2027 Telluride SX

The cabin does the selling

Sit in an SX after an EX and the difference announces itself before the engine starts. Two 12.3-inch screens merge into one glass panel spanning cluster and center stack. Fourteen Meridian speakers — including a subwoofer and external amp — replace the base car's eight, and the difference on a rainy-Sunday drive playlist is not subtle. Overhead, the dual sunroof adds a fixed rear pane so the second and third rows finally get sky. At night, 74-color ambient lighting outlines the cabin, and small touches like stainless pedals and scuff plates finish the room.

The driver's chair gets serious adjustment: 10-way power with thigh extension and a memory system tied to the mirrors. On the road, this trim introduces Highway Driving Assist 2.0 — the version with lane-change assistance — plus junction-crossing and evasive-steering additions to the forward-collision system.

Cameras that earn their keep

Two features make the SX's case to families in tight parking situations, which around here means every summer weekend. The Surround View Monitor stitches a top-down image for threading the packed lots at the bay beaches; the Blind-Spot View Monitor throws a live camera feed of your blind spot into the cluster the moment you signal — invaluable merging onto the Parkway at exit 63 with a car full of distractions. Reverse parking-collision avoidance backs both up with automatic braking. None of these exist below this trim.

One thing the SX doesn't offer: all-wheel drive under its own name. Kia routes AWD buyers at this level to the X-Line SX, $3,000 up. The front-drive SX keeps the gas Telluride's best price on this equipment tier and rates 20 city / 26 highway; the hybrid version lifts that to 33 combined.

Frequently asked questions

What does the 2027 Telluride SX cost?

$48,790 MSRP gas, $51,490 hybrid, plus $1,545 destination and New Jersey taxes and fees. Both cross the state's $45,000 surcharge threshold — see the pricing guide for the full out-the-door picture and current offers.

Can I get the SX with AWD?

Not under the SX badge — at this level AWD comes via the X-Line SX. If you want this trim's tech with winter traction and don't need X-Line styling, that's still the build to order.

How many does the SX seat?

Seven, with second-row captain's chairs standard. The eight-seat bench ends at the EX in the 2027 lineup.

What's the difference between HDA 1.5 and HDA 2.0?

Both hold speed, gap, and lane centering on the highway. The 2.0 system on the SX adds machine-assisted lane changes and smoother behavior around merging traffic — a genuine fatigue-saver on long Parkway runs.

Is the Meridian sound system worth it?

It's the single most-mentioned upgrade in early feedback on this generation, and it can't be retrofitted. If music matters in your car, audition it at Manahawkin Kia before settling on an EX.

The bottom line

The SX delivers the 2027 Telluride's full tech and sensory experience — screens, sound, sky, and cameras — at the price of restraint on drivetrain and trim jewelry. For a family that lives in the cabin more than the terrain modes, it's the ceiling that makes sense.