Kia’s Next Telluride Goes Full Grown-Up: Bigger, Boxier, and Aiming High

CNBC, Forbes, and US News & World contributed to this report.

Kia just gave a first look at the next-gen Telluride, calling it a “new benchmark” for the brand’s design and ambition. That’s a big flex — except the three-row SUV has the résumé to back it up. Since its 2019 debut, Telluride went from sleeper hit to showroom magnet, often one of the most in-demand vehicles in the US and a pillar of Kia’s sales growth.

The headline changes

• Size up: The 2027 Telluride grows larger with a squarer stance. Think more upright, more presence, more family-and-gear room.

• Design glow-up: A chunkier front grille framed by vertical headlamps sets the tone; the rear goes clean and sleek — there’s a definite luxe vibe that’ll have people whispering “Range Rover energy.”

• Timing: Full reveal lands at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, with US showroom arrivals slated for the first quarter (early 2026 timing in industry chatter).

Kia kicked things off with images of the X-Pro — the more rugged trim — hinting at real off-pavement credibility alongside the suburban school-run polish.

Telluride isn’t just another line on a spreadsheet for Kia — it’s the US nameplate. Sales have climbed every year since 2019, topping 444,000 units to date and running +11% year-to-date through October, according to the company. It’s also the brand’s halo for value-meets-premium, which is why Kia is talking about “new benchmark” rather than “midcycle tweak.”

What we can see (and what we can’t—yet)

• Look & feel: The new sheetmetal goes boxier and bolder without losing the dressed-up family hauler DNA. Expect crisp lighting signatures, strong shoulders, and the kind of stance that makes roof boxes and mountain bikes look like part of the outfit.

• Cabin vibes: Kia’s calling it more modern overall. Count on larger screens, cleaner interfaces, and materials meant to nudge the Telluride closer to entry-lux rivals.

• Trims & pricing: Today’s Telluride spans 10 trims priced roughly $36,000–$54,000. Final 2027 trims, powertrains, and pricing land with the LA debut.

Hyundai’s sibling Palisade got its own refresh earlier this year (starting ~$39,000–$55,000), so Kia needs to raise the bar without messing with the value math. Based on this early preview — bigger footprint, boxier profile, cleaner luxury cues — that’s exactly what it’s aiming to do.

Kia isn’t reinventing its star; it’s doubling down. The next Telluride reads like a proper sequel: more room, more presence, more polish, and just enough tough-guy swagger to keep the X-Pro crowd happy. If the pricing and powertrains line up when the covers fully come off in L.A., Kia’s family champ looks set to keep its crown.