Kia America has rolled out the second wave of its creative launch campaign for the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride, most notably highlighting the first-ever available turbo-hybrid powertrain for the brand’s flagship SUV. Under the headline “Sea Lion,” the new spot is now on air and serves as the emotional centerpiece of a 360-degree marketing push built around efficiency, range and real-family usability.
In the film, viewers follow a family on a long road trip in a Telluride Turbo-Hybrid as they set out to fulfill their young son’s dream of seeing sea lions in the wild. The boy clutches his favorite stuffed animal in the SUV’s spacious second row while the family travels through valleys, over mountains and finally out to a rugged coastline, where they watch real sea lions basking in the sun. In a heartwarming moment, the child gently places his plush toy beside the animals, and one curious sea lion slides over to cuddle up to it, underscoring the ad’s theme of connection, wonder and shared experiences.
Turbo-hybrid powertrain: up to 329 hp and 35 mpg combined
Beyond the emotional storytelling, the campaign is designed to underscore what’s under the hood. The 2027 Telluride is the first hybrid vehicle to be assembled in the state of Georgia and now offers an available turbocharged hybrid powertrain alongside its standard turbocharged engine. In EX FWD trim, the Telluride Turbo-Hybrid is rated at an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined and delivers a total driving range of up to 637 miles on a full tank.
Kia says the new hybrid system can produce up to 329 horsepower, blending strong acceleration with significantly improved fuel efficiency for the three-row family SUV segment. According to the brand, the Turbo-Hybrid variant keeps everything customers already love about the Telluride — the boxy, upright profile, premium “class-above” cabin and true three-row capability — while letting them go farther between fill-ups and reduce operating costs without sacrificing everyday performance.
Larger, more upscale second-generation SUV
The second-generation Telluride doesn’t only change under the skin. Compared with its predecessor, the 2027 model offers greater overall length, more cargo room and increased interior space, reinforcing its role as a family-hauling flagship. Inside, Kia has focused on creating a sanctuary-like cabin, with materials and features it says are more commonly associated with luxury SUVs than mainstream nameplates.
Thoughtful details include available full LED Ground Lighting that illuminates the area around the vehicle and a new Ground View Monitor (exclusive to the X-Pro trim) designed to make off-pavement maneuvering more confidence-inspiring. Every trim level now comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a suite of new comfort, convenience and technology features aims to push the Telluride’s perceived quality and usability up another notch in a very competitive segment.
360-degree marketing push across TV, digital and out-of-home
The broader campaign around the 2027 Telluride and its Turbo-Hybrid powertrain is truly multi-channel. It began with the “Horse Herder” spot and now continues with “Sea Lion,” supported by a mix of traditional TV, connected TV (CTV), paid social, digital lifestyle placements, out-of-home media and communications across Kia’s own owner channels.
On the broadcast side, Kia is airing :30 and :60 second spots, along with shorter :15 and :06 cut-downs that spotlight specific product highlights. Among the key messages: the available hybrid powertrain, the rugged X-Pro design cues, the improved 9.1-inch ground clearance on certain trims, and the availability of front recovery hooks for customers who plan to take their Telluride off the beaten path. The idea is to present the SUV as both refined family transport and a capable adventure vehicle.
Trims, availability and Kia’s positioning
The 2027 Telluride line-up will continue to cover a wide spread of customer needs and budgets. It is offered in LX, S, EX, SX and SX-Prestige trims, along with the more style-focused X-Line and the more off-road-capable X-Pro variants. All versions of the second-generation Telluride are now arriving at Kia showrooms across the United States, while the Telluride Turbo-Hybrid models are expected to join dealer inventories over the coming weeks.
Kia America, headquartered in Irvine, California, positions the Telluride as one of its core U.S.-assembled SUVs and a halo product in a lineup that spans gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric models. With the 2027 Telluride Turbo-Hybrid, the brand is clearly aiming to blend emotional storytelling with hard product facts — range, efficiency, power and comfort — to convince family buyers that they no longer have to choose between style, space and lower fuel consumption in a three-row SUV.
