appear excessively theatrical. That balance is important. The Telluride looks adventurous, but it does not resemble a family crossover wearing a costume purchased from an off-road accessory catalog. It has enough visual toughness to support the X-Pro name, yet it remains clean and sophisticated.
At 199.2 inches long and riding on a 116.9-inch wheelbase, the new Telluride is larger than the model it replaces. The additional length improves both passenger room and cargo capacity without making the SUV feel unnecessarily enormous in daily use.
An Interior Worthy of the Exterior
The attention continues inside, though the black cabin is more restrained than the bodywork.
The X-Pro SX-Prestige combines simulated leather and suede seating surfaces with engineered carbon-look trim, a suede-style headliner, and a wide horizontal dashboard. Materials feel substantial, the switchgear is logically arranged, and the cabin avoids the shiny plastic overload found in many vehicles attempting to look futuristic.
Two integrated 12.3-inch displays dominate the dashboard. One serves as the digital instrument cluster, while the other handles navigation, media, vehicle settings, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Kia has also retained physical controls for important functions such as temperature and fan speed. That may sound like a small victory, but in the age of touchscreen menus buried three levels deep, a proper climate-control button feels almost rebellious.
A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system comes standard on the SX-based trims, and our test vehicle also included dual wireless phone chargers, seven USB-C ports, a 115-volt cargo-area outlet, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and a dual-panel sunroof.
The heated and ventilated front seats are supportive enough for long drives, while the heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs make the Telluride feel more like a premium people mover than a conventional family crossover. The captain’s-chair arrangement reduces capacity to seven passengers, but it provides easier third-row access and gives adults in the second row considerably more personal space.
Kia’s new slide-and-tilt second-row seat design can also improve access to the back while certain child seats remain installed. That is the sort of feature dreamed up by someone who has actually loaded children into a three-row SUV, rather than someone merely studying families through the glass of a conference room.
Space for Passengers, Luggage, and Real Life
The Telluride offers 22.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row. Fold that row and the capacity grows to 48.7 cubic feet. With both rear rows folded, there is 89.3 cubic feet available.
The third row is still best suited to children or shorter adults on longer trips, but it is not an emergency-only bench. Second-row passengers receive a generous 43 inches of legroom, while the third row provides 32.1 inches.
Kia has also made smart use of the area beneath the rear cargo floor. Movable dividers provide hidden storage for small items, and the folding cargo table incorporates cupholders. It is a clever addition for tailgating, camping, or attempting to serve lunch to children without donating half of it to the carpet.
Turbocharged Power Replaces the V6
Every gasoline-powered 2027 Telluride uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Traditionalists may mourn the departure of the previous Telluride’s naturally aspirated V6, but the new turbocharged engine produces 49 pound-feet more torque. Its maximum torque also arrives much earlier, helping the Telluride move away from a stop with greater authority.
The engine does not turn the Telluride into a performance SUV, nor should it. Acceleration is strong enough for merging, passing, and keeping pace with fast-moving highway traffic. The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and generally chooses the correct gear without calling attention to itself.
More important for a vehicle like this, the Telluride feels composed. The steering is precise, body movement is controlled, and the suspension absorbs rough pavement without allowing the cabin to float or bounce. Independent tests have similarly praised its compliant ride, well-managed body motions, and quiet highway manners.
At cruising speed, the engine settles into the background. Wind noise is well controlled, and the all-terrain tires produce surprisingly little road noise considering their more aggressive tread.
The X-Pro Is More Than an Appearance Package
Plenty of SUVs offer black wheels and rugged-looking trim. The Telluride X-Pro backs up its styling with useful hardware.
In addition to its extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires, the X-Pro receives an electronic limited-slip rear differential, terrain drive modes, additional suspension travel, a factory tow hitch, recovery hooks, and an off-road information display. Its Ground View Monitor uses the camera system to help the driver see obstacles near or beneath the front of the vehicle.
The all-wheel-drive system continually adjusts power distribution according to traction demands. Drivers can select Snow, Mud, and Sand terrain settings, engage an AWD lock function, or use the Telluride’s conventional road modes.
This is not intended to challenge a body-on-frame SUV on extreme rock trails. It is designed for dirt roads, campsites, muddy parking areas, snowy highways, ranch roads, and the sort of moderately difficult trails families are likely to encounter. In those environments, the additional capability is genuine and useful.
The X-Pro SX-Prestige can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, enough for a small travel trailer, utility trailer, personal watercraft, or many lightweight race-car and equipment combinations.
Fuel Economy and Daily Use
The Telluride X-Pro’s capability comes with a predictable cost at the pump. EPA estimates for the all-wheel-drive gasoline model are 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. The fuel tank holds 19 gallons.
Those numbers are not class-leading, especially now that Kia offers a Telluride Hybrid. Buyers prioritizing fuel economy should examine the hybrid X-Line models. The X-Pro, however, remains the choice for drivers who want the additional ground clearance, all-terrain tires, electronic limited-slip differential, and more adventurous design.
Around town, the Telluride is easy to place despite its size. The upright seating position provides a good view forward, while the surround-view cameras, parking sensors, blind-spot cameras, and digital rearview mirror make tight parking areas considerably less intimidating.
Its broad collection of driver-assistance technology includes adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, junction detection, evasive steering assistance, and Safe Exit Assist. These features do not replace an attentive driver, but they make long highway trips and crowded urban traffic less tiring.
Is the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige Worth $59,580?
Nearly $60,000 is substantial money for a Kia, but the old habit of judging a vehicle by the badge on its hood feels increasingly outdated. The X-Pro SX-Prestige begins at $56,790 before destination charges and options. Our Terrain Brown Matte test vehicle carried a total MSRP of $59,580. Kia lists the matte paint as a $995 option.
For that price, buyers receive a spacious seven-passenger SUV with a premium interior, advanced safety technology, genuine all-weather capability, 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, and equipment that would require several expensive packages on many luxury-branded competitors.
There are less expensive Telluride trims, and many families will be perfectly satisfied with an EX, SX, or X-Line. The X-Pro SX-Prestige is for the buyer who wants nearly every available feature, the most capable suspension and AWD configuration, and the exterior design with the greatest presence.
It is expensive, but it does not feel overpriced.
The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige succeeds because it understands what most three-row SUV buyers actually want. It is comfortable without becoming soft, rugged without becoming crude, technologically advanced without abandoning every physical control, and spacious without feeling like a commercial vehicle. The new turbocharged engine delivers useful torque, the X-Pro hardware adds real capability, and the interior feels competitive with vehicles carrying more prestigious badges and significantly higher prices.
Then there is the styling. Everywhere I went, the Telluride drew attention. People stopped in parking lots, asked about it at gas stations, and walked over from neighboring houses to take a closer look. Nearly everyone was surprised that it was a Kia, and all seemed impressed by just how good the new Telluride looked.
That response says more than a spec sheet ever could. The first Telluride helped change how Americans viewed Kia. The 2027 Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige shows that Kia is no longer asking to be taken seriously. It has already earned attention.
2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige Quick Facts
| Specification | 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 274 hp |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Eight-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive with electronic limited-slip differential |
| Seating | Seven passengers |
| Ground clearance | 9.1 inches |
| Wheels | 18-inch black alloy wheels |
| Tires | 255/60R18 all-terrain tires |
| Towing capacity | 5,000 pounds |
| EPA fuel economy | 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg |
| Cargo capacity | 22.3 / 48.7 / 89.3 cubic feet |
| Wheelbase | 116.9 inches |
| Overall length | 199.2 inches |
| Base MSRP | $56,790 |
| Price as tested | $59,580 |
| Exterior | Terrain Brown Matte |
| Interior | Black |
| Paint option | $995 |
Specifications and pricing are based on Kia’s official 2027 Telluride information and the supplied test-vehicle configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD cost?
The X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD has a base MSRP of $56,790 before destination charges and options. Our Terrain Brown Matte test vehicle had a total MSRP of $59,580.
What engine is in the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro?
The gasoline-powered 2027 Telluride uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Does the 2027 Kia Telluride still have a V6?
No. Kia replaced the previous Telluride’s naturally aspirated V6 with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The new engine produces less horsepower but delivers 49 pound-feet more torque than the previous V6.
How many people does the Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige seat?
The X-Pro SX-Prestige seats seven passengers. It has two front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, and a three-passenger third-row bench.
How much can the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro tow?
The 2027 Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
What makes the Telluride X-Pro different from the X-Line?
The X-Line primarily adds rugged styling and larger wheels. The X-Pro adds functional capability, including 9.1 inches of ground clearance, 18-inch all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip differential, additional suspension capability, recovery hooks, a Ground View Monitor, and an off-road information display.
What is the fuel economy of the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro?
The all-wheel-drive gasoline Telluride is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined.
Is the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro good for families?
Yes. It offers three-row seating, second-row captain’s chairs, extensive driver-assistance technology, up to 89.3 cubic feet of cargo room, numerous charging ports, rear climate vents, and easier third-row access through its slide-and-tilt second-row seats.
