Ten gas trims and five hybrids span $39,190 to $57,590 before destination, and the money does not buy the same thing at every step. Two steps change the vehicle mechanically. The rest change equipment. This page walks the ladder in order, shows where each dollar lands, and names the trim most Reading and Allentown families end up in.

The Ladder at a Glance

Fifteen configurations, two powertrains, and a $18,400 spread from the cheapest to the dearest.

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP
LX	Gas	FWD	$39,190
S	Gas	FWD / AWD	$42,090 / $44,090
EX	Gas	FWD / AWD	$43,790 / $45,790
X-Line EX	Gas	AWD	$47,290
SX	Gas	FWD	$48,790
X-Line SX	Gas	AWD	$51,790
X-Pro SX	Gas	AWD	$53,690
SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	$53,890
X-Line SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	$54,890
X-Pro SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	$56,790
Hybrid EX	Hybrid	FWD / AWD	$46,490 / $48,490
Hybrid SX	Hybrid	FWD	$51,490
Hybrid X-Line SX	Hybrid	AWD	$54,490
Hybrid SX Prestige	Hybrid	AWD	$56,590
Hybrid X-Line SX Prestige	Hybrid	AWD	$57,590

MSRP excludes the $1,545 destination and handling charge, taxes, title, license, options and dealer charges.

Trim-by-Trim: What Each Step Adds

Four steps carry most of the change. The others are trim and appearance.

LX, $39,190

The LX is the only Telluride that seats eight, on a second-row bench, and it is the lightest at 4,381 to 4,420 pounds. It runs 18-inch alloys on 235/65 tires, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, tri-zone automatic climate, an eight-speaker system, a 4.2-inch driver cluster, a six-way manual driver seat and Highway Driving Assist 1.5. For a family that needs the eighth belt more than a power seat, the LX is the whole answer.

S, $42,090

The S trades the bench for second-row captain's chairs, which drops seating to seven and makes the third row far easier to reach. It also brings 20-inch alloys and an eight-way power driver's seat. All-wheel drive becomes available at $44,090.

EX, $43,790

The EX is where most of this market lands. It adds power-folding mirrors, a positive temperature coefficient heater and the option of the X-Line treatment. It is also the only trim offered with either powertrain in either drive configuration, which makes it the place to compare gas against hybrid on equal terms.

SX, $48,790

The SX is the biggest single equipment step on the ladder. Dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays replace the small cluster, a Meridian system with 14 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer replaces the eight-speaker unit, the driver's seat becomes a ten-way with thigh support, front seats gain heating and ventilation, and Highway Driving Assist moves to 2.0 with a Blind-Spot View Monitor and a Surround View Monitor.

X-Line and X-Pro

Across Berks County these two look similar on a lot and are not. X-Line is the appearance and stance package: raised bridge roof rails in gloss black, 21-inch wheels on 265/45 tires, and 70.5 inches of height. X-Pro is the mechanical one. It runs 18-inch wheels on 255/60 all-terrain tires, lifts ground clearance from 7.4 to 9.1 inches, stands 71.5 inches tall, adds a standard tow hitch, front and rear recovery points and a Ground View Monitor, and carries off-road-tuned dampers.

SX Prestige, $53,890

Prestige adds a 12.0-inch head-up display and heated and ventilated second-row seats, on top of everything the SX carries.

Side-by-Side: The Four Steps That Matter

These are the steps where the vehicle changes rather than the equipment list.

Step	Cost	What actually changes
LX to S	$2,900	Captain's chairs, 20-inch wheels, power driver's seat. Seating drops from 8 to 7
EX to SX	$5,000	Dual 12.3-in displays, Meridian 14-speaker audio, HDA 2.0, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monitor
Any AWD trim to X-Pro SX	from $1,900	9.1 in of clearance, all-terrain tires, tow hitch, recovery points. Costs 1 mpg combined
Gas EX to Hybrid EX	$2,700	329 hp instead of 274, 35 mpg instead of 22, 4,500 lb tow instead of 5,000

Common to Every Trim

Some equipment does not move up the ladder, which changes how the entry trims read.

Every 2027 Telluride, from the $39,190 LX to the $57,590 hybrid X-Line SX Prestige, carries the 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM and Bluetooth, tri-zone automatic climate control, ten airbags including a front-row center airbag, Forward Collision Warning, High Beam Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Rear Occupant Alert with radar sensors, Smart Cruise Control with stop and go, and Tow Mode. The 5,000-pound gas tow rating is also common to all ten gas trims, properly equipped.

Value Verdict

The EX is the value trim and the SX is the one worth stretching for.

At $43,790 the EX carries the equipment most buyers actually use daily and leaves the budget for all-wheel drive, which is the $2,000 most worth spending on a household that drives US-222 down toward Lebanon, or the Schuylkill valley routes, in February. The $5,000 step from EX to SX is the largest on the ladder and it is also the best value per dollar, because it moves three things at once: the displays, the audio and the driver-assistance tier. The LX holds its place on one specific merit: the eighth seat, which it alone provides.

Which Trim Is Right for You

Answer three questions in order: seats, drive, then screens.

Your situation	The trim
Eight belts required	LX, $39,190
Third row used daily by children	S or EX, for the captain's chairs and the walk-through
Long commute, fuel cost matters most	Hybrid EX front-drive, $46,490
Unpaved lanes, campsites, deep winters	X-Pro SX, $53,690
Everything, once	SX Prestige at $53,890, or the hybrid at $56,590

Trim FAQ

What is the cheapest 2027 Kia Telluride?

The LX at $39,190 with front-wheel drive, excluding the $1,545 destination charge. It is also the only trim that seats eight.

Which Telluride trims have captain's chairs?

Every trim except the LX. Second-row captain's chairs start on the S and continue through the range, including all five hybrids, which is why those trims seat seven.

What is the difference between SX and SX Prestige?

SX Prestige adds a 12.0-inch head-up display and heated and ventilated second-row seats. Both carry the dual 12.3-inch displays, the Meridian 14-speaker system and Highway Driving Assist 2.0.

Is the X-Pro worth it over the X-Line?

If you use unpaved roads or want the extra clearance, yes: X-Pro brings 9.1 inches of ground clearance against 7.4, all-terrain tires and a standard tow hitch. X-Line is the appearance and stance package with 21-inch wheels. The X-Pro is rated 1 mpg lower combined.

Which Telluride trims are available as a hybrid?

Five: 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.

How much more is all-wheel drive?

$2,000 on the trims that offer both, including the gas S and EX and the hybrid EX. Several upper trims are all-wheel drive only.

Which trim has the best gas mileage?

The Hybrid EX with front-wheel drive, at 34 city, 36 highway and 35 combined. Among gas trims, any front-drive model at 22 combined (fueleconomy.gov).

Do all trims tow the same amount?

All ten gas trims are rated at 5,000 pounds properly equipped, and all five hybrids at 4,500 pounds. What differs is the hitch: standard on both X-Pro trims, optional elsewhere.

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