Kia reveals new 2027 Telluride, the franchise SUV that put the brand on the map

Kia’s (000270.KS) most important vehicle just received a big, bold refresh.

Kia showed off the latest version of its top-selling full-size SUV, the 2027 Telluride. The three-row SUV maintains its Range Rover-ish looks, but with a more chiseled design, featuring a massive, almost full-face grill with integrated lighting. The vehicle is also a surprising 2.3 inches longer than its predecessor, a big change for most vehicles, with an even more stretched wheelbase for extra legroom.

“With Telluride, it was a matter of being tailored and restrained — dare I say, anti-design,” said Kia chief designer Tom Kearns in a statement. “With that approach, it was about capturing strength and luxury, tradition and modernness, into a single expression.

Kia refreshed the Telluride’s interior as well, incorporating a widescreen infotainment screen that appears in its newest vehicles. Kia says its wood-like textures, soft-touch materials, and “real metal accents” add warmth and a premium feel.

When it debuted six years ago, the Telluride was an instant hit. Its good looks, comfortable cabin, and affordability (starting around $37,000, unheard of in the space) made it a top seller and put Kia top of mind with consumers.

“The Telluride was a huge piece of redefining who we were as a brand and attracting a different type of customer… and I think one of the big aha moments for me,” Kia America vice president of sales Eric Watson told Yahoo Finance in early October.

“As you drive around middle-class and upper-middle-class neighborhoods around the country, you start to see Telluride as one of the two vehicles in their driveways or their garages, and it really allowed families to accept the Kia brand,” Watson said.

With Kia’s “share of garage” growing due to the Telluride, Watson believes the next car these higher-end buyers might consider is another Kia.

“[The Telluride] really opened people’s minds to what Kia is and what we could become in the future,” he said.

The Telluride and other popular vehicles like the Sportage SUV and K4 sedan powered Kia to an October sales record in the US, with sales up 8% year to date compared to a year ago. Kia projects it will hit a third straight year of record sales.

Kia is betting its continued success will come via the 2027 Telluride model after it makes its official world debut later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Kia did not provide details on pricing and powertrain options, but they are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, likely at the LA show.