The 2027 Telluride Hybrid is the first hybrid Kia has built on this nameplate, and it is not a fuel-economy trim bolted onto the range. It makes 329 horsepower against the gas car's 274, returns up to 35 mpg combined against 22, and costs $2,700 more on a like-for-like EX. This page sets the two powertrains side by side and shows which one suits which driver.

The Two Powertrains at a Glance

Same 2.5-liter turbo block, two very different characters.

Measure	Telluride	Telluride Hybrid
Horsepower	274 hp	329 hp
Torque	311 lb-ft	339 lb-ft
Combined mpg, front drive	22	35 on EX, 33 on SX
Combined mpg, all-wheel drive	20	31
Maximum towing	5,000 lb	4,500 lb
Cargo behind 3rd row	22.3 cu ft	21.3 cu ft
Seating	8 on LX, 7 elsewhere	7, all trims
Entry price	$39,190	$46,490

Powertrain-by-Powertrain

Two ways to move the same 199.2-inch body.

2.5L Turbo, 274 hp

The standard engine is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four with direct and port injection, making 274 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 lb-ft held flat from 1,700 to 4,000 rpm. It runs an eight-speed automatic with a 3.51:1 final drive and a 10.5:1 compression ratio, on regular 87-octane fuel from a 19.0-gallon tank. It is the version that tows 5,000 pounds and the only one offered in LX, S and X-Pro form.

2.5L Turbo Hybrid, 329 hp

The hybrid pairs that same 2.5-liter turbo with electric motors and a 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery for 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft combined, through a six-speed automatic with a 3.76:1 final drive. Compression rises to 12.0:1 and the tank drops to 18.2 gallons. It is a conventional hybrid: it takes the same regular unleaded and is never plugged in, so there is no charging equipment to buy and no cable to carry.

Transmissions and Drive Systems

Eight speeds on the gas car, six on the hybrid, and the gearing suits each.

The gas Telluride uses an eight-speed torque-converter automatic geared from 4.81:1 in first to 0.65:1 in eighth, with a 3.51:1 final drive. The hybrid uses a six-speed automatic with a shorter 3.76:1 final drive, which lets the electric motors fill the gaps a taller-geared box would leave. Both are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive at a $2,000 step, though the upper hybrid trims are all-wheel drive only. Terrain Mode with snow, mud and sand settings comes with all-wheel drive from X-Line EX upward.

The Decision Matrix

The break-even is a mileage question, and here is the arithmetic.

Consideration	Points to gas	Points to hybrid
Annual mileage	Under 10,000 local miles	A daily highway leg on I-78 or US-222
Purchase price	$7,300 less at the entry point	$2,700 more on a like-for-like EX
Towing	5,000 lb, and the X-Pro's standard hitch	4,500 lb, enough for most trailers
Seating	Eight seats available on the LX	Seven, with captain's chairs throughout
Power	274 hp, and the X-Pro hardware	329 hp and 339 lb-ft
Range per tank	19.0-gallon tank	637 miles on the front-drive EX

Front-drive against front-drive, the hybrid EX returns 13 mpg more than the gas EX, and 11 mpg more once both are fitted with all-wheel drive. Bring your annual mileage and your own fuel cost to the desk and we will run the figures on the vehicles we have in stock.

Fuel Economy in Detail

Three hybrid ratings, and the 35 belongs to one configuration.

Hybrid configuration	City	Highway	Combined
EX, front-wheel drive	34	36	35
SX, front-wheel drive	32	34	33
X-Line SX, SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige, all-wheel drive	30	32	31

Figures are EPA estimates (fueleconomy.gov). The 35 mpg figure is the front-drive EX, so a shopper comparing a loaded all-wheel-drive hybrid should work from 31. Even at 31 the hybrid returns 11 mpg more than the equivalent all-wheel-drive gas Telluride.

Which One Is Right for You

Mileage first, then towing, then seats.

If you drive a long daily leg between the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, the hybrid is the straightforward answer: 35 mpg combined on a front-drive EX, 637 miles of range, and 55 more horsepower for merging onto I-78. If you tow a boat to Blue Marsh Lake most weekends, the gas car's 5,000-pound rating and the X-Pro's standard hitch make it the better tool. If you need eight belts, the gas LX is the only Telluride that provides them. And if the household drives mostly short local trips around Hamburg, the gas car starts $7,300 lower and covers the job.

Shop the Telluride at Outten Kia

We stock both powertrains, so the comparison can be made on one visit rather than across two dealerships. Buyers come to us from Reading, Allentown, Quakertown and Lancaster to drive them back to back, which is the only way the six-speed hybrid's low-speed manners and the eight-speed's highway gearing tell you anything useful. Both carry the same coverage: 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection for the original owner, 5 years or 60,000 miles of basic warranty, and 5 years or 100,000 miles against perforation.

Hybrid FAQ

Does the 2027 Kia Telluride come as a hybrid?

Yes. The 2027 model year introduces the first hybrid Telluride, in five configurations: EX in front or all-wheel drive, SX in front-wheel drive, and X-Line SX, SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige in all-wheel drive.

What is the Telluride Hybrid's gas mileage?

34 city, 36 highway and 35 combined for the front-drive EX; 32/34/33 for the front-drive SX; and 30/32/31 for the all-wheel-drive trims (fueleconomy.gov).

Do you plug in the Telluride Hybrid?

No. It is a conventional hybrid with a 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery that charges itself as you drive. You fuel it with regular 87-octane unleaded, the same as the gas Telluride.

How much more does the hybrid cost?

$2,700 more than the gas EX in the same drive configuration: $46,490 against $43,790 front-drive, and $48,490 against $45,790 with all-wheel drive.

Is the Telluride Hybrid faster than the gas model?

It makes more power: 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft combined against 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft for the 2.5-liter turbo.

How much can the Telluride Hybrid tow?

4,500 pounds properly equipped, which is 500 pounds under the gas Telluride's 5,000-pound rating.

How far can the Telluride Hybrid go on a tank?

Kia puts total estimated range for the front-drive EX at 637 miles, from an 18.2-gallon tank.

Does the hybrid lose any cargo space?

About one cubic foot at each measure: 21.3 cubic feet behind the third row against 22.3, 47.7 behind the second against 48.7, and 88.3 maximum against 89.3.

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