2027 Kia Telluride X Pro SX Prestige AWD Review

A vehicle can look impressive under auto show lights and still disappoint once a real family loads it with luggage, beach chairs, coolers, backpacks, teenagers, and everything else that somehow becomes necessary for a holiday road trip.

That is why I didn't fully judge the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride after seeing it inside Kia Design Center America.

I waited until I could live with it.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, I loaded the Telluride X Pro SX Prestige AWD with my family and one of my daughter’s friends for a trip from metro Atlanta to Alys Beach along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A. The journey covered more than 300 miles in each direction, with about five hours behind the wheel each way.

By the time we returned home, I had answers to the questions families should ask before spending nearly $60,000 on a three-row SUV:

• Does it have enough space for real people and their belongings?
• Will the seats remain comfortable after several hours?
• Does the technology make the drive easier or more complicated?
• Can something this large still feel manageable in crowded parking garages and beach communities?
• Most importantly, is the new Telluride still one of the best family SUVs for the money?

After our trip, my answer is yes, but Kia didn't get everything right.

Why This Telluride Matters

The original Telluride changed how consumers viewed Kia. It gave families the space and presence they wanted while presenting an interior that felt more expensive than many expected from the brand.

The second generation now serves as Kia’s flagship gasoline-powered SUV. The Telluride is 2.3 inches longer than the original; its wheelbase has grown by nearly three inches, and the body is approximately one inch taller. Kia says the additional size was intentional, aimed at improving passenger access and interior space without abandoning the proportions that made the first generation successful.

That strategy works.

The Telluride is moving closer to full-size SUV appeal, but it has not become so large that it feels burdensome in everyday use. It gives families more room without asking them to wrestle with the exterior dimensions of a Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, or Toyota Sequoia.

Daryl Killian

My Fourth of July Family Test

Road trips have a way of exposing every weakness in a vehicle.

Our Telluride carried four people, including two teenage girls, along with luggage for three ladies and me. We also packed coolers, pool gear, backpacks, six beach chairs, and the rest of the equipment that comes with spending four days near the beach.

Daryl Killian

It's funny how people take considerably more on a road trip than they would ever attempt to carry onto an airplane.

The third row offered enough room for the girls, but we ultimately folded it to create one large cargo area. Even after loading everything we brought, there was room left for more.

That's the difference between reading a cargo measurement and actually using the vehicle. Families don't pack in cubic feet. We pack in suitcases, chairs, coolers, and that final bag someone remembers after everything else is already loaded.

The Telluride handled the entire load without making us choose what had to stay home.

The Biggest Surprise

The biggest surprise was not the space.

It was how small the Telluride felt from behind the wheel.

This SUV is a contradiction in the best possible way. Its interior capacity suggests something much larger, yet its steering, visibility, and overall road manners make it easy to place in traffic.

That became especially important around 30A, where narrow roads, crowded parking areas, and heavy holiday traffic can make a large SUV feel like a liability.

The Telluride never felt cumbersome.

Kia has successfully increased passenger space while preserving the easy-driving character that made the original Telluride so appealing. That may be the new model’s most important accomplishment.

Highway Comfort

The X Pro is the rugged member of the Telluride family. It comes with all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and 9.1 inches of ground clearance.

Daryl Killian

Those features normally come with a compromise.

All-terrain tires can increase road noise, and off-road-focused suspension tuning can make an SUV feel busier on the highway.

That wasn't my experience.

The ride was impressively smooth, and the cabin remained quieter than I expected at interstate speeds. Expansion joints and rough pavement didn't upset the Telluride, and tire noise never became intrusive during either of the five-hour drives.

It delivered the rugged appearance buyers expect from the X Pro without punishing the family for choosing it.

Daryl Killian

Power That Is Adequate, Not Exciting

The gasoline Telluride uses a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia rates the gasoline model to tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Acceleration was adequate with four passengers and a full cargo area.

The Telluride merged confidently, maintained highway speeds without strain, and had enough power for normal passing situations.

It's not particularly quick, and buyers expecting the effortless surge of a larger six-cylinder engine may leave the test drive wanting more. However, this is a family SUV, not a performance vehicle. For its intended purpose, the powertrain did what I needed it to do.

We completed the drive to Florida with approximately 60 miles of estimated range remaining, which gave us enough flexibility to begin driving around town without immediately searching for a gas station.

Technology That Reduced Fatigue

The Telluride’s Highway Driving Assist 2.0, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Following Assist 2, and navigation-based cruise control helped reduce the workload of the long drive. These systems are standard on upper Telluride trims, including the X Pro SX Prestige.

The vehicle maintained its distance from traffic, assisted with steering, and handled speed changes during slower portions of the trip.

These systems don't replace an attentive driver, but they can reduce some of the physical and mental strain that comes with spending five hours on the highway.

I arrived feeling more refreshed than expected, helped by the driver’s seat's periodic changes in lumbar pressure and support. It was one of those features I barely thought about during shorter drives but appreciated after several continuous hours behind the wheel.

Daryl Killian

Convenience Features That Earned Their Keep

Remote start became one of the most valuable features during our time at the beach.

After several hours in the Florida sun, I could start the Telluride before we reached it, allowing the air conditioning to begin cooling the cabin. Remote engine start is standard across the gasoline Telluride lineup.

Holding the unlock button on the key fob also lowered all four windows, allowing trapped heat to escape. I could lower them completely or stop them after creating a small opening.

That may not sound like a major feature until you return to a dark interior that has been sitting in the sun for hours.

The hands-free power liftgate responded consistently whenever I approached the rear of the Telluride with the key, which was especially helpful when my hands were full of groceries, luggage, or beach equipment. At times, however, the system was a little too eager, opening unexpectedly if I lingered near the tailgate within range of the sensors. Kia identifies the system as a Smart Power Liftgate with automatic closing capability.

The dual wireless phone chargers were another pleasant surprise. Their rubberized surfaces kept our phones in place while driving, and the cooling system helped manage the heat generated during wireless charging. The 2027 Telluride includes two wireless charging pads and seven USB-C ports distributed throughout the cabin.

These aren’t features that dominate an advertisement, but they improve the ownership experience every day.

A Cabin Designed for Families

The second and third rows benefit from the Telluride’s longer wheelbase and taller body. Kia says the redesign improves access to both rear rows and provides up to half an inch of additional headroom in vehicles equipped with sunroofs.

Daryl Killian

Daryl Killian

The fixed glass roof over the rear passenger area made the cabin feel more open, which was especially helpful with our dark interior.

It allowed enough light into the second and third rows to prevent the cabin from feeling closed in. When the Florida sun became too intense, the power-operated shade blocked it effectively.

The opening sunroof above the front seats was a welcome feature, although I would prefer a larger opening to better match the expansive glass behind it.

Kia Got Most of the Exterior Right

Our Telluride wore Terrain Brown Matte, a $995 optional finish that looks closer to matte gold depending on the lighting. The X Pro SX Prestige starts at $56,790 before destination, paint, and other options.

From the side and rear, this is one of the most attractive vehicles in the segment.

Daryl Killian

The clean profile, upright stance, and rear quarter design bear a strong resemblance to the latest Range Rover. That similarity should work in Kia’s favor because it gives the Telluride a level of visual prestige that extends beyond its price.

The rear is especially successful. It feels wide, planted, and premium without relying on excessive ornamentation.

Daryl Killian

The front does not create the same impression.

It's bold, but it lacks some of the upscale elegance seen along the sides and at the rear. The sculpted details around the wheel openings also look as though they should serve an aerodynamic or functional purpose, but visually they interrupt an otherwise clean body.

Daryl Killian

Neither issue ruins the Telluride’s appearance. They are simply the two areas I would change.

Where Kia Needs to Improve

The greatest weaknesses are inside the cabin, and they involve controls drivers use every day.

Switching between Apple CarPlay and traditional radio is more complicated than it should be. The infotainment system offers a large display and plenty of capability, but common functions require too much attention.

The climate controls present a similar problem.

The steering wheel blocks part of the climate display. Redirecting airflow, adjusting certain temperature functions, and activating or deactivating the rear climate system require too many steps.

The location of the engine start button and gear selector also needs reconsideration.

Both are positioned near the steering column and can be difficult to see because the steering wheel blocks them from the driver’s normal seating position. These controls are used every time someone drives the vehicle. They should be easy to identify without searching.

Daryl Killian

Daryl Killian

These are not deal breakers, but they are unnecessary ergonomic frustrations in an otherwise carefully designed interior.

Buyer Alert

The X Pro’s rugged image may convince buyers that it is the automatic choice at the top of the Telluride lineup.

That depends on how you plan to use it.

The X Pro offers all-terrain tires, additional ground clearance, and off-road-focused hardware. That makes sense for buyers who regularly visit campsites, unpaved roads, trails, or rural property.

Families who spend nearly all of their time on pavement may prefer an SX Prestige or X Line SX Prestige. Those versions retain most of the premium equipment without asking the buyer to pay for capabilities they may never use.

Fuel-economy-focused buyers should also consider the new Telluride Turbo Hybrid. The hybrid produces 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, with Kia estimating up to 35 mpg combined on the Front Wheel Drive EX. The hybrid is not currently offered in X Pro form.

Competitor Comparison

The Telluride competes against an increasingly strong field.

The Toyota Grand Highlander offers several powertrain options, including hybrid models. The Honda Pilot remains one of the more traditional and predictable family choices. The Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia provide substantial interior space. The Hyundai Palisade shares much of the Telluride’s underlying engineering while presenting its own interpretation of premium family transportation.

The Telluride’s advantage is balance.

It doesn't dominate every category, but it combines design, passenger room, highway comfort, technology, cargo flexibility, and perceived quality exceptionally well.

It also provides some of the visual presence of a luxury SUV without forcing buyers into luxury brand pricing and ownership costs.

Dealer Secret

Don't spend your entire test drive evaluating acceleration and the infotainment screen.

Bring the people who will actually ride in the vehicle.

Place teenagers or adults in the third row. Fold the seats yourself. Connect your phone. Switch from CarPlay to the radio. Adjust the rear climate controls. Sit behind the steering wheel and determine whether you can easily see the start button, gear selector, and climate display.

A vehicle can impress you during the first ten minutes and irritate you for the next five years.

Evaluate the controls you will use every day, not only the features the salesperson demonstrates.

Would I Spend My Money?

Yes, but I would carefully compare the X Pro with the other upper trim levels before deciding which version to buy.

The X Pro SX Prestige proved that it could handle a real family vacation with room to spare. It was comfortable, quiet, easy to drive, and loaded with conveniences that made several days at the beach less stressful.

The infotainment and climate interfaces need simplification. The front styling does not quite match the sophistication of the side and rear. The placement of the start button and gear selector could be improved.

None of those issues outweigh what Kia accomplished.

The AutoNsider Decision

Buy.

The 2027 Kia Telluride remains one of the most complete three-row family SUVs on the market.

It gives families the space of something larger without driving like an oversized truck. It feels premium without forgetting that cupholders, cargo room, charging ports, comfortable seats, and easy highway miles are what matter most when people actually live with a vehicle.

The first Telluride changed expectations for Kia.

This new generation proves that the original was not an accident.

One for the Road

The best family vehicles are not always the ones with the most horsepower, the largest screen or the longest list of features.

They are the ones who make a trip easier.

After more than 600 miles, two teenage passengers, six beach chairs, several suitcases, coolers, Florida heat, and a Fourth of July weekend on 30A, the Telluride returned my family home comfortably and without drama.

That tells me more than any carefully planned press drive ever could.

2027 Kia Telluride Trim and Price Guide

Gasoline Models

Hybrid Models

AutoNsider Pick: The EX AWD offers the strongest gasoline value. The Hybrid EX FWD is the best choice for fuel economy. The X Pro SX Prestige AWD is the choice for buyers who want nearly every available luxury and adventure feature.

Prices exclude Kia’s $1,545 destination charge, options, taxes and dealer fees.

Daryl Killian