Kia finally put real numbers on the first-ever 2027 Telluride Hybrid, and this is the part shoppers actually care about: the EX FWD starts at $48,035 including destination, with 329 horsepower, an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined, and an estimated 637 miles of range. Those numbers come from Kia’s official pricing release and the consumer-facing Telluride Hybrid page. For families who like the Telluride but hate watching a three-row SUV inhale fuel on every weekend trip, that is a pretty big deal.

The cat, the hybrid, isn’t your cheap way into the lineup. Kia skips the LX and S entirely. Kelley Blue Book points out that the hybrid’s real premium is closer to about $2,700 when you compare it with a gas Telluride EX instead of the bargain-bin base trim in the regular lineup. That makes the hybrid less of a “wow, Kia got expensive” story and more of a simple math problem: if your life is mostly commuting, school runs, and long interstate hauls, the better mpg and range will feel useful fast. If you barely drive, the gas model is still not exactly committing a crime.

What makes this launch more interesting is that Kia did not turn the hybrid into a weak eco special. The Telluride HEV keeps a healthy 339 lb-ft of torque, offers 4,500 pounds of towing capacity, and includes an available self-leveling rear suspension. If you regularly haul a small camper, bikes, or a week’s worth of family chaos, this is exactly the kind of SUV where ride-control hardware matters more than another giant screen. It’s also a good reminder to compare which trims give you the suspension and towing support you actually need before you get distracted by black wheels and fancy badges.

My early sweet spot is the EX FWD unless AWD is non-negotiable where you live. That trim gets you the big efficiency story without wandering into near-luxury pricing, and it will probably be the version smart buyers cross-shop against other three-row hybrids first. Also, do not shop this one by MSRP alone. In the family-SUV world, real dealer pricing and leftover inventory can matter just as much as the window sticker.