The Buzz Awards are back, and this year's crop of nominees for the Best Family Vehicle for 2027 made the decision process very difficult. To compete well in the category means offering plenty of passenger comfort, reasonable efficiency, useful safety and technology features, and a competent driving experience – gone are the days when having kids meant sacrificing every ounce of motoring fun. Our candidates each offered those attributes, but when the dust settled, one clearly rose to the top. The Buzz Awards Best Family Vehicle for 2027 is the Kia Telluride. Why We Picked The 2027 Kia Telluride After skipping the 2026 model year – thereby clearing the way for its Hyundai Palisade cousin to take top honors last year – Kia returned to the midsize, three-row crossover space with the totally redesigned 2027 Telluride. Compared to its handsome predecessor, today's Telluride has a more rugged, eye-catching design, with a bluff front end, tough-looking D-pillar, and contrast-painted roof drawing comparisons to luxury SUVs that cost twice as much. Better still, there's lots of substance to back up the style. Although its predecessor was no slouch in that department, the 2027 Telluride boasts some notable gains in second- and third-row head and legroom, making it genuinely comfortable for up to eight passengers. There's even enough space in the way-back seats for one or two adults. Despite casting a nearly identical shadow as the old SUV – today's Telly is 2.3 inches longer and 0.6 inches taller – cargo space is up a meaningful amount, now measuring 22.3 cubic feet with the seats up. That's more than rivals from Honda or Toyota, making family road trips that much more comfortable with the entire crew on board. Perhaps the most significant reason we selected the Telluride over its category rivals is the impressive new powertrain lineup. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four with an eight-speed automatic, and its respectable 287 horsepower and downright impressive 311 lb-ft of torque keep the family SUV from ever feeling sluggish. Better still is the newly available hybrid engine, which adds a smooth two-motor system to the gearbox for a total of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft, plus up to 35 miles per gallon combined with front-wheel drive or 31 mpg with all-wheel drive. No matter which route you take, you won't be disappointed. What Almost Made The Cut The Telluride fought off an impressive crop of vehicles this year, including the mechanically identical, new-for-2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid that joined the combustion-only, V6-powered SUV earlier this year. The Palisade hybrid has the same impressive blend of power and efficiency as its cousin, plus a cosseting interior that plays a more luxurious tune relative to the Telluride's sporty, technical flair. If you prefer the looks and design of the Hyundai, you won't lose out on much compared to the Kia. The superb Rivian R2 also gave the Telluride a run for its money. The second SUV from the all-electric automaker boasts lots of advancements, with an impressive technology suite, plenty of space for five passengers, and the same rough-road ruggedness that Rivian is known for. With anywhere between 275 and 345 miles of range (depending on trim), the R2 is a capable and comfortable road tripper, and a standard NACS charging port that can add around 250 miles of range in 25 minutes on a DC fast charger. Specs like those make the Rivian R2 a compelling choice for first-time EV owners, who'll also be impressed by the stylish exterior and luxurious cabin. Family vehicles just keep getting better and better, and we look forward to seeing what next year holds for the segment.
Liked by Caleb Green, Lily Bouchard
Liked by Caleb Green, Lily Bouchard
Liked by Caleb Green, Lily Bouchard
