2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX AWD and Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige Earn Top Honors at Texas Auto Writers Association “Truck Rodeo”

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 drive 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.