2022 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride took the three-row SUV market by storm in 2020, offering a hard-to-beat combination of style and luxury and a price lower than many of its competitors. Two years later, it’s still in its first generation and has undergone only minor improvements since its debut. 2022’s most noticeable changes are the slightly redesigned radiator grille and the new futuristic Kia logo.

The Telluride’s 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine produces up to 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. There’s more than enough power for in-town grocery runs and long-haul road trips. The engine’s harmony with the eight-speed gearbox truly helps it shine in terms of refinement and smoothness.

Many of the components, including the platform, engine, transmission and safety equipment are shared with its corporate sibling the Hyundai Palisade. Both are worth looking at. The biggest difference is styling. The Telluride looks more rugged and ready for an outdoor adventure. However, the Palisade has slightly better steering tuning that gives it a touch better road feel on the highway and in twisty sections of mountain road. 

There are lots of features, including all-wheel-drive, captain chairs, leather seating, excellent sound systems and a comprehensive advanced driver assistance safety suite. That last option pushes the top trim levels north of $50,000. There are four Telluride trim levels ranging from the base LX with starting price of $34,015, including the destination fee, and then there are the S, EX and the top SX, which has a near-luxury interior and starts at $49,915 including destination fee. All are available in a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel-drive.

The Telluride can haul up to eight people when configured with a 60/40-splitting second-row bench that comes standard on the base LX and EX. Captain’s chairs for the middle seating are optional on the EX and standard on the S and SX. Regardless of seating arrangement, all passengers can keep their devices charged with the five USB ports that are standard across the lineup. The SX gets six.

At 196.9 inches, it slots between the smaller Toyota Highlander and larger Ford Explorer in length. Otherwise, it is pretty similar in size to rivals, including the Highlander, Explorer and Honda Pilot. But the big test for three-row SUVs—designed to be people haulers—is the legroom in the third row. The Telluride comes in at 31.4 inches. That trails the Volkswagen Atlas’ class-leading 33.7 inches and is also is about an inch shy of the Explorer, but it beats the Highlander by almost two inches and some other competitors by even more.

Performance: 12/15

The Telluride’s naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 delivers 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It isn’t slow, but it compromises thrilling dynamics for smooth and predictable acceleration. It isn’t as zesty to drive as Mazda’s CX-9 or as sure-footed as Subaru’s Ascent, but it has a much larger third row than either and is smoother and more powerful than the Subaru while still comporting itself well on gravel or dirt roads. The suspension tuning could be improved, as the Telluride with two or fewer occupants, can feel unsettled over excessively rough roads. 

Both the standard front-drive and optional all-wheel drive (AWD) versions have a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, enough to tow a boat to the lake or a trailer with dirt bikes, but don’t expect to pull a giant Airstream. An optional towing kit adds self-leveling rear suspension, which helps with carrying heavy cargo loads. 

Fuel Economy: 12/15

The Telluride has decent but not stellar fuel economy for a large SUV. The front-wheel-drive version has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in city driving, 26 on the highway and 23 in combined driving. That compares to the similarly configured Highlander’s 24 in combined driving. AWD Tellurides return an estimated 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway and 21 in combined driving. That also trails the AWD Highlander. 

Those who make fuel economy a top priority should consider the Highlander hybrid, which gets 35 mpg in combined driving. But that vehicle is not as comfortable as the Telluride. The cabin is more cramped and the battery for the hybrid system impinges on cargo space. The Telluride has an 18.8-gallon fuel tank, enough for about 400 miles of highway driving in typical use.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15

The 2021 Telluride EX and SX trims landed a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which includes Good and Superior ratings for most configurations. IIHS, however, doesn’t like the headlights on other trim levels and certain configurations. They earned either an Acceptable or Poor rating, depending on the model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated the Kia five stars overall.

Kia equips the SUV with a full suite of standard driver aids, which include automatic emergency braking, forward collision warnings, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warnings, lane following assist, rear cross-traffic alerts and a driver attention warning system

More features are added at higher trim levels, including the following: A highway driving assist system that recognizes speed limits on federal highways and adjusts the speed to match. A high beam assist that adjusts the headlights to traffic density. A blind spot view monitor that helps with lane changes and a parking distance warning that helps drivers squeeze into a tight spot.

Comfort & Room: 13/15

The Telluride has an excellent combination of cabin space and storage. The seating is comfortable and the build quality is as good or better than its rivals. The first two rows are spacious and have comfortable seating. Headroom and legroom are what one expects in a large SUV. The third row has 31.4 inches of legroom, above average for the segment and well ahead of the CX-9, but shy of the VW Atlas and Ford Explorer.

The Telluride can haul up to eight people when configured with 60/40-splitting second-row bench that comes standard on the base LX and EX. Captain’s chairs for the middle seating are optional on the EX and standard on the S and SX.

Inside, the Telluride’s cabin becomes quite refined as buyers move up the trim levels, but luxury features like heated and cooled second-row seats are extras that raise the price. Two other features that enhance the Telluride’s people-hauling comfort include a Quiet Mode that cuts audio output in the second and third rows so the audio choices are only heard in the front row; a Driver Talk feature uses a microphone to improve conversation with the second- and third-row passengers

Infotainment: 13/15

Kia’s infotainment software is simple above all else, but what it lacks in flash, it more than makes up in usability and user-friendliness—a must when hauling kids and their endless distractions. It starts with a nicely-sized 10.25-inch touchscreen on all trim levels. Next, there’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The physical knobs that surround the screen are clearly labeled and easy to find while keeping eyes on the road. Six USB ports are distributed through the cabin. One option is multi-Bluetooth wireless connectivity that allows two phones to connect simultaneously for audio streaming. The S and SX trims get navigation, a Harman Kardon 10-speaker sound system and wireless device charging. 

Cargo & Storage: 12/15

The space behind the third row of seats offers a decent 21 cubic-feet of storage, the same as the Volkswagen Atlas; the Chevrolet Traverse provides 23 cubic-feet behind the rear seats. With the second row folded, storage expands to 47.5 cubic-feet. With both rows down, there are 87 cubic-feet. In the overall volume stakes, the Telluride is well shy of the Atlas and Traverse, both of which offer nearly 100 cubic-feet, but ahead of the CX-9 and bout even with the Ascent and Explorer.

A few more small-item storage spaces would be welcome in the Telluride’s cabin, especially since families are this SUV’s target buyers. To help with cargo, the top three trims come equipped with standard roof rails. 

Styling: 9/10

The Telluride looks beefy and strong, which bolsters its anti-minivan reputation. It avoids the jellybean look that plagues many of the unibody 3-row SUVs. Inside, premium materials and super-solid build quality make it hard to tell the Kia from a BMW or Mercedes-Benz that costs twice as much—save for the badge on the grille and steering wheel. 

A blacked-out Nightfall appearance package gives brand-conscious buyers the option for a more unique look on the road. Kia improved the styling by scuttling its dated oval nameplate for a more updated angular letter look. It’s a small change but keeps the vehicle up-to-date with current styling trends. 

Is the 2022 Kia Telluride Worth it? Which Telluride is the Best Value? 

The Telluride is one of the better three-row SUVs for the money. Budget buyers will be happy with the LX base model, which starts at $34,345 including a $1,255 destination fee. Its mechanicals, ride and comfort are the same as the other offerings. But those that can stretch to the $36,845 S trim will have a more polished cabin and some important amenities. 

Inside, the S comes with heated front seats with 3 settings, 2nd-row 50/50 split-folding captain chairs, a power tilt-slide sunroof and wireless phone charging. It also has 20-inch alloy wheels and roof rails. AWD is a $2,000 option on all but the top-spec SX ($1,900) for those who plan to venture off the pavement or need that extra traction in winter.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Kia Telluride?

The Kia Telluride costs more to insure than most of its competitors, but not by much. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,919, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,730 for the Toyota Highlander, $1,718 for the Subaru Ascent and $1,800 for the Volkswagen Atlas. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.