- Kia eliminates the naturally aspirated V6 engine for the 2027 Telluride, replacing it with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
- Kia does this because of emissions, weight and performance regulations.
- Sang Lee, Kia America’s national manager of product planning, called the V6 ‘inferior’ to the turbo I4.
The 2027 Kia Telluride is missing something that made it so popular—its naturally aspirated V6 engine. Kia replaced the 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine with a smaller 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in its latest SUV, while adding a hybrid option. But there are some good reasons for the trade-off.
Sang Lee, national manager of product planning for Kia America, said Torque News in an interview, “a naturally aspirated V6 is technically, at this point, inferior to a four-cylinder turbo,” citing “objective data.” The Telluride’s new 2.5-liter turbo engine produces 311 pound-feet of torque at 1,700 rpm compared to the V6’s 262 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm.
2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid
Photo by: Kia
Another reason is emissions. According to Lee, the V6 will not meet the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II standards. The new turbo four delivers more torque and lower emissions than the NA V6. The new Telluride is also 265 pounds heavier than the previous model, so Kia needs additional torque to move that extra weight.
Only a few of the Telluride’s competitors offer naturally aspirated V6s, while many opt for turbocharged four-cylinder engines and hybrids. The Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder still use the NA V6 engine, as does Kia’s sibling, the Hyundai Palisade. Hyundai ditches the 3.8-liter engine for a smaller 3.5-liter option.
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Source: Kia
Motorcycle Pickup1: A turbocharged four-cylinder engine may make more power and lower emissions, but it’s still not a naturally aspirated V6. Hyundai kept the six-cylinder engine in its three-row SUV for a reason, but Kia decided against it and joined most of the segment in downsizing its powertrain.
