2027 Telluride X-Line EX

Function first, then the look

It would be easy to dismiss X-Line as body cladding with a markup, and on some SUVs that's the whole story. Here the receipts are mechanical. The self-leveling rear suspension keeps the tail from sagging when seven passengers and a weekend's cargo pile in — or when a small boat trailer hangs off the hitch. The standard AWD system carries selectable Snow, Mud, and Sand modes. The raised roof rails are the bridge type that takes real crossbar loads, kayak-and-paddleboard families take note. Then comes the styling: unique front and rear bumpers, the blacked-out grille with matte inserts, dark 21-inch wheels, and gloss-black wheel-arch trim that reads properly aggressive in a school pickup line.

Inside, it's EX equipment — SynTex seating, ventilated front seats, power passenger seat — with the heated steering wheel and a supplemental cabin heater included rather than optional. The captain's-chair layout means seven seats and an easy aisle to the third row.

The shore case for this one

Between the island's sandy beach-access lots, boat-ramp mornings at the bay, and the occasional nor'easter that turns Route 72 into a wind tunnel, the X-Line EX's extra hardware maps neatly onto Ocean County life. It's also simply the cheapest way to get AWD, terrain modes, and self-leveling suspension in one build — the pieces that matter for towing and load-hauling — without climbing into the $50,000s. No hybrid here, though: X-Line hybrids start at the X-Line SX.

Frequently asked questions

What does the X-Line EX cost?

$47,290 MSRP plus $1,545 destination, before taxes and fees. Note that it crosses New Jersey's $45,000 threshold, adding the one-time 0.4% luxury-vehicle surcharge — about $190 on this build, itemized in the pricing guide.

Is X-Line a package or a trim?

A trim. For 2027 Kia builds X-Line as its own model grade with unique suspension, wheels, styling, and equipment — you order an X-Line EX, not an EX with a box checked.

What's the difference between X-Line EX and a regular EX AWD?

$1,500 buys self-leveling rear suspension, 21-inch wheels, the X-Line exterior treatment, raised roof rails, projection fog lamps, standard heated steering wheel and PTC heater, and captain's chairs in place of the EX bench. Terrain-mode AWD comes standard where the EX makes it part of the AWD option.

Does the X-Line EX tow more?

Rating is the same up-to-5,000-pound figure as other properly equipped gas Tellurides — but the self-leveling rear suspension keeps the vehicle sitting flat under tongue weight, which is a real-world towing improvement even if the number doesn't change. The hitch itself is an accessory on this trim.

Where can I see the X-Line look in person?

On the Manahawkin Kia lot on Route 72 — park it next to a standard EX and the stance difference is obvious from across the row.

The bottom line

The X-Line EX is the affordable version of the tough Telluride — real suspension and traction upgrades wrapped in the lineup's best-looking sheet metal, one price rung below the premium-audio-and-big-screen tier. If your family's weekends involve sand, ramps, or trailers, start here.