2022 Kia Telluride: Ongoing Excellence

Buyers of the 2022 Kia Telluride will be treated to a combination of sharp design, luxury amenities, leading tech, and Kia’s well-known value pricing.

What’s New for the 2022 Kia Telluride

With the 2022 Kia Telluride, the Korean automaker rides a wave of accolades and sales – up 68% year-over-year – for its sharp-dressed SUV, into the next model year with minor updates. Outside, the main change is the use of Kia’s new logo featuring the K, I, and A blended together.

The two lower trims, LX and S, have their 8” infotainment display replaced with the larger 10.25” model that stretches in landscape fashion across the dash. They also receive automatic climate control and the semi-autonomous Highway Driving assistance tech. Also on the driver aid front, Kia’s smart cruise control uses navigation data to adjust vehicle cruise speed for upcoming corners, a feature that is now standard across the lineup.

2022 Kia Telluride - kia.com

2022 Kia Telluride – kia.com |  Shop 2022 Kia Telluride on Carsforsale.com

Body Style

Starting Price

MSRP $34,015

Drivetrain

Drivetrain

FWD or AWD

Drivetrain

Fuel Economy

20 City / 26 Hwy (MPG)

Number of Seats

Seating

Seats 7-8

The Breakdown

Plenty of tech offered in all trim levels

Standard active safety and driver assistance systems

A host of luxury trappings with the SX model

Ventilated second row seats

Wi-Fi is notably absent

Value, looks, and luxury all in one SUV

2022 Kia Telluride Specs

Trims & Pricing

LX - $34,015
S - $36,615
EX - $39,015
SX - $43,915

2022 Kia Telluride Powertrain

2022 Kia Telluride 3.8L V6 - carsforsale.com
2022 Kia Telluride 3.8L V6 - carsforsale.com

Kia keeps the Telluride powertrain simple with one engine mated to a single transmission. The naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6, featuring direct injection and variable-valve timing, puts out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic routes that power to the front wheels unless all-wheel-drive is optioned.

Owners can select from four drive modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Smart – as well a Snow mode on AWD equipped 2022 Kia Tellurides. All-wheel-drive also has a locking feature that fixes the power split at 50/50 front to rear. Torque vectoring cornering control and four-corner independent suspension work in concert to keep understeer at a minimum and offer confident handling.

Towing & Payload

2022 Kia Telluride - kia.com
2022 Kia Telluride - kia.com

Across the 2022 Kia Telluride model lineup, 5,000 pounds of towing capacity is available. A receiver with trailer wiring harness is a $475 accessory while the Towing package is $795. It includes self-leveling rear suspension to help avoid the rear end sagging under load. Forgoing the complexity of air bladders, the Telluride’s shock valving will adjust to allow higher internal pressure in order to counter heavier loading. This helps with stability while towing and keeps headlights properly angled so as not to blind oncoming drivers at night.

2022 Kia Telluride Fuel Economy & MPG

The 2022 Kia Telluride weighs in at just over two tons (depending on drivetrain setup) and doesn’t employ much in the way of efficiency-minded powertrain tech. So, it won’t make any hypermiling headlines. In front-wheel-drive layout, the EPA estimates a fuel economy of 20 mpg in town and 26 mpg on the highway. When equipped with all-wheel-drive, the city figure drops by one and highway efficiency drops to 24 mpg.

Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space

With up to 87 cubic feet of interior storage available behind the front seats, you can move plenty of stuff in the new 2022 Kia Telluride. Even with all three rows upright, third row occupants have 31” of legroom and 21 cubes of cargo will fit behind them. There’s also an underfloor bin back there for even more storage.

But let’s not forget about passenger comfort niceties, of which there are many. Upholstery ranges from synthetic to real Nappa leather with climate controlled cushions in the first and second row available. The third row bench reclines a few degrees and sunshades in the second row keep everyone happy. If you need a mood adjustment, select one of the 64 available ambient lighting color options.

2022 Kia Telluride Entertainment & Technology

2022 Kia Telluride - kia.com
2022 Kia Telluride - kia.com

The standard 10.25” infotainment display is the 2022 Kia Telluride tech centerpiece. It manages smartphone mirroring, navigation duty, and UVO app tech. UVO Link marries your phone to the Telluride to allow for remote operation of climate settings, door locks, and engine start. If music is your thing, tick the Harman Kardon box for 12 speakers of blissful beats and if you’re a parent, prepare to relish in the DriverTalk system allowing you to enunciate commands to your offspring. Optional amenities like a heads-up display, 110V power inverter, and 7” digital instrument panel drive the point home that this is a tech-forward SUV.

Safety Features

Kia puts the competition on notice with a laundry list of safety systems in the Telluride. Standard tech includes forward and rear-cross traffic collision avoidance, smart cruise control, highway driving assist, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert.

There are also optional systems like a live feed of blind spots and 360-degree exterior camera view. Airbags handle passive safety duty in dual frontal, dual front-side, driver’s knees, and full-length side curtain positions.

2022 Kia Telluride Trims & Pricing

2022 Kia Telluride LX - carsforsale.com
2022 Kia Telluride LX - carsforsale.com

LX – $34,015

The 2022 Kia Telluride LX is $600 more than last year’s model and like all models, can be setup with all-wheel drive for an additional $2000. A gloss black grille, 18” rims, LED daytime running lights, and heated side mirrors endow even this entry model with upscale looks. On the safety front, Kia’s Drive Wise suite of over 12 active systems, like blind spot collision avoidance and driver attention monitor, is included.

Occupants benefit from the sound absorbing windshield, dual-zone climate controls, and power adjustable driver and front passenger seats. A standard sunroof lets the light in and the synthetic leather, SynTex, upholstery does a fine job faking the real thing. The 10” wide touchscreen display integrates Apple and Android phone mirroring, handles navigation, and links up with UVO, Kia’s app-based connectivity software.

2022 Kia Telluride S - carsforsale.com
2022 Kia Telluride S - carsforsale.com

S – $36,615

A spruced-up exterior in the form of satin chrome trim, dual exhaust tips, roof rails, and 20” wheels grace the Telluride in S trim. Inside, the second-row bench is replaced with a pair of individual captain-style seats while front row occupants get heated cushions. A leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob add a touch of sophistication along with Qi wireless charging. Remote and push button start are on hand as is Quiet Mode, which runs the audio system through front speakers only, the better to let sleeping children stay asleep.

2022 Kia Telluride EX - carsforsale.com
2022 Kia Telluride EX - carsforsale.com

EX – $39,015

For just under $40,000, EX models add power folding exterior mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, and LED tail lamps. Sound absorbing glass is added to the front row windows, the middle row windows get integrated sunshades, and everyone is swaddled in real leather seating. An additional USB port joins the connectivity party for a total of seven and the front seats add ventilation. For $1395, buyers can blackout the exterior with the Nightfall Package.

2022 Kia Telluride SX - carsforsale.com
2022 Kia Telluride SX - carsforsale.com

SX – $43,915

Top-of-the-line SX Tellurides are the kind of value proposition that’ll have Escalade owners raising their eyebrows. LED lighting all around, reverse tilt-down side mirrors, and gloss black twenties are the external improvements over EX trim. Dual sunroofs, a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, thumping Harman Kardon stereo, and 7” digital gauge cluster add to the passenger experience. In addition, for $2300, the Prestige package nets Nappa premium upholstery, a heads-up-display, ventilated middle seats, and more.

Warranties

The powertrain warranty good for 10 years of ownership or up to 100,000 miles is what Kia built its foundation on. That’s still the case today along with 5 years or 60,000 miles of coverage on the overall vehicle. Roadside assistance has the same 5-year/60,000-mile period while rust perforations are under a 5-year and unlimited mileage warranty.

What we think

2022 Kia Telluride - kiamedia.com

2022 Kia Telluride – kiamedia.com |  Shop 2022 Kia Telluride on Carsforsale.com

If a full-size SUV is in your future, the 2022 Kia Telluride should be on your list of possibilities. It has the passenger and cargo space demanded of this segment, but steps out of the pack with its ruggedly handsome looks and loads of features, with reasonable pricing.

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Steven Mitchell

Steven Mitchell began his automotive journey with a fully restored Triumph TR3B. After earning a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Television from the University of Texas, Steven used his passion for vehicles at an automotive marketing ad agency, and as the Manager of Interactive Marketing for Mitsubishi Motors, eventually winning an Effie for his advertising work. For the past decade, he's been writing car reviews, covering everything from SUVs and electric vehicles to original equipment manufacturer infotainment user interfaces.

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