Hybrid Powertrain Coming?

[stecky]

I'm thinking now that the Sorento has a hybrid powertrain available, that it's just a matter of time before it comes to the Telluride, right? I'm kinda surprised that there hasn't been an announcement about it yet. I've seen some mentions about it on rumor sites, but I don't really trust those sites. If Kia could come out with a hybrid powertrain for 2022 on the Telly, I think they stand a chance of knocking the Highlander off of its high horse. The only advantage the Highlander has currently is that it offers a hybrid version. Anyone else agree or disagree?

 

[qwikhit]

I went with someday. I thought I read somewhere the Sorento was getting phased out and the Telly was its replacement Doesn’t seem that way of Kia is putting a hybrid engine in it

 

[Lith_SXPN]

I don't think current 1.6L turbo hybrid engine offered in Sorento is going to cut it for the Telluride. It will be under powered for this car. There is no hybrid engine suitable for the Telluride's current platform. While it's possible H/K could come up with a new hybrid engine, it is more likely they will go with PHEV or full ev on the next full change in 2028(?). Plus I don't think Kia will deviate much from the current offering if they are selling as is right now.

 

[stecky]

I don't think current 1.6L turbo hybrid engine offered in Sorento is going to cut it for the Telluride. It will be under powered for this car.

Why is that? They are roughly the same curb weight.

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[Lith_SXPN]

5,578 to 5,917 lbs (Telluride) vs 5,357 to 5,467 lbs (Sorento) may not seem like much, but it will feel under powered for an engine that puts down only 227hp(combined)/258tq. People claim current 291/262 engine is slow as is. I don't think that added weight is going to help much on MPG either, which negates having a hybrid. I somehow think Kia considers Sorento to be Highlander's competitor not the Telluride. You also have to consider that Telluride/Palisade is on the last gen (but improved) expanded Sorento(Sonata TM) platform. I am not entirely sure the new engine along with other supporting parts will fit properly on the Telluride without any major modification. Which is the reason why I think change will not come until the next full change.

 

[stecky]

5,578 to 5,917 lbs (Telluride) vs 5,357 to 5,467 lbs (Sorento) may not seem like much, but it will feel under powered for an engine that puts down only 227hp(combined)/258tq. People claim current 291/262 engine is slow as is. I don't think that added weight is going to help much on MPG either, which negates having a hybrid. I somehow think Kia considers Sorento to be Highlander's competitor not the Telluride. You also have to consider that Telluride/Palisade is on the last gen (but improved) expanded Sorento(Sonata TM) platform. I am not entirely sure the new engine along with other supporting parts will fit properly on the Telluride without any major modification. Which is the reason why I think change will not come until the next full change.

I was just going by the base curb weight listed in the link below. It lists the Telluride at 4255 lbs and the Sorento at 4101 lbs. That's why I said they were roughly the same.

Kia Sorento vs. Telluride: Compare Crossover SUVs

Compare the Kia Sorento vs. the Kia Telluride—check out price, size, mpg, and cargo space to discover which is better for you.

www.thecarconnection.com

 

[Lith_SXPN]

Sorry, I have a bad habit of looking up gvwr for cars on google. You are right, there isn't much difference is curb weight. So if Kia decided to drop that hybrid engine in somehow, then the gvwr of Telluride will drop as well as towing capacity. In this case, wouldn't Telluride be in direct competition with Sorento?

 

[stecky]

So if Kia decided to drop that hybrid engine in somehow, then the gvwr of Telluride will drop as well as towing capacity. In this case, wouldn't Telluride be in direct competition with Sorento?

Yeah that's a good point. It just seems to me that a hybrid Telluride would be unstoppable, but it's probably just wishful thinking

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[TheNip73]

Yeah that's a good point. It just seems to me that a hybrid Telluride would be unstoppable, but it's probably just wishful thinking

They can’t make enough as-is. No need for them to put a new model that could drive demand up in the market right now. The smart move is to wait until demand for the current version drops down to normal production rates and then introduce then new model to boost sales up again.

 

[YEH]

Won't happen until the Telluride switches to the new N3 platform, which could be as soon as the MCE.

Agree that H/K will have to develop a more powerful hybrid system (which would also be used for the Carnival and K8, in addition to the Palisade).

But yeah, likely in no hurry as both the Telluride and Palisade are still selling like hotcakes (over 18k combined last month, not counting KDM Palisade sales).

The current hybrid powertrain is adequate for the Sorento and Santa Fe, but better suited for the Tucson.

 

[stecky]

Won't happen until the Telluride switches to the new N3 platform, which could be as soon as the MCE.

What does MCE stand for?

But yeah, likely in no hurry as both the Telluride and Palisade are still selling like hotcakes (over 18k combined last month, not counting KDM Palisade sales).

But aren't there other factors involved here besides how well they are selling? For example, what about the U.S. National Fuel Efficiency Policy? Adding the Telluride to their lineup did nothing to help their combined fleet fuel economy ratings.

 

[YEH]

Mid-cycle enhancement.

Kia has the hybrid variant of the new Sorento as well as a # of upcoming electrics to mitigate the impact of the Telluride.

Upon the switchover to the N3 platform, Kia can also add the 2.5T as an engine option to improve EPA fuel economy ratings.

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