If you’re looking for a three-row SUV that can keep pace with your busy lifestyle, the 2025 Kia Telluride checks all of the boxes. Seating for up to eight passengers? Check. 87 cu.ft. of cargo room? Check. All the towing capacity needed to haul your camper or boat up to the lake for a weekend full of fun and sun? Check. The Telluride offers all that and more, and has quickly become one of the go-to options in the midsize segment since first hitting the market in 2019.
The three-row SUV segment is traditionally aimed at the family market, and while the Telluride does have all of the comfort, convenience, and infotainment tech features needed to keep your household happy, it also has a duo of decidedly more rugged options thanks to the off-road-focused X-Line and X-Pro trims.
The Telluride has racked up plenty of praise in its short time on the market, earning six consecutive Midsize SUV Best Buy awards from Kelley Blue Book and being the first SUV to earn Utility Vehicle of the Year, MotorTrend SUV of the Year, and Car and Driver 10Best all in the same year. This sort of recognition is difficult to argue with, and makes a solid case for seeking out a Kia Telluride for sale, but it’s still worth doing a deeper dive to learn why the three-row crossover has captured so many hearts and minds. Let’s outline the upsides of the 2025 model and look ahead to see what the second-generation Telluride has in store for 2026.
Performance Meets Efficiency
Drivers won’t have to make any tough decisions when it comes to settling on an engine, as every 2025 Telluride is packed with the same 3.8-liter V6 setup. Kia’s Lamba V6 provides more than enough muscle to move the three-row SUV down the road with 291 hp to its name. The Telluride is typically outfitted with front-wheel drive, but those seeking a little extra traction can easily swap it out for an AWD alternative on any of the SUV’s 10 trims.
Kia’s largest crossover is surprisingly speedy for its size, accelerating from zero to 60 mph in right around 6.8 seconds. That sort of pace should help to inject a little excitement into your daily commute, or keep you from running behind schedule when you’re cruising around town with a full list of errands.
The 2025 Telluride also isn’t afraid to put in a little work with the torque-rich V6, allowing the SUV to pull up to 5,500 lbs. The crossover might not be able to match some of the brawnier badges in the midsize segment, but it offers a balance of performance, efficiency, and utility that makes it worthy of a closer look if you’re in the market for a new family vehicle.
Speaking of efficiency, the Telluride is able to deliver up to 20 MPG combined in its AWD model, and up to 22 MPG combined when opting for the FWD model. The 2025 model’s lone gas engine is something of a holdout in a segment that’s quickly embracing the hybrid approach, but that does look to be changing with the release of the 2026 model sometime next year.
A Trim for Every Driver
If advanced comfort, convenience, and safety tech top your list of must-have features in a new three-row SUV, the Kia Telluride has you covered. The base LX trim deifies its low starting price to provide buyers with a well-appointed cabin that provides a premium experience. A Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control system allows every passenger to dial in their perfect temperature while synthetic leather upholstery lends the interior a high-end look. The LX is also surprisingly tech-forward, featuring keyless entry and a push-button start system, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display with integrated navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
The Telluride’s S trim prioritizes comfort and versatility with heated front seats, a power-adjutable driver’s seat, and optional second-row captain’s chairs that give lankier riders the chance to stretch their legs on longer rides. The S also adds a sunroof and roof rails, as well as a wireless phone charger that’ll ensure your devices stay juiced up and ready to go no matter where the road might take you.
The EX model is all about automation with power-folding mirrors, a hands-free liftgate, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror that allows you to preserve your night vision when you’re being tailgated by a set of bright headlights. The trim also ups the tranquility factor with sunshades for the second-row windows, sound-absorbing front door window glass, and ventilated front seats wrapped in genuine leather.
The SX and SX Prestige deliver a borderline luxury experience with their dual sunroofs, a power driver’s seat with memory settings, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that provides plenty of customization potential. The SX’s 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is another obvious highlight, but it’s the system’s expanded slate of standard safety features that really caught our attention. Every Telluride comes with a wide array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane keeping assistance and more, but the SX models add an upgraded forward collision mitigation system and a full complement of cameras that power the Telluride’s surround-view camera systems and a blind-spot view monitor that’ll display those hard-to-see areas directly on the digital instrument cluster.
The Telluride rounds out its ADAS arsenal with Highway Driving Assist 2, which improves the standard adaptive cruise control system with a feature that allows the SUV to automatically change lanes simply by flicking the turn signal. The Telluride’s ultimate SX Prestige trim lives up to its rarefied name courtesy of its premium leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated second-row seats, as well as a 110-volt power outlet, adjustable ambient lighting, and a heads-up display that puts all the relevant driving data directly onto the lower edge of the windshield in an effort to reduce distractions.
Off-Road Options
Want to enjoy all of the advantages of a spacious three-row crossover while adding a little off-road utility to the equation? The Telluride’s X-Line and X-Pro packages are here to serve. Midsize models like the Telluride are already well-suited to the off-road lifestyle thanks to their unique combination of size and power, but the X-Line and X-Pro packages include some crucial hardware and upgrades that allow the SUV to excel when you venture off the beaten path.
Available on the EX, SX, and SX Prestige models, the X-Line packages add AWD as a standard feature and up the traction with a few key styling changes that lend the X-Line-equipped Telluride a distinctive look. Gloss-black exterior trim, 20-inch wheels, and an exclusive grille set the X-Line apart from the crowd, but it’s the lifted suspension and enhanced traction control system that make the biggest difference by improving the Telluride’s ground clearance and traction.
The X-Pro represents the Telluride’s most adventurous option with all the same gear you’ll find on the X-Line, plus a little extra, though it’s limited to the SX and SX Prestige trims. The range-topping Telluride gains 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, and a 110-volt outlet that’ll allow you to power a wide range of accessories, appliances, and equipment when you’re miles off the grid on your next off-road excursion.
Kia has also upped the X-Pro’s towing capacity by 500 lbs to make the model the most capable workhorse in the 2025 lineup, with a maximum capacity of 5,500 lbs. It’s a compelling package, and one that manages to expand the SUV’s resume without compromising the comfort and performance that have long made it such a strong contender in the competitive segment.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Telluride is set to see some major changes for the 2026 model year as Kia ushers in the SUV’s second generation. Details are still a little hard to come by, but from what we can gather, the new Telluride looks like it’ll be well worth the wait. Some spy shots indicate that the crossover will shift to a boxier look for 2026, but it’s the Telluride’s three-row counterpart in the Kia Palisade that serves as the best indicator of what the new model might look like.
The 2026 Palisade already beat the second-generation Telluride to market, and since both SUVs ride on the same unibody platform, it’s safe to assume that the upcoming Telluride will share its sibling’s larger dimensions and extended wheelbase when compared to the previous version. Other styling changes on the docket for 2026 include flatter sides, larger LED headlights and tail lights, and possibly even the same flush door handles that grace Kia’s EV9 SUV.
While we’re on the subject of EVs, it’s probably a good time to unveil the biggest change for the 2026 model year. As we mentioned earlier, the Telluride looks like it’ll embrace the hybrid approach as Kia kicks off the second generation. Once again, the Palisade provides a helpful roadmap of things to come.
Experts assume the Telluride will copy the Palisade’s hybrid powertrain, which is composed of a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine and dual electric motors that allow the SUV to churn out 329 hp. The Palisades leverages the hybrid powertrain to provide up to 30 MPG on the highway, and although the Telluride is slightly larger, we expect the two crossovers to deliver very similar fuel economy. It’s also safe to assume that the second-gen Telluride will see a thorough interior refresh, though the specifics are a bit hazy at this point in time.
The Ride of Your Life
We’ve touched on some of the highlights of the 2025 Telluride, but no overview of a Kia model would be complete without a brief mention of the brand’s generous warranty. Kia stands behind each of its vehicles with one of the industry’s best warranty programs, with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty. That’s a solid start, but it’s Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that really seals the deal. No other automaker even comes close to providing comparable coverage, and it’s fair to say that Kia’s warranty goes a long way towards improving both the Telluride’s value and the amount of confidence owners will experience when they’re behind the wheel.
Add in the SUV’s potent V6 engine, impressive efficiency, and opulent interior, and it’s not difficult to understand why the Telluride consistently earns the nod from both drivers and critics alike. It seems like 2026 could hold big things for the Kia Telluride, and while we’re excited for a new hybrid option, it’s still difficult to see how Kia could improve on the current model.
