- The 2022 Kia Telluride gets a handful of updates, including a new grille and badge design, more standard driver assistance tech, an upgraded infotainment system, and dual-zone climate control is now standard.
- A remarkable value in the 3-row SUV space
- Pricing starts at $33,090 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Kia Telluride models for sale near you
The spacious, well-equipped, affordable 2022 Kia Telluride offers amazing value, prompting us to call it “indisputably a top choice in its class” in our full review. With three rows of seating for up to 8 passengers, plus good looks, lots of tech, and the industry’s best warranty, it’s easy to see why the Telluride won our 2021 Best Buy award and our Best 3-Row Midsize SUV title.
Passenger Room and Comfort
Three rows of seating are standard, with the base LX and midrange EX models offering a second row bench and 8 total seats as standard, while S and SX models (pictured above) get second-row captain’s chairs for a total of 7 seats. The captain’s chair layout is optional on EX models.
How spacious is the third row? Even average-sized adults can fit, making it one of the roomier offerings around. It’s easy to access the third row, too. There’s plenty of leg and headroom throughout the cabin, and the seats are comfortable and supportive.
For parents who don’t want to have to shout to be heard in the third row, there’s the Driver Talk system, now standard for 2022, which pipes the driver’s voice through the rear speakers for better communication.
Features and Tech
In addition to the Driver Talk system, the Telluride packs lots of other thoughtful tech, including a rear seat alert, which notifies the driver if there’s something (or someone) left in the back at the end of a drive.
Standard safety features are also abundant: Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assistance, and rear parking sensors are all included on every 2022 Kia Telluride. There are even limited self-driving functions for 2022.
On the infotainment front, the display grows to 10.25 inches for 2022 and brings with it standard navigation, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration, five USB ports, and satellite radio. The touchscreen display also has a split-screen function.
In addition to the entertainment and navigation tech, the 2022 Telluride offers keyless entry and start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and low-maintenance simulated leather upholstery.
Those looking to upgrade the Telluride beyond its generous base specification can opt for the EX, which adds real leather upholstery, power-folding side mirrors, heated/ventilate front seats, an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and more. The SX gets dual sunroofs for the first and second rows, LED exterior lighting, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system among other upgrades.
Materials and Design
The key design tweak for the 2022 Kia Telluride is the new Kia logo and badge emblazoned across the grille and elsewhere on the SUV. Otherwise, the chunky-yet-modern look of the Telluride carries forward into 2022 with plenty of presence.
Those aiming for a more rugged look may prefer the standard 18-inch wheels and tires of the LX and EX models, while those going for a more urban or sport-style build will appreciate the 20-inch wheels and tires of the S and SX. Those looking for something out of the ordinary might be interested in the Nightfall Edition, available on AWD versions of the EX and SX, which blacks out the grille, wheels, roof rails, badges, and more.
Materials are impressive throughout the Telluride range, with quality-feeling plastics, and plush upholstery, whether simulated or genuine. The look and feel throughout the cabin ranges from classy mainstream at the more affordable end, to luxurious-yet-value-packed at the top.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The 2022 Kia Telluride is not only spacious for its 7 or 8 passengers, it also has plenty of room for gear or cargo. There’s 21 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row and, if you fold both rows flat, you get a maximum of 87 cubic feet of cargo space.
The second row’s choice of a bench seat or individual captain’s chairs offers added configurability, and the ease of access to all three rows makes it practical for those who actually move that many people around regularly. The blocky, squared-off exterior also makes for a very handy layout of the space within the cargo area.
Build and price your own version of the 2022 Kia Telluride to see this week’s KBB Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or check out Telluride models for sale near you.
