2027 Kia Telluride is the distinctive Hyundai Palisade cousin Australians can’t have

Kia has revealed a new generation of its combustion-powered flagship SUV, but as before it won’t come to Australia.

The 2027 Kia Telluride has been revealed ahead of its debut at this month’s Los Angeles motor show, and first showroom deliveries in the US during the first quarter (January to March) of 2026.

However, the Telluride will continue to be produced exclusively in the US and only in left-hand drive, unlike sister brand Hyundai’s similarly sized Palisade, which is built in Korea in both left- and right-hand drive.

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Kia is remaining tight-lipped as to what will power the new Telluride, but a hybrid powertrain appears almost certain.

The new Palisade is offered with the Hyundai Motor Group’s new turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, while conventional petrol engines are also available – a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 in North America, and a turbo-petrol 2.5-litre four in other markets.

Kia says the new Telluride is 58mm longer than its predecessor on a wheelbase that’s nearly 76mm longer, making it 5058mm long on a wheelbase just shy of 3m in length.

This mirrors the growth spurt the Palisade also had with its recent redesign and the result, Kia claims, is improved access to the second and third rows of seats.

The styling of the 2027 Telluride is evolutionary, though Kia says it follows its Opposites United design language launched in 2021.

There are still fairly slim, vertically oriented lighting elements front and rear – with amber daytime running lights up front – plus an unobtrusive rear bumper, giving the rear-end a rounded look.

The tail-lights now feature two separate elements with body colour separating them, a variation on a theme seen on the Sorento.

There are flush door handles like those on the similarly sized EV9 electric SUV, but unique touches include the sculpted notches in the wheel-arch extensions.

Sharp new triangular side creases – which Kia says “resemble the chiseled facets of a diamond” – also give the Telluride a fresh and distinctive look

Wheel sizes including 18-, 20- and 21-inch are available, spending on the variant.

The more rugged-looking X-Pro trim level will carry over, and as before it will bring all-terrain tyres and an increase in ground clearance.

The new X-Pro also features black trim for the wheel-arches, side mirrors, belt line trim and D-pillars, and includes a mesh grille, raised roof rails, a squared-off rear bumper, and recovery hooks front and rear.

A new Ground Lighting feature projects soft light from underneath the mirrors, rear doors and rear bumper.

New exterior colours include Black Jade Green and Terrain Brown, both available with either gloss or matte finishes; there are 10 exterior colours in total.

Inside, there’s a digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen – likely the same 12.3-inch units as in the Palisade – within one assembly.

Kia says the “wide, horizontal layout conveys a sense of grandeur”, with real metal accents and wood-like textures bringing contrast, and subtle ambient lighting further improving the ambience.

Mesh head restraints, like in the EV9, are available for the first and second rows. The Telluride also features a folding luggage table down back with integrated ruler markings and a removable partition.

Available interior colourways include Blackberry and Sand Beige, and Deep Navy with Tuscan Umber. X-Pro and X-Line variants feature black, khaki, and Saddle Brown interiors.

The outgoing Telluride entered production in 2019 and debuted in the US – like its Palisade platform-mate – as a 2020 model.

It isn’t just Australia that misses out on the Telluride, with the large SUV also unavailable in Kia’s home market of Korea.

In the US, the Telluride traditionally outsells the Palisade.

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