Update (April 19, 2025): ‘Around 30 mpg & 619 mi of range?,’ ‘Radical Styling’ and ‘EV9-inspired Styling’ sections added.
With EV demand cooling off, hybrid vehicles are emerging as the default choice in many segments, especially for buyers in the U.S. In response to changing market dynamics, Kia has announced a renewed focus on hybrid cars, including new models, a new powertrain, and capacity expansion.
Flagship Telluride Hybrid
“We are expanding our hybrid line-up to meet the transitional demand from gasoline and diesel vehicle customers,” Kia President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, announced at the company’s annual CEO Investor Day on April 9, 2025.
The company plans to create a line-up of 10 hybrid models by 2030, he added. Currently, Kia offers six hybrid cars globally: K5 Hybrid, Niro, Sportage Hybrid, Sorento Hybrid, Carnival Hybrid, and K8 Hybrid.
Speaking further, Sung Song confirmed the company’s plan to introduce a Kia Telluride Hybrid. He also confirmed the Seltos Hybrid in the same statement, indicating how the company plans to give customers a choice of a hybrid powertrain even in the access segments.
We will continue offering ICE models in the short to mid-term to meet residual demand in emerging markets while expanding and diversifying our HEV lineup from Seltos to Telluride.
Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, Kia (2025 CEO Investor Day on April 9, 2025)
2.5L Hybrid system
The first-ever Telluride Hybrid will be a derivative of the second-generation model (codename: Kia LQ2), which the company is currently testing on public roads in the U.S. and South Korea. Under the hood, it will have a new 2.5-liter turbocharged gas engine, which provides a 5% improvement in thermal efficiency and a 12% higher output compared to previous models. The hybrid system should be the same unit that powers the all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, which reaches U.S. dealers this fall.
This includes a new 2.5L turbocharged gasoline engine with improved efficiency, built on a modular platform. Based on this engine, we will deploy the next-gen hybrid powertrain with enhanced fuel efficiency and the EREV system, which combines the advantages of EVs and internal combustion engines.
Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia (2025 CEO Investor Day on April 9, 2025)
The new 2.5-liter turbocharged gas engine of the Telluride Hybrid should produce 262 PS (258 hp) and 36 kgf·m (260 lb.-ft.) of torque, paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. An electric motor, also mounted in the front, will likely generate 54 kW (72 hp) and 264 Nm (195 lb.-ft.) of torque to assist the engine and get its juice from a 1.65 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The system power of the hybrid powertrain could be 334 PS (329 hp). Kia will likely give customers an option to equip the new hybrid SUV with a mechanical all-wheel drive system for enhanced traction.
Around 30 mpg & 619 mi of range?
Unveiling the Palisade Hybrid at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, Hyundai confirmed that it is expecting to achieve an impressive 30 mpg on the highway, and a combined driving range of 619 miles. We’re expecting a similar performance from the Telluride Hybrid, given that both models, which share the same powertrain, achieve similar mpg figures even in the current generation.
V2L & Stay Mode
The Kia Telluride Hybrid should come with a few exclusive functions that provide customers more convenience than the gas version.
A ‘Stay Mode’ should allow drivers to use the gas engine alone, preserving battery charge for later use, such as powering the AC while parked, without putting a load on the auxiliary battery pack. We also expect a vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional charging function that allows customers to power external devices and electrical appliances using the energy stored in the traction battery.
Radical Styling
The next-gen Telluride holds on to its boxy shape but designers have given it a completely new identity. As represented in our rendering, spy shots suggest a larger, concave grille at the front, with tall vertical lights in a C-shaped layout.
The sides stay flat, with a straight shoulder line, square windows, slim roof rails, and cleaner mirrors. At the back, the upright stance and vertical tail lights hint at maximized cargo space and a bolder look than the current model.
EV9-inspired Interior
Inside, the new Telluride gets a cleaner look inspired by the EV9. Spy images show two-tone brown and beige interiors, split-folding second-row seats, a wider center console, and redesigned door panels. Trim levels will differ, with X-Line versions featuring embossed front seats, Nappa leather, suede-style upholstery, and contrast stitching.
Expect around 30 inches of digital displays running Kia’s ccNC infotainment system. Unlike the EV9, the screens might sit flush in the dashboard. Seating configurations will include seven or eight seats. Some of the features that we’re expecting include dual wireless phone chargers, a head-up display, Digital Key 2, surround-view cameras, and possibly Kia’s Highway Driving Pilot for conditional Level 3 autonomous driving.
Release Date
In April 2024, South Korean outlet ETNews had reported that Kia will kick off production of the next-gen Telluride at the West Point assembly plant in Georgia in December 2025 and start shipping to dealerships in early 2026. The company is likely to offer its hybrid variant right from launch.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
