Kia is back to its SUV roots, and it’s not holding back. Just after the debut of its first-ever pickup truck, Kia’s flagship SUV—the Telluride—is set for a massive transformation. Nearly six years since it first rolled off the line, the Telluride’s successor has been spotted on California streets in full camouflage, sporting a bolder, boxier frame and hints of fresh, vertical light clusters at both ends.
If you’re thinking it looks like Kia’s futuristic EV9, you’re not alone. This upcoming model clearly borrows design cues from its electric sibling, blending rugged sophistication with the practicality that made the Telluride a hit in the first place. Notably, the prototype flaunts a redesigned grille and a prominently placed radar sensor—a possible nod to next-gen tech that will define the new Telluride’s front end.
But there’s more than just a facelift coming for the Telluride. Kia is reportedly making its largest gas-powered SUV hybrid-ready. While details remain under wraps, South Korean reports hint that an eco-friendly powertrain is on the table, potentially pairing the familiar naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder to bring the hybrid power to life.
The Telluride’s popularity has held steady, with year-over-year sales remaining impressively close to 2023 numbers, despite nearing the end of its current generation. Through October, Kia sold nearly 91,500 units in the U.S., maintaining the Telluride’s status as the brand’s third best-seller behind the Sportage and Forte.
With the 2025 model year now on sale, the next-gen Telluride isn’t expected to launch until at least the 2026 model year. But with its near-ready prototype making the rounds, the debut could come as soon as next year, with sales likely kicking off by late 2025 or early 2026.
And for fans of Kia’s corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, there’s news there too. The next-gen Palisade is also in the works, with prototypes already spotted, suggesting it might beat the Telluride to the market by a few months. It looks like fans of full-size SUVs will have plenty of options to get excited about as Kia and Hyundai continue their big-SUV showdown.
