T2: The Second Generation Telluride is Imminent

When Team USA captured their fifth straight gold medal at the games in Paris this month, it was 35-year-old Stephen Curry who dropped a barrage of golden daggers to seal the final game against France. Though it was an extraordinary performance, such late-game heroics have become routine for Steph; after all, he was named the Kia Clutch Player of the Year for the 2023-’24 NBA season. 

While the former MVP represented Kia with the hoops honor, the brand’s personal MVP has to be the Telluride. Introduced in 2019, the three-row SUV has become one of Kia’s most consistently popular vehicles. Like the future Hall of Famer Curry, it has racked up awards and accolades along the way. But unlike the decorated sharpshooter, the Telluride is likely only at the beginning of what promises to be a long and eventful career.

While we eagerly await this fall’s updated 2025 Kia Telluride, it’s the 2026 model that will officially kick off the second generation of Kia’s mid-size crossover. Today, Allentown Kia ponders what the future has in store for the Telluride.

Next-Level Styling, Currently Under Wraps

Even though it will signal the start of the Telluride’s second generation, it’s unlikely the 2026 edition receives a dramatic makeover. After all, Kia just recently gave the SUV a styling refresh with its 2023 model, which implemented a redesigned grille, headlamps, and front bumper. 

But while the 2026 Telluride likely won’t see a full redesign, early public sightings of the SUV suggest some sort of aesthetic reimagining is indeed in the works. It’s notable that Kia is keeping the lower body draped in OEM camouflage during street testing. Could this be a hint that the Telluride’s next styling update will bring it more in line with its popular EV siblings, such as the award-winning EV9?

What’s certain from these early shots is the Telluride’s new “four-square” wheel design, which adds another element of heft to the already imposing SUV. A brief look into the 2026 Telluride’s interior also confirms a new steering wheel – hopefully a harbinger of further dashboard and tech upgrades to come.

Double the Engine Power? 

We fully expect the current Telluride’s 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6 (and its accompanying eight-speed automatic transmission) to carry over into the next generation. The larger question might be: will it have company?

Kia has floated the idea of a hybrid Telluride in the past, and the recently refreshed Kia Carnival has set a precedent for SUV hybridization within the Kia fleet. If the Telluride travels this blueprint, the revamped 2026 model would seem to be its logical entry point to improved sustainability.  For drivers used to a short commute around the Lehigh Valley, this is surely a welcome development.

But if Kia decides to draw a line of demarcation between its flagship SUV and its electric vehicles, the V-6 could share hood space with the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder that powers the Sorento line. Whatever strategy Kia ultimately takes with the Telluride’s engine(s), expect this already powerful SUV (with 5,500 pounds of current towing capacity) to become even more versatile.

Let the Countdown Begin 

It may seem too early to focus on the 2026 Telluride, considering the 2025 edition has yet to hit our showroom floor. Still, the Telluride’s second generation is more imminent than the 2028 games in Los Angeles – and speculation surrounding those games has already begun into whether a 39-year-old Curry (let alone a 43-year-old LeBron James) will once more represent the United States. 

In the meantime, Allentown Kia is your home for the 2024 Kia Telluride, EV9, EV6, and the rest of Kia’s dynamic lineup. With hundreds of new and certified pre-owned vehicles to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find a winning vehicle at Allentown Kia.