2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro review: Kia’s rugged three-row SUV adds turbo power, real trail hardware, and family-friendly space.
The 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro arrives with a tricky job. It has to protect the family-SUV formula that made the original Telluride such an easy recommendation, while adding enough authentic capability to make the X-Pro badge mean something. Buyers are smarter now. They can spot the difference between a rugged-looking trim package and a vehicle that actually brings useful hardware.
This one does more than dress for the trail. The gas X-Pro uses Kia’s new 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, rated at 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. That’s less horsepower than the old V6, but more torque, which is the number you tend to notice in daily driving, hill climbs, and towing.
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A Tougher Telluride With Real Hardware
The X-Pro’s headline improvement is 9.1 inches of ground clearance, helped by an exclusive suspension with additional travel. Kia also adds all-wheel drive, an electronic limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, terrain modes, and front and rear recovery points. Those are meaningful changes, not just accessories glued to the brochure.
The Ground View Monitor sounds like a gimmick until you need it. At low speeds, it creates a composite view beneath the vehicle, while the off-road status screen shows pitch, roll, and steering angle. Most owners won’t crawl over boulders every weekend. But for a rutted trail to a cabin, a muddy campsite, or a snowy driveway, visibility matters.
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A Bigger Cabin That Still Understands Families
Kia stretched the Telluride to 199.2 inches long, with a 116.9-inch wheelbase. The practical result is more room where families notice it: second-row comfort, third-row access, and cargo space. Behind the third row, Kia lists 22.3 cubic feet of cargo room. Fold more seats and that grows to 48.7 cubic feet with the second row upright, or 89.3 cubic feet maximum.
The cabin feels designed around real use, not showroom theater. Available power-operated second-row captain’s chairs can be heated and ventilated, available third-row heated seats make the back row less of a penalty box, and a new second-row slide-and-tilt design is intended to allow access to the third row with certain child seats still in place.
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Technology That Helps Rather Than Shouts
Technology is central, but the best Telluride tech supports the drive instead of overwhelming it. Available dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, Digital Key 2.0, and Kia’s generative AI voice assistant all push the SUV further into premium territory.
The safety and driver-assist list is also broad, with available highway assistance, blind-spot systems, parking assistance, and camera views that make a big vehicle less stressful. That matters because this is still a family machine first. Its real mission is moving people, dogs, gear, snacks, and consequences.
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Power, Price, and the X-Pro Tradeoff
The gasoline Telluride starts at $39,190 before destination, while the X-Pro SX Prestige reaches $56,790 before destination. That is not cheap, but it lands where loaded three-row SUVs now live. The stronger torque figure helps the new turbo engine feel modern on paper, although buyers expecting old-school V6 smoothness should drive it before signing.
The hybrid Telluride is the fuel-economy story, with up to an estimated 35 mpg combined on the EX FWD trim, but the X-Pro is the capability play. That split makes sense. If you want fewer fuel stops, shop hybrid. If you want maximum rugged hardware in the Telluride family, shop X-Pro.
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The Verdict on the 2027 Telluride X-Pro
The 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro works because it doesn’t pretend to be something absurd. It isn’t a mountain goat with cupholders. It’s a polished, roomy, tech-forward family SUV with enough real off-road hardware to make weekend adventure feel less performative.
Its biggest strength is balance. It keeps the Telluride’s calm, family-first personality while adding hardware buyers can actually understand. For most owners, that’s exactly the point. The best adventure SUV is often the one that still behaves beautifully on Monday morning.
