Kia unveiled the 2027 Telluride ahead of the LA Auto Show

The 2027 Kia Telluride blends rugged SUV capability with refined luxury to set a new benchmark for premium family-adventure SUVs.

The all-new 2027 Kia Telluride arrives as Kia’s refined flagship for families who demand both style and substance.

When an SUV emerges that promises to combine premium living and rugged adventure, you pay attention. The second-generation Telluride does exactly that, and in doing so it stakes out the territory between high-end comfort and trail-ready capability. It will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with showroom arrivals expected in early 2026. For the brand’s broader context and past Telluride milestones, see the Kia America Newsroom and Kia Global Media Center.

Why does this matter right now?

The 2027 Telluride is an evolution, not a reinvention. It’s 2.3 inches longer overall, with a wheelbase stretched by nearly three inches and a height increase of one inch, preserving the boxy, rugged DNA that won so many families over. That matters because three-row SUVs remain the backbone of American family transport, and this one targets the sweet spot between comfort and capability. For recent context on shifting tech and buyer expectations, see TestMiles’ coverage on next-gen in-car tech: The Future Is Feeling: How Smart Tech Is Re-Shaping Cars.

Kia’s lighting and detail work are a highlight: twin vertical LED strips at the nose, architectural twin bars at the rear, plus X-Pro ground-lighting for night tasks. While we await full powertrain specs, you can benchmark the current model’s safety performance via the IIHS Telluride ratings page. For broader consumer landscape and subscription trends affecting ownership, see TestMiles’ explainer: Surprising car subscriptions you’ll pay for.

How does it compare to rivals?

The Telluride squares up against the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Grand Highlander and a crowd of well-equipped three-row SUVs. The new X-Pro leans further into adventure with all-terrain tires, 9.1 inches of ground clearance and recovery hooks. That dual personality is the Telluride’s hook: upscale road manners with credible trail readiness. For a status-quo snapshot on the outgoing model, see Car and Driver’s Telluride overview and MotorTrend’s 2025 Telluride page. For market momentum among mainstream brands competing in this space, TestMiles recently broke down Hyundai’s U.S. strategy: Five Years Of Growth & A $26B Bet.

If you want a preview of the wider segment’s tech arms race and how brands are integrating emotional, driver-aware features, TestMiles’ analysis is useful context: Smart Tech Is Re-Shaping Cars. Meanwhile, Car and Driver recently reported the second-gen Telluride’s LA debut timing and likely trims, underscoring how this refresh lands in the thick of the three-row battle: 2027 Kia Telluride will debut at LA Auto Show.

Who is this for and who should skip it?

Buyers who need three real rows, premium materials, quiet road manners and occasional off-road chops will feel right at home. The Telluride’s expanded dimensions improve access to rows two and three, with richer colors and textures inside. If your priorities are maximum efficiency, home charging, or tax-credit hunting, a hybrid or EV might suit you better for now. For a sense of where Toyota, a key rival, is steering mainstream tech and mobility thinking, see TestMiles’ Toyota’s Future Mobility Shift.

Shoppers should also stay aware of recall history on current models as a general best practice. NHTSA maintains public records and VIN lookup tools: check the NHTSA recalls portal and recent Telluride notices like the 2020–2024 Telluride park-outside advisory and the August 2025 recall filing 25V494. These do not define the 2027 model, but they are part of an informed ownership picture.

What is the long-term significance?

This second-gen Telluride signals that mainstream badges will keep pushing into premium territory while retaining value and utility. Expect more luxury-grade materials, smarter lighting and packaging, and a steady migration of features once reserved for higher-priced marques. If you want the other end of the luxury spectrum for contrast, TestMiles’ coverage of Toyota’s ultra-luxury pivot is a tidy counterpoint: Toyota’s Secret Weapon.

The LA launch caps a season of tech-heavy reveals, and it lands right as families plan 2026 purchases. Keep an eye on Kia’s official channels for specs and media assets as they post: Kia America Newsroom. For a broader look at the consumer features reshaping cost of ownership across brands, see TestMiles’ explainer on feature fees: subscriptions in new vehicles.

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