Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Kia Telluride
It could be argued that the Kia Telluride is the Korean automaker’s franchise player. The three-row SUV has been one of Kia’s most popular vehicles, even earning a MotorTrend SUV of The Year Award in 2020. Considering that track record, it’s no surprise that Kia is working to bring an all-new, second-generation Telluride to market.
It’s only been a year since the Kia Telluride was refreshed, so based on our experience with product cycles, we don’t think this new Telluride will be an entirely new model. Rather, it will likely carry over its chassis and running gear, accompanied by a few key—and very visible—upgrades.
We recently observed the new Kia Telluride conducting public street testing while wearing camouflage. Now that we’re seeing the new Telluride out in the wild, this is a great time to discuss everything we know about it so far.
Freshen the Refreshed Styling
While we believe that the 2026 Kia Telluride won’t be a complete redesign, these spy shots reveal some obvious visual upgrades. We suspect that the camouflage conceals styling updates that will bring the Telluride more in line with Kia’s latest “EV” electric SUV family (EV9, EV6, etc.), incorporating some rugged lower body touches. The fact that the camouflage is more substantial on the lower part of the body hints at this direction.
One noticeable change is a new “four-square” wheel design that gives the Telluride a “heftier” appearance. Furthermore, the prototype seems to show an updated front fascia, featuring new grille and headlight designs that peek out modestly from behind the camo cladding.
While our glimpse of the interior remains limited to spy photos, we can confirm that the 2026 Kia Telluride will sport a new steering wheel. This change also leads us to anticipate dashboard design updates, along with some tweaks to color choices for both the interior and exterior.
The Engine: Carrying Over with New Options
The 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission is expected to remain an option in the new model. Despite its EPA-rated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway (in its most efficient front-wheel-drive configuration), this powertrain is somewhat more fuel-thirsty, although it affords up to 5,500 pounds of towing capacity.
Nonetheless, we believe that the 3.8-liter V-6 will not be the sole engine option in the 2026 Kia Telluride. There’s a possibility that the SUV could adopt the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder from the Sorrento line, or even a hybrid setup shared with the latest Carnival minivan. This is something Kia has previously considered.
Trimming The Telluride Options
There are currently no fewer than 10 different trims available for the 2024 Kia Telluride. While choice is appealing, it can also overwhelm some shoppers. Therefore, there’s a slight chance that Kia may opt to streamline the trims for clarity. Regardless, expect Kia to implement packaging and trim enhancements largely influenced by customer feedback.
Still Early Days for the Telluride
While it’s uncertain when the next Telluride will officially launch, this prototype appears relatively close to production (minus the camouflage). Consequently, it’s likely that we won’t have to wait years; instead, we might only have to wait a few months before witnessing this new SUV. It could debut as a 2026 or early 2027 model-year offering. Stay tuned as we continue to uncover more details!
Images provided by KindelMedia
