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By Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Senior Editor, Autos, Travel and Lifestyle
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The Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder don’t look like they used to. Both are the beneficiaries of major makeovers. For Telluride, the 2027 model year makes a new generation of vehicle while the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is the recipient of a mid-generation makeover.
Changes to the models are designed keep them relevant as possible purchases in an increasingly competitive segment where the Toyota Grand Highlander is picking up sales steam the recently revised, larger Ford Expedition is proving especially attractive with sales up over 47 percent year-to-date.
The Pathfinder is the beneficiary of new front and back end design, a restyled dashboard and fresh badging. Further, it has a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen at the center of the dash, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, improved safety technologies and an available wireless device charger with higher output and automatic cooling functionality.
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Nissan’s top-tier Pathfinder Platinum model has been upgraded to include appointments found on premium brand models including seats with a quilting pattern and 20-inch wheels. A wood-tone interior is available.
“Pathfinder is an adventure SUV that doesn’t compromise the confidence, style and technologies today’s families want. It’s got rugged capability, like an off-road-ready Rock Creek grade and up to 6,000 pounds of towing capability, yet it also has innovative tech like Invisible Hood View and the premium design of Platinum grade. Proudly assembled in Tennessee since 2004, the Nissan Pathfinder empowers real life as a flexible, dependable part of family commutes and road trips,” Rick Levitin, senior manager, chief marketing management at Nissan North America told Newsweek.
The second-generation Kia Telluride has an entirely new exterior and interior design as part of its redo, with sleeker forms than before and the latest in Kia infotainment technology. It also adopts some of the design cues present on the Kia EV9 battery-electric SUV, bringing the two models’ identities closer than in the past.
Previewed for sale in the Telluride X-Pro grade, the Kia delivers its most rugged looking exterior complete with raised roof rails, a squared-off lower back bumper and all-terrain tires.
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A black mesh grille extends across the face of the model. Since it’s debut earlier this week the look of the grille has proven polarizing with online audiences. MotorTrend’s Aaron Gold called it, “a rather strange-looking arrangement of black rectangles that makes us wonder if Kia’s designers had run out of ideas by the time they got to the front of the car.” Edmunds’ Ryan Greger wrote, “I'm less enthused about the front end, mostly due to all that grille. Frankly, it's a bit much.”
The Kia SX Prestige, also showcased at the model debut, has tamer, more refined looks.
Kia will skip 2026 model nomenclature, instead leaping from the last-generation 2025 Kia Telluride to the new-generation 2027 model.
Who buys the Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder?
The profile of the typical Telluride buyer is a family with two or more children who live in the suburbs. The household income is greater than $130,000 annually and the adults in the home have a college education. Owner families are active with a busy lifestyle and seeking an SUV that can “do it all,” Kia told Newsweek.
Telluride’s secondary market is older, Gen X and older Generation Y empty nesters. Their household income is slightly less ($120,000 annually) but they’re also college educated. Kia categorizes these adults as confident trailblazers and risk takers that are looking for a “distinctive and rugged/tough SUV.”
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Nissan shared has different demographics for their Pathfinder buyers. Buyers are a 50-50 male/female split with Generation X equating for approximately 50 percent of all buyers. Millennials make up an additional 25 percent. Most are married with kids and have a total household income of $100-$150,000. Approximately 20 percent of all Pathfinder buyers identify as Hispanic or African American.
The Japan-based automakers shared that Pathfinder sales it the U.S. go to people that are, like Telluride owners, trying to balance family, social and work-related activities. They say safety and reliability are key reasons why they purchase a Pathfinder and that they value technology as a way to simplify their lives.
Kia builds and sells the Telluride in the U.S. Anticipated export markets for the 2027 Telluride include Canada, the Middle East and Puerto Rico.
How popular are the Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder?
In 2024, Kia sold 115,504 Tellurides. Nissan sold 80,915 Pathfinders during the same time period. They’re big sellers, but not the best-selling three-row SUVs. That honor goes to the Ford Explorer, but a large proportion of the Explorer’s annual sales are sold as fleet models without third rows.
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Kia has big expectations for its new-generation Kia Telluride based on the popularity past models. The majority of Telluride buyers are in their prime family raising years, 55.4 percent of them are Generation Y or Z, which is 7.6 percent more than the average for the segment. The company told Newsweek it, “expects the new Telluride to maintain or increase the higher level of popularity with Gen Y/Z.”
How much do they cost?
Pricing for the new Nissan Pathfinder is not yet available. The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder in S, SV, Rock Creek, SL and Platinum grades goes on sale early next year in the U.S.
The timing is the same for the 2027 Kia Telluride. Its full trim level lineup and pricing will be unveiled in due course.
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