2027 Kia Telluride: The Family 3-Row SUV Guide for Libertyville Drivers

The 2027 Kia Telluride is a strong fit for Libertyville-area families who need real third-row space, dependable towing for weekend trips to the Chain O'Lakes, and confident AWD traction through Lake County winters, especially now that the redesigned turbo powertrain replaces the previous V6 with more standard torque and, for the first time, a Telluride Hybrid option rated near 35 mpg combined. At Liberty Kia, we carry both the gas and hybrid Telluride year-round, and the question we hear most from local parents is not whether the Telluride is a good three-row SUV. It is whether the new powertrain, cargo layout, and trim ladder actually fit their specific routine, from back-to-school carpools on I-94 to loading a boat trailer for a Fox Lake weekend.

For a Libertyville family of five cross-shopping the Telluride against the Highlander, Pilot, or Atlas, the biggest changes for 2027 are worth understanding before a test drive. Kia dropped the 3.8-liter V6 in favor of a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, added a hybrid variant for the first time, and grew the wheelbase for more rear-seat room. Families who tow a boat to the Chain O'Lakes, carpool three kids across Libertyville and Vernon Hills, or drive I-94 through Gurnee and Waukegan every winter each experience this SUV differently, and that is exactly what we walk through below.

By the end of this guide, you will know how the 2027 Telluride's engine, towing capacity, cargo space, and Kia Drive Wise safety suite compare across trims, which configuration fits your family size and driving pattern, and what our service team recommends before you hook up a trailer for the first time this fall.

Telluride Powertrain, Space, and Family Tech

Turbo powertrain (gas and hybrid), AWD, and real-world MPG

Kia retired the 3.8-liter V6 for the 2027 Telluride and replaced it with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic and available AWD, a meaningful torque gain that matters most for towing and merging with a full third row. For the first time, we also carry a Telluride Hybrid, pairing the same turbo engine with an electric motor for a combined 329 horsepower, 339 lb-ft, and a Kia-estimated 35 mpg combined, roughly 13 mpg better than the old V6.

• Gas Telluride: 274 hp, 311 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic, up to 5,000 lbs of towing capacity when properly equipped.
• Telluride Hybrid: 329 hp combined, 339 lb-ft, 6-speed automatic, up to 4,500 lbs of towing capacity, and roughly 600 miles of driving range on a full tank.
• Both powertrains are available with AWD, and X-Line and X-Pro trims add terrain drive modes for gravel boat-launch ramps and unplowed side streets.

We carry this trim lineup starting at $39,190 for the gas LX, and we stock both the gas and hybrid Telluride year-round. For a Waukegan commuter who also tows a small camper on weekends, we usually recommend the gas Telluride, since its 5,000-lb rating outpaces the hybrid's 4,500-lb limit.

Based on Kia official website.

Our verdict: if towing to the Chain O'Lakes is part of your routine, the gas Telluride's 5,000-lb rating wins. If your week is mostly carpool loops, the Hybrid's 35 mpg combined estimate saves more than the extra capacity is worth.

Browse Our 2027 Telluride Inventory

Third-row space, cargo, and family routines

The redesigned 2027 Telluride grew its wheelbase by roughly 2.7 inches, and that extra length shows up mostly in second and third-row legroom rather than in the exterior footprint. Cargo volume comes in at 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.9 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat. LX and EX trims seat up to eight with a second-row bench, while SX and SX Prestige trims can be configured with second-row captain's chairs for seven-passenger comfort.

Our sales team walks customers through both second-row layouts in person, because the right choice depends on how you actually load the vehicle. A Gurnee family with three kids who need three separate car seats across the second row almost always does better with the bench seat, since captain's chairs only fit two child seats side by side. A Vernon Hills family with two kids and frequent grandparent pickups often prefers the captain's chairs, since the walk-through aisle makes third-row access easier for older passengers.

For Libertyville families packing for a weekend at the Chain O'Lakes, 46.3 cubic feet behind the second row is enough for a full cooler, life jackets, and duffel bags without folding the third row down, which matters when you still need seating for six or seven on the drive up.

Kia Drive Wise and family-focused technology

Every 2027 Telluride comes with Kia Drive Wise, Kia's driver-assist suite, which includes forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, and lane-keeping assist as standard equipment across the trim range. Higher trims add a 360-degree surround-view monitor and Highway Driving Assist 2, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and a lane-change function for longer I-94 stretches between Libertyville and Chicago.

What we see here in Libertyville is that parents care less about the feature list and more about specific situations: reversing out of a school pickup line with a third row full of kids, merging onto I-94 in heavy Friday traffic, or backing a boat trailer down a ramp at a Chain O'Lakes launch. The surround-view monitor and rear cross-traffic assist address the first two directly, and every second-row and third-row seating position includes LATCH-compatible anchors or a top tether, which matters for families running two or three car seats at once.

See How the Telluride Hybrid Compares

Trim Comparison and Buyer Value

LX vs EX vs SX vs SX Prestige trim ladder

The 2027 Telluride trim ladder runs from LX through EX, SX, and SX Prestige, with X-Line and X-Pro adding all-terrain capability at the SX and SX Prestige levels. In-brand, we also compare the Telluride against the Kia Sorento for families who do not need a full third row of adult-sized seating, since the Sorento starts lower and still offers a smaller third row. Against outside brands, the Telluride's standard Kia Drive Wise suite and longer warranty coverage give it a real edge over the Highlander and Pilot at similar price points.

Based on Kia official website.

Our comparison verdict is direct: for most Libertyville families, we recommend the EX trim because it carries the full turbo powertrain, standard Kia Drive Wise coverage, and the flexible seven or eight-passenger layout without paying SX Prestige pricing for features many families use only occasionally. SX and SX Prestige earn their price when the surround-view monitor, captain's chairs, and premium cabin materials matter every single week, not just on weekend trips.

Best trim by family scenario

For a Libertyville family of five who carpools kids to school and sports practices across town, we recommend the EX trim with the second-row bench because the 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind that row fits sports bags, instruments, and gear without folding any seats, and the standard Kia Drive Wise suite covers the tight pickup-line maneuvering that comes with daily carpool duty. For a Gurnee family towing a boat to the Chain O'Lakes most weekends, we recommend the gas-powered SX with X-Line because the 5,000-lb towing rating and AWD traction handle a loaded trailer better than the hybrid's 4,500-lb limit. For a Waukegan commuter who drives I-94 daily and rarely tows anything heavier than a bike rack, the Telluride Hybrid EX makes more sense, since the 35 mpg combined estimate will save more over a year than the extra towing capacity is worth.

• If you run three car seats across the second row, choose the bench-seat layout over captain's chairs.
• If you tow a boat, camper, or trailer over 4,500 lbs, choose the gas Telluride over the hybrid.
• If your driving is mostly commuting and carpool loops with light towing, choose the Telluride Hybrid for the fuel savings.
• If you drive unplowed roads or gravel boat launches in winter, choose X-Line or X-Pro for the added ground clearance.

Lake County Use Cases and Local Ownership

Carpools, I-94 commutes, Chain O'Lakes towing, and winter AWD confidence

Around Libertyville, a three-row family SUV has to handle back-to-school carpool lines, merge confidently onto I-94 through Gurnee and Waukegan during rush hour, tow a boat trailer down a gravel launch at the Chain O'Lakes, and still start reliably on a sub-zero January morning. That is the exact use case the 2027 Telluride's AWD system and terrain drive modes were built around.

For families in Vernon Hills who split time between weekday commuting and weekend recreation, the Telluride's dual identity as commuter SUV and tow vehicle solves two problems most competitors force you to choose between. A Highlander or Pilot in a comparable trim matches the Telluride on daily comfort, but neither pairs standard Kia Drive Wise coverage with a factory-rated 5,000-lb towing figure on the gas model.

Based on Kia official website.

Our local take is straightforward. The 2027 Telluride covers a wider range of real Lake County routines than most three-row competitors because it pairs standard AWD and Kia Drive Wise with a towing rating strong enough for boats and small campers. Families who tow will notice the gap between the gas Telluride's 5,000 lbs and the hybrid's 4,500 lbs the first time they load a trailer at a Chain O'Lakes ramp.

What Libertyville Families Tell Us After 6 Months with the 2027 Telluride

We stay in touch with a lot of our Telluride owners through service visits, and the pattern in their feedback has been consistent since the 2027 model arrived at our Libertyville showroom. Families who cross-shopped the outgoing V6 against the new turbo engine expected to miss the six-cylinder sound, and most tell us they stopped thinking about it within the first month, once they noticed the turbo's extra low-end torque made merging onto I-94 with three kids and a full cargo area feel less strained than the old V6 did in the same situation.

The second pattern we hear involves the Telluride Hybrid specifically. Commuter families who chose the hybrid for the 35 mpg combined estimate consistently report fuel costs coming in close to that number on real Libertyville-to-Gurnee routines, not just on paper. A Vernon Hills parent who switched from a V6 Highlander told our service team their fuel costs dropped noticeably once daily driving shifted to the hybrid Telluride, which is the exact use case the powertrain was built for. For families weighing gas versus hybrid before their own purchase, that six-month feedback loop is often more useful than a spec sheet alone.

Towing Prep and Tow Hitch Wiring: What Lake County Families Overlook

Before your first boat run to the Chain O'Lakes, there are a few details our service team checks that many first-time Telluride owners do not think about until the day of towing. The factory 5,000-lb rating on the gas model and 4,500-lb rating on the hybrid both assume a properly installed tow hitch, a wiring harness matched to your trailer's lighting and brake setup, and correctly rated hitch ball and receiver hardware. Skipping any of those steps can leave you towing below the vehicle's real capability or, worse, towing unsafely.

We also recommend a few practical steps that Lake County families frequently overlook:

• Have your tow hitch and wiring harness installed and inspected before towing season, not the morning of your first trip.
• Ask about trailer brake controllers if your boat or camper trailer exceeds roughly 3,000 lbs, since that is where braking performance starts to matter most.
• Check tire pressure and load balance separately from the tow rating itself, especially with a full third row and cargo area loaded alongside the trailer.
• Review your specific trim's payload capacity with our service team, since a fully loaded interior can reduce how much trailer weight you should add on top of it.

Getting your trade-in value locked in before towing season also helps families who are still deciding between the gas and hybrid Telluride, since knowing what your current vehicle is worth makes the powertrain decision easier to finalize.

Get Your Trade-In Value First

Key Takeaways

• The 2027 Telluride drops its V6 for a turbo 2.5L four-cylinder (274 hp) and adds a Telluride Hybrid (329 hp combined, ~35 mpg).
• Gas models tow up to 5,000 lbs; the Hybrid tows up to 4,500 lbs, a real difference for Chain O'Lakes trips.
• Cargo room: 22.3 cu. ft. behind the third row, 86.9 cu. ft. with both rear rows folded.
• We recommend EX first for most families, and the gas SX with X-Line for regular towing.
• Every trim includes standard Kia Drive Wise safety technology.

2027 Kia Telluride Questions We Hear in Libertyville

How much can the 2027 Kia Telluride tow?

Based on what our sales and service teams see here in Libertyville, the gas-powered 2027 Telluride is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs with a factory-matched hitch and wiring harness, while the Telluride Hybrid is rated up to 4,500 lbs. For a Gurnee family towing a boat to the Chain O'Lakes most weekends, that 500-lb gap is often the deciding factor. We recommend confirming your trailer's loaded weight against these figures before your first trip, since factory ratings assume correctly installed towing hardware.

What is the difference between the 2027 Telluride and the new Telluride Hybrid?

The difference comes down to power delivery and fuel economy, since both share the same cabin and cargo layout. The gas Telluride uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 274 horsepower with an 8-speed automatic and a 5,000-lb towing rating. The Hybrid pairs the same engine with an electric motor for 329 combined horsepower, a 6-speed automatic, a Kia-estimated 35 mpg combined, and a 4,500-lb towing rating. We recommend the hybrid for commuters and the gas model for families who tow regularly.

Is the third row big enough for adults or car seats?

For most Libertyville families, yes, with a caveat about seat layout. The third row comfortably fits adults on shorter local trips and fits car seats without issue in either second-row configuration. Where families run into trouble is fitting three car seats across captain's chairs, which only accommodate two side by side. If you run three car seats, we recommend the bench-seat second row so all three fit across one row, which several Libertyville parents have told us was the deciding factor in their trim choice.

Does the 2027 Telluride still offer the V6 engine?

No, and this is the change we field the most questions about right now. Kia discontinued the 3.8-liter V6 for 2027 in favor of a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces more torque than the outgoing engine, along with a new Telluride Hybrid option. Most customers who test drive the new powertrain do not miss the V6 once they feel its low-end response while merging or towing.

Ready to Test Drive the 2027 Telluride?

We know choosing between the gas and hybrid 2027 Telluride, or between a bench seat and captain's chairs, is easier once you have sat in both. At Liberty Kia, located at 921 S. Milwaukee Ave in Libertyville, IL, we carry the full 2027 Telluride lineup, and our team can walk you through Kia's warranty coverage and current financing offers the same day you visit. We serve families throughout Waukegan, Gurnee, Vernon Hills, and the rest of Lake County, and our certified service department handles tow hitch installation, seasonal maintenance, and Kia warranty work. If towing is part of your plans, bring your trailer's details so we can confirm the right powertrain before you sign. Call us at (847) 680-8000 or start your financing application online to make your visit faster.

Request a Telluride Trim Quote