2027 Kia Telluride Ditches V6 for Turbocharged Four-Cylinder

The 2027 Kia Telluride will no longer be offered with its popular 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine, switching instead to a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and adding a new hybrid variant. Sang Lee, Manager of Product Planning at Kia America, stated that the new engine is technologically superior to the outgoing V6—delivering 311 lb-ft of torque as low as 1,700 rpm (compared to the previous V6’s 262 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm)—and better complies with California’s stringent Advanced Clean Cars II emissions standards. Additionally, the new model weighs 265 pounds more than its predecessor, and the increased torque helps compensate for the added weight. While rivals like the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Hyundai Palisade continue to offer naturally aspirated V6 engines, Kia has opted to align with industry trends by fully transitioning to smaller-displacement turbocharged and hybrid powertrains.