Tested: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Blends Big Power, Improved MPG

First glance: This big guy actually wants to "eat grass"?

To be honest, when I heard that Kia was going to equip Telluride with a hybrid system, my first reaction was-are they crazy? You must know that although the previous Telluride V6 drank oil like drinking water, many people couldn't stop its arrogance. As a result, when the 2027 Hybrid came out, I felt numb: the car was still so strong, the tiger howling grille on the front face was wider and more fierce, the headlights split the air like blades, and I felt like a brother standing next to it. Then you told me it could save 30% on fuel consumption? I admit that I sat in the driver's seat with prejudice and thought,"Isn't a hybrid SUV just a warm water?" But I stepped on the accelerator... Boy, this is not warm water, this is simply a hot water bottle with nitrogen added!

Power system: The "incense" of the big V6 has not died, but it makes it even crazier with the addition of a motor

The 2027 hybrid system does not cut off the 3.8-liter V6 directly-it retains a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 with a rear axle motor (yes, you read correctly, it's an electric four-wheel drive). The comprehensive output has directly reached 430 horsepower, which is 40 more horses than the old V6! And the peak torque soared from 500 Nm to 610 Nm, and the entire acceleration process was like being pressed into the seat by an invisible hand. The most outrageous thing is that while you are laughing at the hybrid car for "relying on the electric motor to start and boring in the second half", this 3.5T engine suddenly bursts out of the old American V8 roar at medium and high speeds (even though it is a V6), and then the electric motor makes up for it-the feeling of pushing back lasts until 120km/h without breathing. 0-60 The actual acceleration measurement of miles (about 96km/h) takes only 5.2 seconds, which is not much worse than the BMW X5 M50i, and don't forget that this is a three-row household SUV! The only regret is that the gearbox is still 8-speed automatic, and the shifting is smooth but lacks the "click" feeling of dual clutch. But for the sake of fuel consumption, I endured it.

Fuel consumption: It's true that "you eat less and you work more", but...

Here comes the MPG (miles per gallon) that everyone cares about most: EPA's comprehensive fuel consumption is 26 miles per gallon, which is a full 24% increase from the old V6's 21. Urban road conditions can even reach 28, but the high speed drops to 24-because motors have a huge advantage in frequently starting and stopping in the city, and the main reason for high speed is the engine. In the actual test, I drove nearly 500 kilometers, including mountain roads, traffic jams, and highways. The final display showed 27.3, 1.3 higher than the EPA. This made me wonder if I had forgotten to refuel. However, there is one point to complain: the hybrid system only allows the motor and engine to output at full strength in sports mode. The start in standard mode is a bit too "electric". If you tap the accelerator lightly, the car will run out, and the co-driver's coffee almost splashed on my face. Moreover, the battery only occupies a small area under the trunk floor, and the third row of seats is still flat after being lowered. This should be praised.

Interior and Space: Are you sure this is Kia? Not a luxury brand?

Sitting in the car, I couldn't help but say,"Wow." The dual 12.3-inch curved screen has now become a more advanced piece of curved glass. The center console uses real aluminum trim and perforated wood grains, and all those plastic buttons have been replaced with a touch panel with vibration feedback (Although I prefer physical buttons, the response speed and feel of this touch are really good). The most surprising thing is the seat-the Nappa leather front seat with massage function, and the massage intensity can be adjusted to the level of "pressing my lumbar vertebra to make a sound". Driving long distances is a pleasure. The two independent seats in the second row can be heated and ventilated, and the third row also has independent air conditioning outlets and USB-C interfaces. Moreover, a person as tall as 1.75 meters can still have room to punch in on his knees. This is really a large SUV. The top performance in the third row. However, there are only two interior colors: dark gray and rice white, lacking a bright color option. Kia, can you learn from Mercedes-Benz and make some burgundy red?

Driving experience: like a trained bear

It feels very divided when driving: you can hardly hear the sound of the engine at low speeds, only the buzzing sound of the motor and the steady feedback from the chassis, the suspension is as soft as you are on a boat, and you can hardly feel your butt when you cross the speed bump-this is the gentle side of home. But as long as you turn the driving mode to "Sport", the whole car is like being pumped with adrenaline: the suspension hardens, the steering becomes heavy, the engine sound simulator (yes, it has sound simulation, and it does a good job) starts to roar, and the motor and the engine are working at the same time, and you'll feel like the bear suddenly stood up and learned to box. Although the steering wheel feedback is still light and fluffy, the pointing accuracy is a level higher than the old model, at least it won't make you feel like you're driving a yacht. Brake foot feeling is what I am most worried about-regenerative braking and mechanical braking on hybrid cars are often connected hard, but this Telluride almost achieves a seamless transition, and no matter how you step on the brakes, it feels linear and natural. Must like it.

Some minor problems: perfection? that's impossible

Although I have been praising, I still have to scold what should be scolded. The first one is the menu logic of the central control panel-obviously, a physical knob can control the volume, but do you have to integrate the air conditioner temperature into the screen and hide it in the secondary menu? And the voice assistant is still mentally retarded. I said,"Turn on the seat to ventilate," and it navigates me to the nearest gas station. The second slot point is the electronic shift knob. The damping is too light. When my wife was reversing, she accidentally twisted it (she thought she was adjusting the volume), and as a result, she put it directly into P gear and almost rear-ended the collision. Third, the electric opening speed of the trunk is as slow as a slow-motion movie, and the success rate of induction opening is only about 60%. Every time you kick, you have to dance a tap dance to succeed. However, these are all minor flaws. Considering that it is only $2000 more expensive than the old model (starting at about $47,000), I think it is completely acceptable. After all, hybrid SUVs of the same level are either small in space (such as the Highlander Hybrid), weak in power (such as the Honda Pilot Hybrid), or extremely expensive (such as the Volvo XC90T8). This Telluride brings almost all the advantages together.

Final conclusion: Is it worth giving up the pure oil version?

If you are a determined V6 naturally aspirated controller, let me say this: The 2027 Hybrid allows you to retain the last bit of obsession with large displacement (although it is a turbo), and at the same time gives you an excuse to save fuel to face your wife's questioning. Its power level is enough to make you forget the 3.8-liter V6, but its fuel consumption is a real surprise. Space, comfort, and technology have not been lost. The only things that need to be compromised are the occasionally irritating touch control and the dull sensor tailgate. But what moved me the most was that Kia did not emasculate the fun of driving for the sake of environmental protection. Instead, it used motors to give this giant beast more ferocious explosive power. So stop saying that "hybrids have no soul", this Telluride Hybrid has a wilder and smarter soul than its predecessor. If you plan to buy a large SUV this year that can take the whole family on a trip, occasionally drive yourself, and don't want to feel distressed every time you refuel-forget it, it's it.