The Kia Telluride made a big splash when it entered the midsize SUV market for the 2020 model year. Whether car shoppers are looking for a new or used Kia Telluride, the three-row crossover has been a popular choice. Now that it’s been a few years since the Telluride arrived, it’s time for some updates. And Kia went all out with the redesign.
A Hybrid Powertrain is Coming to the Kia Telluride
With several other electric and hybrid models in the Kia lineup, it’s not a surprise that the second-generation Telluride is expected to arrive with a hybrid powertrain. It’s currently offered a 3.8-liter V-6 gas engine that delivers 291 horsepower and works with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
According to an interview with Russell Wager, the vice president of marketing for Kia in America, the automaker is open to offering it with a hybrid setup. It’s not clear yet whether this will be a regular hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
A Refreshed Style
There’s still a lot to learn about the 2026 Kia Telluride, but some hints show that its new exterior look will bring it in line with the EV family of SUVs that Kia currently offers. Picture the EV9 and the EV6, but with some extra lower body elements that give it a more rugged look.
What to Expect on the Safety Front
The current Kia Telluride has a comprehensive list of advanced safety features, so you can expect all this to carry over into the next generation. Even if you find a used Kia Telluride on a dealer lot, you can count on it having features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, automatic braking, and forward collision mitigation. It will also come standard with lane-keep assist.
Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 system is available on the higher-end Telluride models, too. This safety technology uses an enhanced version of adaptive cruise control that adds the ability to change lanes just by activating the turn signal in the direction you want to go.
The 2026 Kia Telluride Trim Level Lineup
Kia has not made any announcements about what trim levels will be a part of the 2026 lineup. It’s currently available in 10 different trims, including the X-Line and X-Pro trims that add some bolder trim elements and more off-road-ready features. The X-Pro is the most capable if you have to take the road less traveled with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. The X-Pro is also the most capable when it comes to towing power. It can pull up to 5,500 pounds, which is an extra 500 pounds over the rest of the Telluride lineup.
Building on the Current Technology
There’s still a lot to learn about what type of tech the new Telluride will offer. The current model has a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, which comes loaded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other features include a Wi-Fi hotspot and several USB-C ports throughout the cabin, along with a wireless charging pad.
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