The Los Angeles Auto Show—now the LA AutoMobility Show—is fun and all, but a lot of the cars revealed and showcased there aren’t really relevant to our market. That said, there are a few new vehicles there that we can only wish we had here in the Philippines.
One of them is the Kia Telluride, the Korean carmaker’s full-sized SUV. It’s just been overhauled with new looks, new tech, and like its Hyundai Palisade twin, a new hybrid powertrain. Multiple variants are available, including the stylish X-Line and the off-road-oriented X-Pro. Availability of tech and engines vary across the range.
The Telluride easily looks bolder and sleeker than its predecessor. The front clip has a wider, more imposing grille flanked by vertically positioned headlamps and DRLs. The flush door handles not only reduce drag coefficient—because you know, aerodynamics—but also add to the clean overall look. The rear looks simpler and less busy than the front, but the former still matches the latter.
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Powertrain options include a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and a 2.5-liter turbo hybrid setup. The non-hybrid puts out 274hp and 421Nm of torque, equal to a 66Nm bump from the previous engine. This is mated to an eight-speed automatic that sends power to either the front wheels or all four.
As for the hybrid, it gets a 1.65kWh lithium-ion battery, and the system churns out a total of 329hp and 459Nm. Kia has estimated fuel economy at 14.88km/L, which equates to about 965km of range on a full tank. The hybrid gets a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is standard.
The interior is as premium as any Kia can get. Relaxation seats with leg rests and massage functions for the driver, power adjustability and heating functionsfor the passenger and second-row seats, dual wireless charging pads, and multiple USB-C fast-charging ports are but a few of the amenities available inside the Telluride. This generation has grown in size and has a longer wheelbase than before, so legroom for second-row passengers has also improved.
Other tech include the dual 12.3-inch panoramic digital displays with the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit operating system. The head unit is paired with a Meridian premium audio system with 14 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. The vehicle itself can also be connected to a smartphone for remote controls and other operations. It also supports Kia myQ Connected Garage, which can enable automatic opening or closing of the garage doors as you arrive or leave home.
The Telluride also has Entertainment and Data Services, which supports various streaming platforms. Of course, a full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems is equipped here, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot collision warning, and driver attention warning.
Pretty nice, eh? Sadly, we’re not betting on this Kia to land on our shores anytime soon. We’d probably be seeing the Tasman here first before the Telluride. But hey, if there’s space for the Palisade in Hyundai’s local lineup, then why not the Telluride for Kia? Who knows, maybe in the far future?
More photos of the all-new Kia Telluride 2027:
