Kia has released the first shadowy images on the second-generation Telluride ahead of its reveal at the Los Angeles motor show at the end of November.
From the two teaser images provided, we can see the new Telluride will continue to feature tall headlights, albeit now with vertical graphics. As before, the grille is large and wide, and subtly carries on the tiger nose design Kia has been using since the late 2000s.
A floating roof look is present as the windows, A-pillar and the top of the D-pillar all have blacked out frames. In keeping with current trends, the Telluride may have flush-fitting pop-out door handles.
According to Kia, the new SUV will have “aggressively defined triangular creases in the fenders” that are a nod to the peaks of surrounding the car’s namesake Colorado town, which lies deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
In order to differentiate the Telluride from its Hyundai Palisade sibling, the Kia has a bit more off-road focus. It is currently available in X-Line and X-Pro trims, which have greater ride height, improved approach and departure angles, self-levelling suspension, and tougher styling.
Under the skin, the Telluride shares a lot in common with the Palisade. In their first generations the two SUVs had identical wheelbases, and virtually the same exterior dimensions.
The second-generation Palisade has a 2970mm wheelbase — up 70mm from the original model — and a body a smidge over 5m in length. It stands to reason the upcoming second-generation Telluride will grow a little bit too.
It’s widely expected the new model will ditch the current 217kW/355Nm 3.8-litre V6. Rumours indicate it will be replaced by a 214kW/353Nm 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6, and a 245kW/460Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, both of which are available in Stateside Palisades.
The new Telluride will go on sale in the US in 2026, but it seems as though the new model, just like the current one, won’t be sold in Australia.
While the Palisade is made in both the States and South Korea, the Telluride has so far only been manufactured in Kia’s factory in Georgia, which to-date has not produced any vehicles in right-hand drive.
Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s product planning general manager, told this situation makes it “very, very difficult” to bring the Telluride to Australia.