2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid: The First Hybrid Telluride Ever — Trims, MPG and Pricing for New York City Families

Published August 11, 2026 · Last updated September 16, 2026

Since 2020 the Telluride has been the three-row SUV families bought with their heads and defended with their hearts. The one thing it never offered was a hybrid badge. For 2027 that changes — and the first Telluride Hybrid happens to be built for exactly the stop-and-go driving New York hands you every day.

What is the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid?

It is the first electrified Telluride in the nameplate's history, launched alongside the clean-sheet second-generation redesign rather than bolted on later. The new 2.5-liter turbocharged four pairs with a 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors for 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft through a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters — the most powerful Telluride you can buy, well ahead of the 274-hp gas version.

Nothing plugs in. The battery recharges itself through braking and coasting, which a city of red lights does constantly on your behalf. The body measures 199.2 inches on a 116.9-inch wheelbase, the cabin borrows the EV9 playbook, and one trim note matters before you shop: the off-road X-Pro is gasoline only, so a hybrid buyer who wants the rugged look chooses X-Line. Our complete 2027 Telluride family guide covers the gas trims and X-Pro in detail.

How the hybrid compares with the gas Telluride

Both share the redesigned body, interior and turbo four, but the hybrid adds 55 horsepower and 28 lb-ft, swaps the eight-speed for a six-speed automatic, and lifts combined economy from 22 mpg to as high as 35. The trade-offs are small: towing drops from 5,000 to 4,500 pounds, seating is seven only, and cargo with both rows folded is 88.3 cubic feet instead of 89.3. Behind the third row, both keep 22.3 cubic feet.

How much does the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid cost?

The Hybrid EX front-drive opens at $46,490 and the Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige tops out at $57,590, before the $1,545 destination charge. The hybrid skips the gas model's LX and S entry trims and starts at EX, which is why it opens higher — but you also start with more equipment.

The real question is whether the premium pays back. A Hybrid EX costs about $2,700 more than a gas EX but returns 35 combined mpg against 22 — roughly a third less fuel, and the difference between two fill-ups a month and four. With an estimated 637 miles of range, filling up becomes a twice-a-month errand instead of a weekly hunt for a station. For a family driving most days inside the city, that closes the gap well inside a lease term; for an SUV that mostly sits, it does not.

All-wheel drive is a $2,000 option on the Hybrid EX and standard on the X-Line SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line SX-Prestige. Your trade is the other lever: at this price, existing equity usually decides whether the hybrid is within reach, so run a trade-in value early.

2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid trims compared

Every hybrid uses the same 2.5-liter turbo-hybrid, 329 hp / 339 lb-ft, and six-speed automatic. Prices exclude the $1,545 destination charge.

Two details are easy to miss. The plain Hybrid SX is front-drive only, so an SX buyer who wants AWD moves to the Hybrid X-Line SX. And the off-road X-Pro does not exist in the hybrid lineup at all.

Which trim fits which New Yorker

• Hybrid EX FWD — the sharpest choice for a family whose SUV lives on city streets. Best mpg, longest range, lowest price of entry.
• Hybrid EX AWD — the winter answer for the Catskills, a ski rack or an unplowed side street in Sheepshead Bay. Still 31 combined.
• Hybrid SX — for the daily parallel parker. Surround View and Blind-Spot View pay for themselves the first time you thread into a spot on a bike-lane block.
• Hybrid SX-Prestige — for the long-haul commuter, where the head-up display and Ergo Motion seat change what an hour on the Belt feels like.
• Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige — everything, wrapped in the rugged X-Line look.

The cabin now feels like the price of the car

Kia took the EV9 playbook into the Telluride and the result reads far more expensive than it is. Dual 12.3-inch curved displays anchor the dash from SX upward, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard everywhere, and seven ride on second-row captain's chairs that slide and tilt even with a child seat installed, so third-row access does not require an argument.

The details are where a family actually lives. Dual wireless charging pads sit up front, USB-C fast chargers run through every row including the front seatbacks, and a 120V household outlet and a folding cargo table with cupholders sit in the back. SX-Prestige trims add heated seats in all three rows — worth a lot on a January school run.

Awards and recent Kia news

For a vehicle that has existed for under a year, the hybrid is collecting recognition fast. U.S. News & World Report named the 2027 Telluride Hybrid its Best Midsize Hybrid SUV in the 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Car awards, after editors evaluated 138 vehicles across 19 categories. Newsweek readers voted the 2027 Telluride onto their Best New SUVs list in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, and the New England Motor Press Association called the new Telluride its 2026 Best Winter Family Utility Vehicle — decided in exactly the salt and slush we get here.

On safety, the second generation is built around a reinforced structure with 10 airbags including a new front-center airbag. Nineteen driver aids are standard with up to 29 available, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with cyclist detection and a radar Rear Occupant Alert. Independent 2027 crash results are still in the test cycle; the previous Telluride held an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star NHTSA rating.

Behind it sits the warranty that built the brand: 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage with the hybrid system included, plus 5 years or 60,000 miles basic, both limited. Kia also appears on TIME's 2026 World's Most Sustainable Companies list.

Why the hybrid works for New York drivers

• Traffic is its natural habitat. A conventional SUV burns fuel idling on the BQE; this one shuts the engine off and lets the motors handle the crawl. The worse the traffic, the better the hybrid looks.
• Power when the light turns green. With 339 lb-ft arriving instantly from the electric motors, merging onto a parkway from a short ramp stops being an act of faith.
• Quiet is a feature here. Electric creep at low speed makes school drop-off, garage maneuvering and late-night returns nearly silent.
• Winter covered, mpg intact. Four of five trims can be had with AWD, terrain modes handle snow and slush, and the thirstiest hybrid still returns 31 combined.
• No charger required. A conventional hybrid suits drivers who park on the street or in a garage without outlets.
• Towing when you need it. Up to 4,500 pounds properly equipped — a small boat, a camper or a moving trailer.

The honest caveat is size — 199.2 inches is a lot of car for a tight garage or a block where spots are scarce. Price out a Sportage Hybrid or a Seltos first, and if you need sliding doors for curbside drop-off the Carnival is the smarter tool. We would rather you buy the right one.

Cross-shop every hybrid rival without moving your car

Every rival in this segment is a sidewalk away. Drive the Telluride Hybrid against the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, size it up against the gas Hyundai Palisade, or test whether a three-row EV like the Hyundai IONIQ 9 fits your charging reality. Our 2027 Honda Pilot guide covers the closest Honda rival, the CR-V Hybrid guide the smaller hybrid path, and the Odyssey guide makes the minivan case. Want something plusher? Acura of Brooklyn is on the same block. On a budget? Browse the group used inventory.

Shopping a Telluride Hybrid at Plaza Kia

A first-year hybrid on a hot nameplate moves fast, so start with a number instead of a guess. Our pre-approval form returns a real payment range and asks for no SSN or date of birth.

Then check our lease deals alongside current Kia incentives — store offers and factory support often stack. A trade-in value run early often closes the gap between the gas and hybrid price tags on its own.

Not set on new? Our certified pre-owned Kia lineup and used inventory include first-generation Tellurides, and you can schedule service online anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Pricing is MSRP and excludes the $1,545 destination charge, taxes, title, license, options and dealer charges. EPA estimates are for comparison only; actual mileage varies. Towing capacity requires proper equipment. Features and availability vary by trim and are subject to change.