Kia has gained a lot of positive recognition in recent years, reiterating the fact that the mainstream brand isn’t messing around. With the newly redesigned Kia Telluride, the positive movement continues as I get to experience the new hybrid version of the Telluride, further proving Kia’s serious approach to gaining even more ground in the popular three-row SUV segment.

For the new 2027 model year, the Telluride is completely redesigned, taking on a fresh look that somewhat resembles a new Range Rover, which isn’t a bad thing at all, as I said during my recent review of the gas-powered new Telluride. In comparison, I find that the hybrid model, a first for the Telluride, may be the one to get, considering it has more power and feels more substantial out on the road, thanks to that added power – even with the heavier curb weight.

See Also: 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige AWD Review & Test Drive

Powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and two electric motors to complete the hybrid setup, the Telluride HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) touts a total of 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive powertrain with one motor at the flywheel and the other between the engine and automatic 6-speed transmission works well for mostly seamless transitions of power from the electric motor to the gas engine, with both working in harmony to scoot the Telluride HEV up to 60 mph in about 7 seconds flat. That’s a little over one second quicker to 60 mph than the normal gas-powered Telluride, which is part of the reason I like the new hybrid model over its gas-powered counterpart.

That extra oomph is something I enjoyed during the time with the Telluride hybrid, where it has just enough responsiveness to keep you assured of getting out in front of traffic, whereas the non-hybrid model seemed to be a lackluster for acceleration from a stop and even when you’re already moving. The hybrid system found in the new Telluride HEV combines a lot of newfound engineering and advancement, where there aren’t any noticeable hiccups, and the system works smartly to conserve energy to mostly match its EPA fuel economy estimates in the real world. I say mostly because the Telluride hybrid often misses its EPA estimated marks until you drive it for many miles.

The EPA estimated 30 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for the Telluride HEV X-Line SX Prestige trim, which comes a little short of the EX and SX hybrid trim’s higher mpg, mostly due to the wheel and tire sizes, with my X-Line SX Prestige test vehicle having 21-inchers. Regardless, the hybrid system works well to muster out good fuel economy numbers for a 3-row SUV in this class. Not to mention, if you’re inclined to drive conservatively, you can easily surpass the EPA estimates to get 35 mpg or more around town because the system often shuts down the gas engine and utilizes the electric motors alone, even at highway speeds.

Apart from the enjoyable added power of the hybrid setup, the Kia Telluride hybrid in the top-level X-Line SX Prestige trim brings with it several amenities and near-luxury features, such as the heated and ventilated front seats with the driver’s seat having massage functions for both the lumbar and bottom areas. Other desirables inside include the heated and ventilated second row captain’s chairs, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, 360-degree camera system with 3D viewing angles, and the return of the trick blind-spot view monitor to display a live video feed of your blind spot in the digital gauge cluster upon signaling.

The reworked interior of the new Telluride is spacious, as it feels more accommodating than I remember in the previous generation. Moreover, the interior feels premium again with the right amount of support in the seating setup. The third row is easy to access through the movement of the second-row chairs, offering up a decent amount of space for three passengers and access to third-row heated seats and USB ports. Yes, now in the third row you can pack in 3 people giving this SUV a total of 7 passengers or up to 8 passengers with a second row bench seat configuration.

Where I would look for improvement is maybe a better use of the digital instrument cluster to have more display options and more depth to the graphics. Otherwise, you do have the neat feature of adding display themes from Star Wars to National Geographic type display themes that change up touchscreen icons and colors.

In the department of safety, Kia sticks with the typical tradition, offering up all of the expected active safety features, and its recent smart cruise control and highway driving assist 2, which requires you to keep your hand on the steering wheel, but only through touch detection.

As a hybrid, pricing is usually expected to be much higher than the gas-powered counterparts, but Kia has somehow kept things respectable with my test vehicle, which tested out at $61,180, which isn’t far from the price of my recent gas-powered Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige test vehicle from a couple of months ago at $59,580. If I’m choosing, it will be the hybrid here as that extra bit of power and efficiency is a no-brainer. Way to go, Kia!