The Kia Telluride has been one of the most popular SUVs since being launched for the 2020 model year. It’s loaded with features and tech, has a spacious and upscale cabin, respectable performance, and room for up to eight passengers in three rows of seating, all at a competitive price.
Base Price: $44,590
As Tested: $51,010
Horsepower: 291
Mileage: 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined
For 2022, the Telluride comes with a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and a semi-autonomous highway driving system. The Telluride and its cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, are similar and both are excellent offerings in the midsize SUV category.
The 2022 Telluride comes in four trims: LX, S, EX and SX. Starting prices range from $33,090 to $44,890. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on all trims. There’s room for seven or eight passengers, depending on whether you take the standard bench seats or opt for captain’s chairs in the second row.
There’s one engine: a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride is easy and pleasant to drive and handles like a smaller vehicle. Steering and braking are smooth and responsive, the Telluride stays composed around corners, and the eight-speed shifts smoothly and quickly. While there’s enough power for most driving situations, you may wish for more oomph when the Telluride is loaded with passengers and gear for that family road trip. You can choose from Eco, Sport, Comfort, Smart and Snow driving modes. Visibility is good all the way around.
The Telluride and several other Kia models have an optional turn-signal camera display. When you engage the turn signal, a camera shows you a view of what’s on the side of the vehicle. It’s a nice addition to the blind spot monitor.
With eight inches of ground clearance and a standard skid plate, the Telluride is suitable for light off-roading.
When properly equipped, the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The available towing package includes a self-leveling rear suspension.
Fuel efficiency is a bit below average for the class. EPA ratings for my tester are 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with a combined rating of 21. I got 23 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The stop/start feature helps maximize fuel efficiency and works seamlessly and quietly.
The interior is upscale, roomy, comfortable and quiet—it’s easy to forget that you’re not in a luxury vehicle. The design is clean and modern, materials are of high quality, and controls are intuitively laid out. Seats are supportive and comfortable, even on long trips. Adults have good leg- and headroom in the first two rows, and even the third row will accommodate average-size adults.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, remote start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, second-row bench seats, infotainment system with 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, six-speaker audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, voice recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, six USB ports, rear seat alert (reminds you to check the back seats before leaving the vehicle) and safe exit assist (warns of approaching vehicles before you exit the vehicle).
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, leather or Nappa leather upholstery, leather-wrapped shift knob, heated and ventilated front seats, heated and ventilated second-row seats, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings, eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat, seven-inch instrument cluster display, 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound stereo, an additional USB port, wireless device charging, second-row captain’s chairs, second-row sunshades, second-row center armrest, rear-seat entertainment system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, household-style power outlet, universal garage door opener, 64-color ambient interior lighting, sunroof, dual-pane sunroof, automatic high-beam headlights and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, highway driving assist (semi-autonomous driving mode that keeps the Telluride centered in the lane and controls speed so you are at a set distance from the vehicle in front of you), pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross traffic alert, driver attention monitoring and rear parking sensors.
Available driver assistance technologies include a blind-spot camera and front parking sensors.
The Kia UVO infotainment system looks great with its sharp graphics, and menus are logically laid out. There’s a row of several physical controls below the touchscreen—these are great for making quick adjustments to things like radio stations and climate settings. The system responds quickly to touch and voice commands.
The Telluride has above-average cargo space among midsize SUVs. There are 21 cubic feet with all three rows of seating in place, 46 cubes with the third row folded, and 87 cubes with the second and third rows folded. The opening is nice and wide, and there’s also an area under the hatch floor where you can stash smaller items. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
The Telluride gets Kia’s excellent 10 year/100,000 miles powertrain warranty.
The good:
Decent performance
Spacious and upscale cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
Intuitive infotainment system with large touchscreen
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Lots of cargo space
Excellent warranty
The not-so-good:
Could use more power when the vehicle is loaded with passengers and gear
Fuel efficiency is slightly below average for a midsize SUV
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $44,590. Wolf Gray paint is $495. The Nightfall Edition Package is $1,395 and includes 20” black finished Alloy wheels, front grille in black finish and black exterior trim. The SX Prestige Package is $2,300 and includes a head-up display and 110-volt inverter, Nappa leather seat trim, premium cloth headliner and sun visors, heated and ventilated second row seats, and rain-sensing front windshield wipers. The Towing Package is $795 and includes a tow hitch and self-leveling rear suspension. Carpeted floor mats are $210. Destination fee is $1,225 bringing the grand total to $51,010.
Bottom line:
The 2022 Kia Telluride continues to be a comfortable and spacious family hauler. It’s easy to drive, well-equipped with lots of standard and available features and tech, has an upscale cabin, and all three rows offer plenty of room, even for adults. For the price, the Telluride offers excellent value. Anyone wanting a three-row crossover should check it out.
