The Kia Telluride is popular. Add a hybrid powertrain, and it just got hotter for 2027. More power, better gas mileage. Everyone wants in.
There are five trim levels. You don’t need to guess which one makes sense.
Why the SX Trim Wins
Start with the EX if you want the base. It’s fine. Plenty of car for the price. But if you ask me? The SX is where the deal gets good.
Safety tech improves. Blind-spot monitoring. Forward-collision warnings. Highway driving assist. All included.
Inside, the upgrades hit hard. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster replaces the old school dials. Dual sunroofs. Ambient lighting that doesn’t feel cheap. A better stereo, too.
Look outside. The 18-inch wheels from the base model are gone. They’re replaced by 20-inch alloys. LED fog lights join the party. The styling gets subtle, just enough to say this one’s special.
It starts at $53,033. A modest jump from the base price for noticeable changes in look and feel. Why settle for less?
The SX adds comfort and style without forcing you into debt.
No Horsepower Trade-offs
Here is the good part. Every hybrid gets the same guts. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors. Combined output? 329 horsepower.
Power doesn’t vary by trim. The engine is the engine.
But the drive wheels change. The standard SX comes only with front-wheel drive (FWD). That’s the only real mechanical penalty.
Want all-wheel drive (AWD )? You have to go higher. Or choose the base EX, which offers AWD as an option. The SX Prestige and up come standard with AWD.
Think you’re driving off-road often? Maybe grab a different drivetrain. For pavement pounding, the FWD SX keeps its weight down. And the power? You’re not missing an ounce of it.
What’s Missing From the Top?
Have more cash to burn? Fine.
The SX Prestige adds more upscale touches, sitting around $58,133. It feels more premium, sure. Then there is the X-Line. This package dresses the SX and SX Prestige up in rugged clothes. Blacked-out accents, different cladding. It looks tough.
Prices climb quickly there.
- X-Line SX: $56,033
- X-Line SX Prestige: $59,133
If you actually need a tank? Look elsewhere. The gas-only Telluride offers an X-Pro trim designed for serious abuse. The hybrid X-Line is mostly theater.
Need to tow a small boat or trailer? Check your paperwork. No trim level includes a hitch standard. You pay around $623 to add one. It is the only real accessory package available across the entire Telluride lineup, hybrid and gas alike.
The standard SX works for families. Road trips. Long hauls. It doesn’t look like it belongs at a basecamp, but it doesn’t need to. You get the power, you get the space, and you keep a chunk of change for groceries. Or something else.
