Month: July 2025

When Kia launched the Telluride in 2019, we said it was “large, luxurious and here to eat the Explorer’s lunch.” That still feels spot on, and the three-row crossover ended up becoming the brand’s second best-selling vehicle in the United States last year with sales of 115,504 units.

More: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Arrives In America With Classy Looks And Hybrid Power

Kia wants to keep that momentum going, so they’re gearing up to introduce a redesigned crossover that will have a lot in common with the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. A couple of prototypes were recently spied undergoing testing in the United States, revealing an evolutionary, but streamlined design.

Refined Styling and Off-Road Signals

Starting up front, we can see a new egg crate grille with an angular lower accent. It’s flanked by vertical headlights that have pronounced daytime running light graphics.

Further below, there are two different bumper designs. The first is fairly conventional and features a wide intake, a centrally mounted sensor, and fog lights.

The second design is more aggressive and will likely be reserved for a rugged, off-road variant. As you can see, it features protruding black accents as well as what appears to be red recovery hooks. Judging by the looks of things, the prototype also has meatier tires as well as a lifted suspension.

Getting back to the regular model, we can see streamlined bodywork that embraces angular accents. The latter are particularly prominent on the new side mirrors.

Elsewhere, there are flush-mounted door handles and a cleaner greenhouse with new quarter glass. The latter meets a thick angular pillar, which is capped by black trim and a silver accent.

The rear end is more evolutionary, and we can see familiar taillights, which mimic the headlights. Further below, the undisguised rear bumper reveals plastic cladding and a contrasting silver accent. They’re joined by reflectors on the back and sides.

What’s Under the Hood?

While Kia is staying tight-lipped, the model will echo the Palisade, which grew 2.5 inches (64 mm) and sports an extra 2.7 inches (69 mm) between the wheels. We can also expect two new engines.

The 3.8-liter V6 will give way to an all-new 3.5-liter engine developing 287 hp (214 kW / 291 PS) and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) of torque. That’s a slight drop from the current rating of 291 hp (217 kW / 295 PS) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm), but the new engine should be more efficient.

The big news is a hybrid variant, which features a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 1.65 kWh battery pack, and two electric motors that are integrated into a six-speed automatic transmission. This will give the model a combined output of 329 hp (245 kW / 334 PS) and 339 lb-ft (459 Nm) of torque.

Besides being more powerful, Hyundai has said the Palisade Hybrid is expected to return more than 30 mpg highway. That would be a significant boost over the current Telluride, which maxes out at 26 mpg highway with front-wheel drive. However, there will be tradeoffs, including a lower towing capacity of around 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg).

Update: Mazda is gearing up to debut the next-generation CX-5, teasing its arrival with a set of official preview images and a confirmed reveal date of July 10 at 10 a.m. CEST. While the announcement is light on specifics, Mazda did share a few broad strokes: the compact SUV will feature a sharper exterior design, a “more spacious, uncluttered cabin” with upgraded tech, and what it describes as a more “engaging, intuitive drive.”

The teaser images seem to align with a single, low-quality photo that leaked online recently, hinting at an evolution rather than a revolution in styling. Expect the new model to retain the current CX-5’s overall proportions, but with more refined lines and crisper detailing borrowed from the larger CX-90.

Original story continues below.

Mazda’s best-selling SUV is getting a major overhaul, and it’s not trying to keep it a secret. The third-generation CX-5 brings updated styling, new tech, and for the first time, a hybrid option. A leaked photo may have jumped the gun, showing the new model in full, without any camouflage, and hinting that the official reveal could be just around the corner.

More: Mazda Slashes $3.3B From EV Plans, Confirms Hybrid SkyActiv-Z Engine For New CX-5

The image surfaced on Cochespias, with the Instagram page of Car Design News cited as the original source. It looks legitimate, especially since the model closely resembles the camouflaged prototypes spotted during testing. The overall proportions and window shape remain familiar, echoing the outgoing CX-5, but the body panels have been entirely reworked.

Sharper Details, Familiar Shape

What stands out first is the headlight design. The new units curve into the grille, not unlike what we once saw on the now-discontinued Mercedes-Benz EQC. The grille itself keeps its signature shape but introduces a fresh pattern and thinner chrome accents. The bumper is still cleanly sculpted, free of faux side vents, though the lower intake has grown noticeably, giving the front end a more pronounced look.

Around the wheel arches, unpainted plastic cladding gives the crossover a slightly more rugged appearance, although higher trim levels could swap it out for body-colored panels. The rear isn’t visible in the leaked shot, but earlier spy photos suggest slimmer LED taillights, which bring to mind BMW’s concept cars, along with a pair of exposed exhaust pipes.

The overall design doesn’t feel like a carbon copy of Mazda’s larger CX-60, 70, 80, and 90 SUVs. Nor does it step on the toes of the similarly-sized CX-50, keeping the CX-5’s identity intact while evolving its look.

It’s a safe bet that the new CX-5 will bring improvements to the interior, likely borrowing materials and tech from Mazda’s more upscale models. Expect a bump in quality, a larger infotainment system, and maybe even a few design cues from the CX-90. A modest increase in size could also make it a more practical choice for families.

Hybrid Setup With A New Engine

Mazda has confirmed that the upcoming CX-5 will offer a self charging hybrid variant developed entirely in-house. This version will also introduce the new SkyActiv-Z gasoline engine, which aims to deliver better fuel efficiency and stronger performance. But don’t expect it right away, as the engine won’t join the lineup until late 2027, so the hybrid will likely launch with an existing powertrain before switching over later.

More: Mazda’s Sportier 6e Sedan Launches With A Price Tag That Feels Like A Typo

The current-generation CX-5 arrived in late 2016, so this redesign is overdue. The new model could land in the US as a 2026 model-year vehicle, with a global debut expected within weeks.

Mazda’s long-standing rival, the Toyota RAV4, recently got a full redesign for 2026. The updated CX-5 will also go head-to-head with the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, both of which already offer hybrid powertrains. In a segment where efficiency and tech are more important than ever, the new CX-5 will need more than just good looks to stand out.

Baldauf