Kia's "Sea Lion" campaign is the second installment in a 360-degree push spanning TV, CTV, paid social, digital, and out-of-home channels
The Turbo-Hybrid powertrain delivers 329 horsepower with an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined and 637-mile range on the EX FWD trim.
Creative messaging emphasizes family lifestyle and road-trip range rather than technical hybrid specs.
The Turbo-Hybrid is expected in showrooms in the coming weeks alongside the standard turbocharged model.
The "Sea Lion" spot is the second installment in a campaign that launched with a spot called "Horse Herder." It follows a family on a long road trip to see sea lions, using the journey to highlight the Turbo-Hybrid's range and interior space.
The 360-degree campaign includes :30 and :60 broadcast spots, :15 and :06 cut-downs, CTV, paid social, paid digital lifestyle content, out-of-home placements, and owner channel components. Cut-down spots focus on specific features such as the X-Pro design, the hybrid powertrain, available 9.1-inch ground clearance, and available front recovery hooks.
The creative approach is notable for what it doesn't emphasize. Rather than leading with electrification or efficiency metrics, Kia centers the campaign on family lifestyle and adventure. This positions the hybrid powertrain as an enabler of range and convenience rather than a technology story.
The turbocharged hybrid powertrain produces up to 329 horsepower. Kia cites an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined and a total driving range of 637 miles on a full tank for the EX FWD trim.
Russell Wager, vice president of marketing at Kia America, said the Turbo-Hybrid "offers all the things people love about Telluride - the boxy profile; the class above interior; and three row capability."
Every 2027 Telluride comes standard with a turbocharged gasoline engine. The hybrid option adds electrified assistance to that base.