• 2027 Seltos and 2027 Telluride recognized in Compact and Mid-Size SUV categories, respectively

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kia America took home two awards at the 2026 Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) “Truck Rodeo,” with the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX AWD named the winner in the “Compact Sports Utility Vehicle” category and the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige earning top honors in the “Mid-Size Sports Utility Vehicle” category.  

“Texas knows a thing or two about trucks and SUVs, so we’re especially proud to see the Seltos and Telluride recognized at this year’s Truck Rodeo,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales, Kia America. “The Texas Auto Writers Association puts these vehicles through their paces, and coming away with wins in two different categories says a lot about what Kia is bringing to the SUV market.”

The annual competition brought together over 50 TAWA members to evaluate 26 of the industry’s trucks, SUVs and CUVs. Participants put the vehicles through their paces on designated off-road and street courses, assessing them across a range of criteria with everyday driving experiences in mind before voting for their favorites in each category.

“Kia understands what Texas families need: a vehicle that’s affordable, capable, and comfortable. With available all-wheel drive, an impressive suite of driver assistance features, and impressive fuel economy, Kia keeps raising the bar for SUVs,” said Marc Newman, President, Texas Auto Writers Association.

The all-new 2027 Seltos brings bold styling, advanced technology and enhanced versatility to the compact SUV segment, with available turbocharged power and all-wheel drive¹ capability. The 2027 Telluride builds on its reputation as a capable three-row SUV, with rugged design, a spacious interior and increased off-road capability on X-Pro models. Together, the two vehicles showcase the breadth of Kia’s SUV lineup, from compact utility to family-sized adventure.

Kia America – about us   

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World’s Most Sustainable Companies of 2026. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and WNBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several SUVs proudly assembled in America*.   

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* The 2026 and 2027 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excluding PHEV model), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

¹ No system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.

Contact:
James Hope
949-943-0826
jhope@kiausa.com
Kiamedia.com

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SOURCE Kia America