{"id":12336,"date":"2026-07-01T19:30:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/?p=12336"},"modified":"2026-07-01T17:23:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T21:23:14","slug":"the-2027-kia-telluride-looks-so-much-like-a-range-rover-from-behind-youd-be-forgiven-for-mixing-them-up-right-down-to-the-deep-green-paint-except-this-one-costs-less-than-half-as-much-and-after-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/the-2027-kia-telluride-looks-so-much-like-a-range-rover-from-behind-youd-be-forgiven-for-mixing-them-up-right-down-to-the-deep-green-paint-except-this-one-costs-less-than-half-as-much-and-after-a\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2027 Kia Telluride looks so much like a Range Rover from behind you’d be forgiven for mixing them up, right down to the deep green paint, except this one costs less than half as much, and after a week with the hybrid I was looking up lease deals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The launch of the 2027 Kia Telluride<\/a> was a touch bittersweet. On the one hand the vehicle received a major overhaul which boosted efficiency, reworked the powertrain options, and gave the vehicle a bold new look. On the other, it was now more expensive than previous generations, and had lost a not insignificant amount of towing capacity.<\/p>\n

Still, the paper specs rarely tell the whole story. I recently had the opportunity to test out the 2027 Telluride myself, specifically the \u201cKia Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige X-Line AWD,\u201d and the results left me looking up lease deals.<\/p>\n

Kia has copied Range Rover\u2019s homework<\/h2>\n
\"A
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you look at the 2026 Kia Telluride from a distance, especially from the back, you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking it\u2019s a member of the Range Rover family. While it hasn\u2019t been directly stated, it would be hard to deny that the Korean marque took a lot of inspiration from the iconic British manufacturer when designing the Telluride\u2019s exterior.<\/p>\n

This even extends to the paint. The \u201cBlack Jade Green\u201d color would fit right in on the surface of a Range Rover. It\u2019s pretty close to some of the deep modern mechanics on offer.<\/p>\n

Where the Telluride does diverge is at the front. Its large and modern fascia is closer to Hyundai\u2019s current offerings. It still fits in with the rest of the vehicle, and it\u2019s good that some elements of the Kia are unique. Overall, the Telluride scores exceptionally high on the styling front. It\u2019s something you can be proud to drive, and gives the SUV a luxury feel, even if it isn\u2019t coming in at a luxury price point.<\/p>\n

But the 2027 Telluride doesn\u2019t drive like a Range Rover<\/h2>\n
\"A
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the 2027 Telluride certainly has Range Rover-esque looks Kia hasn\u2019t quite managed to capture the feeling you get when you drive one of the luxury SUVs. This isn\u2019t a shock, when they work Range Rovers are some of the best handling SUVs on the road. They handle better than any other large vehicle I\u2019ve driven.<\/p>\n

As for Kia\u2019s effort, it\u2019s not bad by any means. It just has a pretty standard driving feeling, like a Ford Explorer or Chevrolet Traverse. In fact, I\u2019d likely give it the edge over the Traverse when it comes to overall handling, which is a major plus for Kia as the two vehicles are directly competing.<\/p>\n

The Telluride does have multiple driving modes, including a sport mode, but it really isn’t the sort of thing you\u2019ll be aiming to set a hot lap in. It\u2019s a large family SUV, and it\u2019s pretty good at doing large family SUV things.<\/p>\n

The Telluride is immensely practical<\/h2>\n
\"Front
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Telluride is a three-row SUV and while other vehicles do have a bit more leg room in the third row, you can fit an adult back there. With that being said, I\u2019ve always considered a three-row vehicle as something that should have its rear seats down by default. The extra storage space is very useful, and it\u2019s easy enough to pop the seats back up should you need to get an extra passenger or two in there.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the space to consider. It\u2019s pretty generous, with the 21.3 cubic feet available behind the third row only beaten by the likes of the Chevrolet Traverse in its class and larger vehicles like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. If you dump the third row you\u2019ll ger just under 48 cubic feet of space, which isn\u2019t as generous as the likes of the Toyota Grand Highlander and falls just behind a Honda Pilot. However, it\u2019s still a lot of room.<\/p>\n

The model I tested also came with self-leveling rear suspension, which should keep the Kia handling well even if you do pack a lot into the back.<\/p>\n

Some comfort features are present<\/h2>\n
\"An
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So it doesn\u2019t handle like a Range Rover, but is the interior as luxurious as you\u2019ll find in the British SUV? Again, no, this is less than half the price. But that\u2019s not to say the Telluride isn\u2019t beautiful inside.<\/p>\n

I was genuinely impressed with the futuristic styling, which is coupled with a lot of high quality leather. While plastic is present, there\u2019s notably less plastic than you\u2019ll find in other interiors. On the trim I tested, the \u201cSX Prestige X-Line AWD,\u201d you won\u2019t even find much piano black around to gather fingerprints and look weirdly cheap.<\/p>\n

There is *a* massage seat present, but like a lot of Hyundai group vehicles it\u2019s limited to the driver\u2019s seat. Which is a shame, as the \u201cErgo Motion\u201d massage system is one of the better ones available. Posture adjustment is also present in the driver\u2019s seat, which can help on long journeys. The front seats are also heated and vented, as are the second row captain\u2019s chairs.<\/p>\n

With regards to infotainment, a dual 12.3 inch half-dash length panoramic display is at the center of it all, and works pretty well. Sound comes courtesy of a Meridian Premium Audio System which again sounds great.<\/p>\n

As for ADAs features, there\u2019s a high quality digital rear view mirrors, a solid set of cameras, Hyundai\u2019s somewhat mediocre cruise control system, and a parking assist system which does not seem to work in most circumstances. In short, it\u2019s what you\u2019d expect from a mid-range to premium SUV.<\/p>\n

Fuel economy is great on the hybrid model<\/h2>\n
\"Front
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Usually, I\u2019d get a bit upset when a manufacturer drops its V6 option. But as we\u2019re on about practicality here, I have to concede the hybrid powertrain is superb and absolutely the best option on this vehicle.<\/p>\n

The 2.5 liter turbo-hybrid offers 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. Which doesn\u2019t sound world beating in this day and age, but is still plenty for a three-row SUV. It can go from 0-60 in around 6.6 seconds, and the hybrid element makes it immensely responsive. At no point did the Telluride feel sluggish.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the 31 MPG (30 urban, 32 on the highway) to consider. Yes, it\u2019s not the most economical<\/a> thing you can get. But given its size, that is a superb fuel economy rating. With gas prices as volatile as they are<\/a>, it could be a reason to get a Telluride on its own. It\u2019s immensely practical and won\u2019t bankrupt you if you decide to actually drive it.<\/p>\n

On the flipside, the turbo 4-cylinder is notably less powerful, and only gets 22 MPG according to the EPA, so you should really avoid that and stump up for the hybrid.<\/p>\n

If I was buying a personal vehicle, I\u2019d be looking at a Telluride<\/h2>\n
\"A
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honestly, after my week with the 2027 Telluride I was looking up lease deals and loan offers while debating if I needed a new vehicle. It sits at a price point most middle class people can afford, it has a good amount of interior space, it drives well, it looks great, and Kia\u2019s warranties are enough to dismiss any reliability concerns.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re halfway through 2026 as I write this, but the Telluride is a strong contender for my Vehicle of the Year. It just does everything well, and delivers exceptional value while doing so. Who cares about not being able to buy a RAV4 this year.<\/a> You can just get a Telluride instead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The launch of the 2027 Kia Telluride was a touch bittersweet. On the one hand the vehicle received a major … <\/p>\n

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