Kia is about to launch a brand-new Telluride. The three-row SUV is getting longer and taller, but it’s the design that is going to catch your attention.
Our first look is at the rugged Kia Telluride X-Pro trim, and it comes with a 1960s car face and a Range Rover–like rear end. Between the front and rear, the new SUV has sleek, streamlined styling that is at odds with that nose.
Big Grille, Little Identity
Up front, the 2027 Kia Telluride design is all grille. The nearly wall-to-wall square-cut grille is flanked by some tiny LED headlights and then accent lights that are tall but still very thin. It’s like a 1965 Buick Riviera, if GM made one with tow hooks. Or maybe an unbranded SUV from a video game?
Kia describes it as “inspired by the untamed beauty of its namesake Colorado town,” and said the design is intended to “set an unmistakable tone.” The automaker describes that tone as ready for anything, though we don’t think we see it.
The nose is busy, but the rest is elegant. Simple, gently curving lines on the hood lead into the equally gentle curves of the doors. Hidden handles make the sides even sleeker, but no, this isn’t going to be an EV.
At the back, the fenders taper into the tall and thin taillight lamps. Combined with that bodyline running across the tailgate, it looks very Range Rover in its design. But don’t expect that line to mean a split tailgate like the Rover, or at least Kia hasn’t mentioned one.
Light Up the Outdoors
You will find more lighting in the new tailgate. The 2027 Kia Telluride will feature LED lighting when the hatch is open. It will also have soft lights projected from the mirrors, under the rear doors, and under the rear bumper. The lights are X-Pro exclusive and are meant to give you better visibility when you’re outside in the dark.
Kia’s X-Pro trim has more exclusive elements, like the black-finish fender trim, mirror caps, and the door trim. The taller roof rails are also part of the rugged trim grade, and, also on the list of useful extras, the X-Pro gets all-terrain tires and 9.1 inches of ground clearance.
The extra clearance is 1.1 inches more than the current base model and 0.7 inches more than the current X-Pro. Kia hasn’t given us all of the dimensions for the 2027 Telluride, but based on those it did give, it will be 199.2 inches long (up 2.3) and 69.9 inches tall before the roof rack (up 1).
2027 Kia Telluride Full Reveal Next Week
This announcement was all about design, specifically the design of the X-Pro grade. The automaker did say it would have new colors inside with finishes like deep navy and purple. X-Pro models will offer black, khaki, and brown shades.
We’ll get a better look at the 2027 Kia Telluride at the L.A. Auto Show, which starts on Nov. 20. Until then, if you want an idea of what to expect under the hood, look to the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. The 2027 Kia Telluride should be at dealers in the first quarter of 2026.
