The 2027 Kia Telluride is already crowding suburban cul-de-sacs, and now the online configurator is live to help shoppers sort through its growing pile of trims and options. With more power, more size, and more tech than before, it is easy to overspend chasing features that look good on a screen but barely matter in daily traffic. The sweet spot is a trim that taps into the Telluride’s upgrades without drifting into luxury-brand pricing.
Digging through the lineup, one version stands out as the one most buyers should target: the EX with all-wheel drive. It builds on the Telluride’s strengths as a big, honest family hauler, layers in comfort and safety gear that actually changes the ownership experience, and still leaves room in the budget for a few fun boxes in the configurator.
The 2027 Telluride’s Big Upgrades, From LX Up
The latest Telluride is not just a light refresh, it is a more muscular and more spacious evolution of the same formula that made the original such a hit. Under the hood, Standard turbocharged power now delivers nearly 50 lb.-ft. more torque than the previous generation, which matters when the SUV is loaded with kids, luggage, and a weekend’s worth of sports gear. The body itself is also Larger, so third-row passengers and cargo get a noticeable bump in breathing room compared with the outgoing model.
Even with those upgrades, the entry trims keep the Telluride’s value pitch intact. The Entry and Mid options, labeled as Level Trims, start with The LX, which serves as the foundation of the 2027 Kia Telluride lineup. Shoppers who simply want a big, straightforward three-row can start with the Telluride LX or S, where You still get three rows, turbo power, and core safety tech without climbing far up the price ladder.
Why The EX With AWD Is The Smart Money
Once the basics are covered, the question becomes which trim actually feels special enough to live with for a decade. That is where the EX lands in the sweet spot, adding comfort and convenience features that families will use every single day without drifting into the flashier, more expensive territory of the top trims. In the configurator, the EX layers in richer interior materials, more advanced driver aids, and extra tech that make long drives calmer and daily commutes less of a grind, which is why many reviewers flag it as the most balanced choice in the range.
Powertrain and traction choices seal the deal. Front-wheel drive is the default setup, but While front-wheel drive is standard, some trims can add AWD for $2,000 extra, and the EX is highlighted as the cheapest way to get into an all-wheel-drive Telluride without sacrificing key features. For most people, that EX configuration is described as the most balanced trim in the lineup, delivering the traction and confidence that snow belt buyers want while still undercutting the price of the more lavish SX and X-Pro variants.
How The Other Trims Stack Up In The Configurator
Scrolling through the configurator, it is tempting to stop at the base models and pocket the savings, and there is logic to that for shoppers with tight budgets. Earlier guidance notes that if someone just wants a big, honest family hauler, starting with the Telluride LX or S still delivers three rows, turbo power, and the core safety tech that families expect. Those trims are ideal for buyers who care more about maximum seats per dollar than about ventilated leather or panoramic glass.
Move higher, and the configurator starts to look like a luxury menu, which is where restraint pays off. The SX and off-road flavored variants pile on bigger wheels, more elaborate lighting, and extra appearance pieces that look sharp in photos but do not change how the Telluride handles school runs or long-distance family driving. That is why multiple buying guides, including detailed News coverage of the configurator and trim walk, keep circling back to the EX as the one they would recommend for most buyers. It hits the practical sweet spot, lets shoppers add all-wheel drive for a reasonable premium, and still leaves room in the budget for a few tasteful options instead of forcing them to pay for every bell and whistle baked into the top trims.
For shoppers cross-shopping deals, it also helps that the Telluride’s trim walk is easy to understand. Dealer breakdowns of Entry and Mid trims make it clear where the big jumps in equipment occur, while consumer-focused rundowns of what Jan shoppers get at each level help demystify the process. Layer in the configurator-focused advice that, for most people, the EX with all-wheel drive is the most balanced trim in the lineup, backed up by Feb buying guides, and the choice becomes straightforward. For families staring at the configurator and trying not to blow the budget, that is exactly the kind of clarity they need.
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