When the second-generation Kia Telluride was revealed last year, one of the main talking points was Kia replacing the V6 with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The change also distances the Telluride from the new Hyundai Palisade, which has continued with a standard V6. But Kia’s case for using a four-cylinder instead of a V6 is a strong one. Sang Lee, Product Planning National Manager at Kia America, has explained this key powertrain strategy in a new interview, and his statements suggest that the first-generation Telluride was the first and last one to get V6 power.
Torque and Emissions Decided V6’s Fate
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As a reminder, the outgoing Telluride had a 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The new one has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that’s slightly less powerful (274 hp) but which has a lot more torque (311 lb-ft).
“The naturally aspirated V6 is technically, at this point, inferior to the four-cylinder turbo,” said Lee in an interview with Torque News. “It is a completely superior torque delivery with the new turbo. And in the segment – and this is not just the segment, but just a snapshot of what’s going on in the segment – there are only a few remaining naturally aspirated V6 vehicles that are available: Pilot, Pathfinder, and for whatever reason, the new Palisade, which decided to apply 3.5-liter V6. Not the 3.8, but a 3.5.”
That last remark makes a strong point. It’s easy to think every Kia and Hyundai in the same segment are developed in tandem, but it’s obvious that the new Telluride isn’t a mechanical copy of the Palisade.
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“Now, the other benefit of the 2.5 Turbo [Gasoline Direct Injection engine] is it’s able to meet higher emissions standards,” continued Lee. “It’s ACC2 SULEV 30 compliant. No way we could have met that with the V6, naturally aspirated V6. So it’s higher torque output, and better lower emissions.”
ACC2 SULEV 30 is the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which limits emissions for vehicles from the 2026 model year and newer.
Emissions aside, Lee said the superior torque of the turbo-four compensates for the new Telluride’s 265-pound weight gain. All things considered, the benefits in moving to a four-cylinder far outweigh the smoother soundtrack of a V6.
Related: 2025 Kia Telluride Vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: Side-by-Side Gallery
What It Means
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The new Telluride achieved a 37% increase in year-on-year sales last month. This suggests buyers in this segment aren’t put off by the loss of the V6, prioritizing a competitive blend of performance and economy instead. Rivals like the Toyota Grand Highlander also rely on four-cylinder power, while the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup is topped by a new turbo-four.
This doesn’t mean that cylinder count doesn’t matter anymore; rather, it’s the segment that counts. In the performance car market, Mercedes-AMG faced relentless criticism for scrapping the V8 for a hybrid four-cylinder in the C63. Audi recently said that nothing but six-cylinder power would’ve been enough for the new RS5, solidifying the message that a higher cylinder count still matters to enthusiasts—even if equivalent power can be derived from a boosted four-cylinder.
If you want your midsize three-row crossover with a V6, you’ll need to look beyond the Kia Telluride.
