Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Kia Telluride was conceived for one simple reason: to meet the American market's need for a large, accommodating, 3-row SUV that felt borderline luxurious, without costing an arm and a leg. It's been a heavy hitter in the segment ever since the first 2020 model year, and seven years later, the Telluride saw its first incredibly dramatic redesign. Instead of the sleek, chic, and smooth operator it was for years, it's not a boxy, angular, and sharp-looking SUV that follows the company's "opposites united" design language that we see on the new Seltos and Sportage. While the looks have changed, the core of what makes the Kia Telluride so successful has remained unchanged. It still has excellent outward visibility, plenty of cargo and passenger space, a comfy third row, as well as more storage compartments than most would know what to do with.Kristen Brown/AutoblogNot unlike the previous generation, though, the price range is pretty vast. The base model, the LX, starts at $39,190, going up to $56,790 for the X-Pro SX Prestige. My tester, including the optional $995 matte paint color, as well as other options, add-ons, and fees, came out to $59,580, which is no small fee these days—especially for families. The top-shelf model comes with every technological and convenience option possible, as well as some serious off-road upgrades. Does that make it worth the price? Yes, but only under specific conditions. Hear me out.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: Road Ethos Launches: The New Automotive Lifestyle Site You Should ReadWhat do you get for nearly sixty grand?The Kia Telluride, as I mentioned above, has a very wide price range, going from a very affordable 3-row SUV to borderline luxury prices. My tester had very minimal add-ons and options, except for the premium paint job and carpeted floor mats, since Kia gives buyers a long list of standard equipment and features at the very top of the line. Here's how my X-Pro ended up nearly pushing $60,000:Base MSRP (X-Pro SX-Prestige AWD): $56,790 Terrain Brown Matte Paint: $995. A premium, head-turning finish that looks exceptional in person. You can get the same color in a glossy finish, but it just doesn't pop as well against the blacked-out exterior bits. Trust me on this one.Carpeted Floor Mats: $250Inland Freight & Handling: $1,545 (Kia's mandatory destination fee)Total Sticker Price: $59,580Kristen BrownKia offers more than just aesthetic tweaks for the investment. The X-Pro trim includes a comprehensive array of mechanical and digital enhancements specifically engineered for families eager to explore the outdoors without aftermarket modifications. Kia's own website summarizes this configuration as being "capable with trail-ready performance". To understand what that actually entails and how it impacts the bottom line, here is a breakdown of the specific upgrades included: AdvertisementAdvertisementMore Ground Clearance & Suspension Changes: Ground clearance is lifted from the standard 7.4 inches to a generous 9.1 inches. The suspension is fixed, but everything's been tuned by Kia's off-road division to better handle the rough stuff without feeling stiff. Upgraded Body Cladding and Front Fascia: The lower front and rear bumpers are squared off and tucked in to give you better approach and departure angles on uneven terrain. They're also blacked out to add to the off-road aesthetic, paired with the orange-red tow hooks in the front and rear.Heavier Duty Drivetrain Bits: It swaps shiny, oversized street wheels for 18-inch glossy black alloys wrapped in chunky All-Terrain tires from Continental. Underneath, it features an electronic limited-slip differential (E-LSD) that proactively locks the rear axle before traction is lost. Upgraded Towing: Thanks to software tweaks and upgraded cooling systems, the towing capacity jumps from 5,000 lbs to 5,500 lbs—perfect for small campers or recreational toys. Software Upgrades: Software-wise, you gain a dedicated center-screen "Off-Road" page displaying real-time vehicle pitch and roll. Better yet, the 360-degree camera system adds a low-speed "under-the-nose" camera view, allowing you to see rocks, ruts, or stray driveway toys right in front of your tires.The interior is seamless and luxuriousAt the price, the interior looks and feels like a car that costs as much as it does. The updates for 2027 means excellent visibility, parking assists like a 360-degree view camera (and it helps with off-roading in the X-Pro's case), overhead A/C vents for the second and third row, heated and ventilated seats in the second row, captain's chairs with a nice, leatherette material, dual sunroofs to open up the interior, Kia's signature tri-screen setup (including the dinky, borderline stupid screen for the A/C controls that's usually blocked by the steering wheel), and a premium sound system. USB-C charging ports are everywhere for the kiddos and older passengers alike, there's a cupholder everywhere you look, and there's enough room to make it feel more like a living room than the second row of an SUV.Kristen Brown/AutoblogFor an "off-roader," it looks and feels great. But you have to remember—the X-Pro SX Prestige is the fully-loaded, most luxurious trim you can buy of the Telluride, so that's to be expected. Everything was intuitively placed, all the symbols made sense—I never had to guess where something was, or struggle to find a menu.Related: I Drove The 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro On- And Off-Road At Mudfest: Here's My Honest Review Of Kia's Three-Row Adventure SUVDoes it drive like a luxury off-roader? That it doesI initially frowned at the fact that Kia tossed out the 3.8-liter V6, which made more horsepower and produced the same towing rating as the new turbo-four. And when an automaker slaps all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension setup, and a heavy-duty cooling system onto a family vehicle, there is usually a looming dread that the daily commute is going to suffer. I typically expect a stiff, bouncy ride, a loud cabin hum from the aggressive tire tread, and steering that feels like you're guiding a tractor. Miraculously, the Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige refuses to compromise its pavement manners, with plenty of pep in its step. It sounded a bit goofy at first, but after a while, I came around and enjoyed the "Sporty" exhaust being fed into the cabin.Kristen BrownThere are a few drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Smart. Normal is the most balanced drive mode, and while Eco promises increased mileage, I didn't notice any extra mpgs. If anything, the softer throttle response made it more annoying to drive. It might help on the highway, but around town, it felt sluggish and boggy. Sport just made it louder, and didn't make it feel any different after, so I didn't use it much, and Smart is an adaptive "learning" drive mode that says it'll learn your driving style and adapt as needed.AdvertisementAdvertisementEven with the increased 9.1 inches of ground clearance, body roll is exceptionally well-managed through tight corners. Combine that composed handling with excellent outward visibility from the driver's seat, and this trail-ready rig handles tight parking lots and grocery store runs with the effortless ease of a standard, low-slung family crossover. It was vastly improved over the first generation.Final thoughts: If you aren't off-roading, buy the hybrid insteadI'm going to talk about the old engine and compare it to the new engine for a second: while the turbo-four serves up a healthy 49 lb-ft of extra torque with 17 fewer ponies, it nearly matches the old V6's real-world fuel economy. In our week of testing, the gas-only Telluride averaged a modest 19.5 mpg combined. This seems silly, but the new engine is important to highlight because this generation introduces the Telluride Hybrid. By pairing that same 2.5-liter turbo engine with an electric motor, the hybrid setup pumps out a potent 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque—outperforming the gas-only model in both power and responsiveness. In identical testing with the Palisade's twin hybrid powertrain, I averaged a stellar 25 mpg combined. That brings us to the ultimate buying advice. If you actually plan to utilize the 9.1 inches of clearance, tow a 5,500-lb trailer, or tackle muddy campsites, the X-Pro SX-Prestige is an incredible, deeply capable tool that absolutely passes the family test. The third row of the 2027 Kia TellurideKristen BrownBut let's be honest: most three-row family crossovers spend 99% of their lives navigating school pickup lines, suburban grocery lots, and paved highway road trips. Ask me how I know. If that sounds like your household, you are much better off skipping the X-Pro's heavy off-road tax. The chunky all-terrain tires, lifted suspension, and extra mechanical drag actively penalize your daily fuel economy. For the same $60,000 budget, divert your money away from the dirt-ready hardware and spend it on the Telluride Hybrid instead. The top-shelf $57,590 X-Line SX Prestige will get the exact same brilliant, spacious, toddler-approved interior, but with a massive boost in daily efficiency and quick, electrified passing power. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.