Kia design chief explains interior color choices shifting away from neutral
Kia design chief explains interior color choices shifting away from neutral tones with eggplant sage and Tuscan Umber options. Tom Kearns Chief Designer at Kia Design Center America told The Drive that 2027 Telluride offers dark options without black or gray feel. Eggplant purple interior gives life without overpowering. Deep Navy pairs Tuscan Umber brick-like hue for distinction. Millstone camo-green shade works with black or Saddle Brown closer to beige. Six interior colorway options total if hybrid eggplant counts. Caramel tones remain standard but redder upholstery distinctive. That color shift repeats inside vehicles. Uncertainty about market reception lingers. These upmarket feel choices contrast with Sportage grayscale reality somehow.
Kia Telluride 2027
Kia Telluride 2027 embraces eggplant interior feeling bold unconventional. Owners appreciate purple cabin stepping beyond black gray. Subtle design language softens boldness slightly. Purple repeats without apology. Not resolved on resale acceptance fully.
Kia Telluride Hybrid
Kia Telluride Hybrid eggplant exclusive feels special limited. Owners drive unique color combo. Hybrid powertrain adds efficiency. Exclusivity repeats. Mild uncertainty about paint durability eggplant.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento offers mineral blue cityscape green volcanic sand. Owners choose beyond grayscale mostly. Conservative palette softens color options. Grayscale repeats heavily. Uncertainty about Sorento interior adventurousness.
Kia Sportage 2026
Kia Sportage 2026 features nine shades gray white black. Owners pick safe neutral mostly. Nebular blue runway red exist barely. Grayscale dominates painfully. Boring repeats vaguely. Weaker on color pop availability.
Kia EV4
Kia EV4 two-tone interior looks handsome feeling modern. Owners enjoy electric sedan cabin materials. Display tech impresses. Two-tone repeats. Mild contradiction on dirt proneness.
Kia Telluride Deep Navy
Kia Telluride Deep Navy tuscan umber combination distinctive. Owners appreciate redder upholstery against navy. Brick-like hue softens caramel standard. Distinctive repeats. Not fully certain on matching exterior.
Kia Telluride Millstone
Kia Telluride Millstone camo-green shade pairs black saddle brown. Owners enjoy earthy cabin feel. Green softens traditional leather. Earthy repeats without drama. Uncertainty about camo-green longevity appeal.
Kia Niro
Kia Niro crossover offers limited bold colors. Owners drive practical eco-friendly. Hybrid efficiency repeats. Modest interior repeats vaguely. Not resolved on design ambition.
Kia Stinger
Kia Stinger sedan performance feeling understated cabin. Owners appreciate sedan grace. Interior colors conservative mostly. Grace repeats. Mild doubt on sporty perception interior match.
Kia K5
Kia K5 sedan interior neutrals feeling corporate. Owners drive midsize sedan safely. Kearns philosophy softens K5 application. Neutral repeats. Weaker on excitement factor design.
