The second-generation Kia Telluride has been revealed globally. The Telluride is Kia’s flagship ICE-powered SUV and rivals the globally available Hyundai Palisade. In its new avatar, the Telluride has undergone a complete design overhaul, giving it a more contemporary look.
- New-gen Telluride’s design appears more in line with newer Kia cars
- Length, wheelbase and height increase by 58mm, 76mm and 25mm, respectively
- Telluride will be showcased at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show
New Kia Telluride: Exterior design
Bolder and boxier than before
The new Telluride’s exterior looks bolder and more robust than the first-generation model, which received a facelift in 2022. Now, the SUV’s design appears more in line with newer Kia cars such as the Carnival, Sorento and Sportage.
It sports an all-black grille with rectangular elements, making the fascia look menacing. The headlight housing is elongated, featuring two vertically placed LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) that double up as turn indicators, as well as two pixel-shaped headlight elements. The front bumper has an all-black hue and two exposed orange-coloured tow hooks, which lend a nice contrast.
In profile, the new Telluride continues with a boxy silhouette and wheel arches that look similar to the outgoing model. But the flush-type door handles are a first for the Telluride nameplate. The top-spec X-Pro trim will also get all-terrain tyres, while the other trims will have regular road-based rubber.
The rear looks cleaner, especially because of the elongated LED tail-lights and a simple tailgate with a Kia logo and Telluride lettering. The rear bumper, on the other hand, features the same orange tow hooks as those on the front.
Moreover, Kia has increased the Telluride’s length and wheelbase by 58mm and 76mm and its height by 25mm.
New Kia Telluride: Interior design and features
Gets a fairly modern cabin with plenty of features
The interior also looks very modern and minimalistic now, with multiple dual-tone hues to choose from. It gets a 3-spoke steering wheel with an offset Kia logo and a triple-screen setup on the layered dashboard that looks similar to one on the Kia Syros.
There’s also a massive centre armrest for the front passengers that integrates two cup holders beneath a sliding lid, a small cubby space ideal for a wallet or a compact smartphone and a massive cooled compartment. The SUV comes with seven seats, with captain chairs in the middle row. Both the first- and second-row seats get powered adjustments.
Other visible features include a single-pane sunroof for the front passengers, a panoramic sunroof for the rear-seat passengers, dual wireless phone chargers, a 360-degree camera and ADAS.
New Kia Telluride: Powertrains
Engine yet to be revealed, but expect an AWD option
Powertrain options for the second-generation Kia Telluride are not yet known. However, the previous-generation model featured a 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine that churned out 291hp and 355Nm. It came with an AWD option, which is expected in the new-generation Telluride as well.
The Kia Telluride is primarily sold in North American markets and is also available in some Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. Kia does not offer it in its home country, South Korea, where the SUV’s Hyundai sibling, the Palisade, is on sale. The Telluride is a competitor to globally available SUVs, such as the Mazda CX-90, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander. The new Telluride will be revealed to the public at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, taking place from November 21 to 30.
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