In 2019, Kia debuted the Telluride. To say the new full-size SUV became popular is an understatement. Taking the segment by storm, the SUV became one of the best-performing models in Kia’s portfolio. People couldn’t get enough, and though some updates in recent years have helped to keep the model fresh, it is, inevitably, time for a new one. That day will come in 2027, when the latest all-new Telluride debuts.
Kia’s New Telluride Is Almost Here
On November 20, the latest Telluride will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The SUV’s successor will have some big shoes to fill, especially if Kia wants it to continue to compete with today’s popular alternatives, like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Mazda CX-90. Here, we can see the Telluride in the flesh for the first time, albeit with a custom wrap intended to fool your eyes and hide some of the details.
The wrap itself is pretty neat, featuring a handful of sketches from the Telluride’s design process. On the doors, you’ll also find some GPS coordinates. Plug those into your favorite maps app, and you’ll get the town of Telluride, Colorado, the SUV’s namesake. “Stylistically, inspiration for the wrap was derived from Keith Haring and Mr. Doodle (Sam Cox). Both artists create complex patterns expressed via simple lines. We worked on reducing the Telluride’s design sketches to simple lines, overlapping sketches and silhouettes to create what ultimately became the defining motif for the wrap,” says Tom Kearns, vice president and senior chief designer for Kia Design Center America.
The Latest Telluride Will Take Another Step Towards Off-Road Capability
The Telluride in the teaser looks to take Kia’s X-Pro trim a bit further. Currently, the X-Pro is a good choice for buyers seeking a touch more off-road capability from the basic Telluride. That means better tires, as well as some unique design elements and some nice interior touches. The latest model should take things a step further. That means even more ground clearance, as well as mechanical updates like unique suspension tuning and more.
We’ve got high hopes for the upcoming Telluride, X-Pro trim or not. The SUV has a big role to step into, with the Telluride being one of the brand’s top three sellers in 2024, with a whopping 114,000+ units sold. This one needs to deliver in a few key areas, namely, improving upon the outgoing model’s tech and storage space – both of which were historic weak points for the model.
