All-New for 2026
One of America’s favorite midsize crossovers got a massive overhaul this year. The Kia Telluride has been given a comprehensive redesign this year, and it’s safe to say that it’ll likely become one of the hottest cars out there once it reaches showrooms.
Like the Palisade, it seems that the Telluride also drew inspiration from a particular British luxury SUV. Not that it’s a bad thing, though, as the crossover does have a good bit of presence.
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Another Potential Best-Seller
Telluride sales have been up year-on-year since it entered the market. Its first full year of sales in 2021 saw 93,705 units seeing new homes, and that was followed by 99,891 units in 2022. Since 2023, the Telluride has been selling over 100,000 yearly. There’s a reason why some dealers have called it the ‘Sell-u-ride’ as it’s been flying off dealer lots.
The redesigned model has all the potential to continue the upward trend. We’re not even done with the year yet, and Telluride sales are expected to beat 2024’s figures. For those curious, it’s at 111,123 as of November 2025 versus 115,504 for 2024.
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But Will a Pickup Version Work?
Yes, we know, the Tasman exists, but it’s not sold in the US. Then again, the Tasman has its own set of, er, challenges, and tariffs have all but obliterated its chances of ever coming to America.
Still, the nation loves its pickups, and Kia has all the potential to penetrate that market. Why not do it with its second-best-selling model, then? That’s what digital artist Theottle had in mind when he turned the Telluride into a pickup. Using a Volkswagen Amarok as a starting point, the artist incorporated elements of the popular crossover onto the truck, with rather surprising results.
In our eyes at least, it works. It’s probably polarizing in some eyes, but it’s safe to say that it’s not as divisive as Kia’s real-life midsize truck.
To Build or Not to Build
We’re not entirely optimistic about it ever becoming a reality, though. Traditional body-on-frame models like the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado dominate the midsize pickup market. Sure, there’s the Honda Ridgeline, but that’s more of a niche model in that crowd. It’s selling decently, though.
We can’t deny that a Telluride pickup looks good, at least virtually. Perhaps Kia can take some cues from the digital version and apply them to the Tasman. Maybe then we’ll see some improvement in sales.
Theottle
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