Two quick pieces of housekeeping. There is no 2026 Telluride. Kia ended the first generation with the 2025 model year, skipped 2026 entirely, and launched the redesigned second generation as a 2027 model that reached dealers during the 2026 calendar year. Anything advertised as a 2026 is either leftover first-generation stock or this car listed under the wrong badge.The second item is the actual story. Kia replaced the old 3.8-liter V6 with two powertrains, and the hybrid is clearly the better one, making 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet against the turbocharged four-cylinder's 274 and 311, while returning 35 mpg combined instead of 22. Kia also built the X-Pro, the most interesting trim in this vehicle's history and the only one offering genuine off-road hardware. You cannot order them together. The X-Pro is gasoline only, and that single decision shapes every buying recommendation in this review.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogPowertrain and DrivingThe hybrid pairs the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with electric assistance and a 1.65 kWh battery for 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet combined, which is 38 horsepower and 77 pound-feet more than the V6 it replaces. Fuel economy lands at 35 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 31 with all-wheel drive, against 23 for the old engine, and total range reaches 637 miles. Towing drops to 4,500 pounds. A Stay Mode runs climate, lighting and infotainment on battery for up to an hour with the engine off, which parents waiting through practice will use constantly.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogThe gas engine is no disappointment on its own terms. At 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet through an eight-speed torque converter automatic, it is considerably livelier around town than the V6 was, because the torque arrives early instead of waiting for revs. Peak horsepower actually falls by 17 against the old engine while torque climbs 49 pound-feet, and the torque is what you notice. Independent testing puts 0 to 60 mph in the mid-to-high seven-second range. Properly equipped it tows 5,000 pounds, and the X-Pro SX-Prestige trim is rated for 5,500.Load the family and a week of luggage, though, and the hybrid's extra output stops being a specification and starts being the reason you are not flooring it up every on-ramp.It's The Trim You WantThe X-Pro is the version worth caring about. Ground clearance rises to 9.1 inches, an electronic limited-slip differential goes in, all-terrain tires replace the road rubber, and skid plates plus front and rear recovery points make the capability real rather than decorative.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogIt also looks the part in a way the rest of the range does not, with orange tow hooks and yellow-hued daytime running lights sharpening the off-road character. Then there is the paint. The matte Terrain Brown finish is a $995 factory option, and I cannot name another manufacturer selling matte paint at that price. Nobody. It is also X-Pro exclusive, which is the small cruelty at the center of this whole discussion: the trim with the best color is the trim without the best engine.What It CostsThe gas lineup runs from $39,190 for the LX with front-wheel drive to $56,790 for the X-Pro SX-Prestige trim with all-wheel drive, before Kia's $1,545 destination charge. That puts a fully equipped, genuinely off-road-capable three-row SUV at $58,335 delivered, with real-world optioned examples landing near $59,500. Hybrid pricing opens at $46,490 for the EX with front-wheel drive and climbs past $57,000 for the X-Line SX-Prestige trim.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogValue remains this vehicle's foundation. Nothing in the class delivers this much equipment at this money, and the interior quality, feature count, warranty and safety results together build a case rivals have to discount toward. The second generation moved upmarket without surrendering the pricing advantage that made the first one a phenomenon.Fuel EconomyThe hybrid is why this score is what it is. Thirty-five mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 31 with all-wheel drive, in a three-row SUV, changes the ownership math entirely.Be clear-eyed about the gas version, though. Front-wheel drive examples rate 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, which is par for the class and not meaningfully better than the V6 it replaced. The X-Pro on all-terrain tires is the least efficient configuration Kia sells, and yet independent testing has consistently beaten its estimates, with observed results of 20.7 mpg over a mostly off-road route and 21.8 mpg across a week of mixed driving. Buy the gas car for capability, not economy.PowertrainEPA combinedHybrid, front-wheel drive35 mpgHybrid, all-wheel drive31 mpgGas, front-wheel drive22 mpgPrevious-generation V623 mpgWhere It Falls ShortHandling is the honest weakness. Steering feel and body control are both on the less direct side, and the steering is simply not communicative. You do not get much sense of what the vehicle is doing underneath you. I will concede that the X-Pro on softer all-terrain tires is the least favorable version to judge this on, but even discounting for that, this is not a vehicle that rewards a good road.Most three-row buyers will never notice, and for them this is a non-issue. If you are the kind of driver who does notice, drive a Mazda CX-90 before you sign anything, because that is the one vehicle in this class that answers the complaint.Interior and TechnologyFit and finish sit slightly above the class average, and the cabin is a genuinely pleasant place to spend time. Seats are comfortable, heated and ventilated, and the outward visibility is excellent.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogThe new steering wheel with its off-center Kia badge is a small detail that does real work reinforcing the rugged character. Space is the substantive gain: the wheelbase grew 2.7 inches to 116.9 and overall length 2.3 inches, with nearly all of it going to passengers, and cargo runs 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row expanding to 89.3 with everything folded. Higher trims add relaxation seats with power leg rests, a massaging driver's seat, power climate-controlled second-row captain's chairs and heated third-row outboard seats.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogTechnology is solid without a headline. The multimedia system responds quickly and the screen resolution holds up, but Highway Driving Assist is the ceiling and it keeps your hands on the wheel. Anyone wanting hands-free highway driving needs General Motors or Ford, because Kia has no answer yet. The premium audio system is a genuine generational improvement over the previous one, which was poor for something marketed as premium. Dual wireless charging pads, USB-C ports in all three rows, a 12-inch head-up display and tri-zone climate round it out.Warranty and SafetyNobody in this segment beats the warranty. Coverage runs five years or 60,000 miles bumper to bumper and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain, with corrosion at five years or 100,000 miles and roadside assistance matching the basic term. Hybrid models carry 10 years or 100,000 miles on the battery pack. That powertrain term is double what most rivals offer, and on a new turbocharged four replacing a proven V6 in a heavy SUV, it addresses the exact worry buyers will raise.2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogSafety results are strong under demanding conditions. The Telluride earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in the Institute's 2026 award cycle, after IIHS tightened its criteria that year for rear-seat occupant protection in moderate overlap front crashes and raised the bar on pedestrian crash prevention. Qualifying requires Good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side tests plus acceptable or good headlights on every trim, which is where many vehicles fail. Ten airbags are standard, including a front-center airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet rated the redesigned vehicle.CategoryRating or termWarranty Information10/10Safety Ratings9/10Basic5 years / 60,000 milesPowertrain10 years / 100,000 milesHybrid battery10 years / 100,000 milesIIHS Top Safety Pick+ (2026 award cycle)AwardedNHTSA overallNot yet ratedCompetitionThe closest rival shares its bones. Hyundai redesigned the Palisade on the same platform with the same powertrains, and pricing and dimensions track closely enough that the decision comes down to styling and which dealer you prefer. The Telluride leans rugged and offers the X-Pro, which the Palisade does not answer. The Toyota Grand Highlander is the efficiency benchmark and carries a reliability reputation Kia is still building, but it cannot match the feature count at equivalent money or the warranty at any money.Among the off-road-flavored alternatives, the Honda Pilot TrailSport makes the most direct case against the X-Pro with genuine hardware of its own, and the Chevrolet Traverse Z71 shares the intent. Neither offers a hybrid, which is the Telluride's trump card, and neither matches the interior. On total value, warranty and breadth of powertrain choice, nothing in this segment is currently ahead.Final Thoughts: 9/10The Telluride is one of the best choices in its class once you weigh price, powertrains, space and design together. No single element is best in class, and it does not need to be, because the combination beats what anyone else assembles at this money.Which one you buy depends on how you answer the question at the top. If fuel economy and output matter most, take the hybrid and accept a different trim. If you actually leave pavement, or you want that matte paint enough to swap the tires afterward, take the X-Pro and accept 22 mpg. The vehicle Kia does not sell, an X-Pro hybrid, is the one I would order. Here is hoping somebody in Georgia is reading.