3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2022

2022 Kia Telluride

Distinctive yet traditional SUV styling
Standard V6 with available all-wheel drive
Upscale cabin and amenities
Available in 7- or 8-passenger configurations
Pricing starts at $32,790 (plus $1,225 destination charge) | Price yours
On sale now | See Kia Telluride models for sale near you

If you want the definition of one hot SUV, you need only to look up the 2022 Kia Telluride. It returns for the third time as the winner of the Midsize 3-Row SUV category. Buyers confirm the strengths that put the Telluride on the top of our list by making this SUV one of the most sought-after new vehicles on the market today. Inventories are tight, and many are rolling off the trucks and into customer hands at full sticker price.

For 2022, upgrades to the Telluride only enhance that desirability. And despite the chip shortage that affects all manufacturers, Kia is working hard at its Georgia factory to keep churning out as many Tellurides as possible.

The most obvious change on the 2022 Kia Telluride is its new grille sporting a more modern Kia logo. But the changes don’t stop there, as Kia adds more driver assists, gives buyers a larger standard infotainment screen with additional functionality, and puts dual-zone climate control on all models. Still, there are many things about the Kia Telluride that continue to impress us as much as it did when it debuted two years ago and won this category, as well as taking honors as the best new model for 2020. Here are our findings:

Distinctive Design

Bucking the trend toward swoopy, coupe-inspired rooflines, the Kia Telluride is a decidedly traditional take on SUV design. It’s tall, boxy, and bold. And yet, it’s not your run-of-the-mill SUV, thanks to the detailing that gives it a look that stands out from the crowd.

The finely tailored sheet metal has crisp character lines. Orange LED lighting outlines the boxy headlamps. The tasteful use of chrome accents and other detailing gives Telluride the look of a much more expensive vehicle. And for those fans of the latest trend toward blacked-out wheels and trim, there’s a Nightfall Edition that gives Telluride a sinister look.

While it looks aggressive and muscular, the overall size of the Telluride makes it approachable and garageable. The boxy design also pays dividends in a roomy cabin with plenty of space for passengers and gear.

Classy Interior

Equally striking as the exterior is the design, look, and feel of the cabin. Even though the Telluride is a mass-market entry in the midsize SUV segment, it has the kind of materials and features that would be at home in a luxury vehicle.

There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces, and generous use of brushed aluminum and wood accents that add to this upscale aura. At the top of the range, you’ll find soft Nappa leather, a dual-pane sunroof, heated/ventilated second-row seats, and ambient lighting with 64 colors from which to choose.

The Telluride is available with a choice of second-row captain’s chairs that mirror the comfort of the front bucket seats. Or you can opt for a second-row bench that gives the Telluride the ability to carry up to eight passengers. And there’s plenty of room in the third row, enough so that even adults won’t feel too slighted in leg- or headroom.

Plenty of Utility

The Telluride is also heavy on the utility portion of its SUV designation. The rear cargo area can carry 21 cubic feet of luggage. Fold both rows, and that area expands to 87 cubic feet. Accessing that space is easy thanks to an available hands-free power liftgate.

That load area offers additional storage in a below-floor compartment. In front, there’s plenty of room in a large console bin and other small cubbies conveniently located throughout the cabin. That center console also houses a traditional and simple shift lever instead of the trendy and confusing multi-button layout used by some rivals.

Muscular Performance

The 2022 Kia Telluride comes with just one engine, a 3.8-liter V6 making 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. That power passes through a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. There’s plenty of power not only for freeway merging but also for towing up to 5,000 pounds.

Buyers can opt either for front- or all-wheel drive, the latter a $2,000 option on all models except the top SX, which adds $1,900. Fuel economy is 20 mpg city/26 mpg city with front-wheel drive and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway with AWD.

The drivetrain features several modes, including fuel-saving Eco, Comfort, and performance-oriented Sport. All-wheel-drive versions also benefit from a Snow mode. A Smart setting also automatically adjusts to your driving style, providing the optimum response for the throttle and shift points. Kia backs the powertrain with an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.

A Safe Bet

Safety is a major priority for today’s buyers, especially those seeking family transportation like the Kia Telluride. On this count, it delivers with a 5-Star NHTSA safety. There are also many standard safety and driver assists, including lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and navigation-based smart cruise control.

Upper trims have an available surround-view camera and side monitors that project images in the instrument cluster when a turn signal is activated.

A Good-Looking Value

The 2022 Kia Telluride is good-looking in the sheet metal as well as on paper. Base front-wheel-drive models start at just $32,790 plus $1,225 destination. Given that average transaction prices now top $40,000 for all vehicles, the Telluride is a relative bargain. Even if you load up the Telluride in its highest trim levels, you’ll be hard-pressed to crack $50,000. And that’s for a family-friendly SUV that looks as at home at an expensive country club as it does in a suburban driveway.

In addition to its powertrain warranty, Kia also offers a bumper-to-bumper coverage of 5 years/60,000 miles. Price, peace-of-mind coverage, and a good-looking and performing vehicle with room for eight passengers are all that make the 2022 Kia Telluride Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy among midsize 3-row SUVs.

Photo Tour: 2022 Kia Telluride

More 2022 Kia Telluride

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3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2022