Kia Telluride 2022 Review

The Kia Telluride has been MatoCar' top-rated SUV for two years in a row. This midsize three-row SUV seats up to eight and is the largest in Kia's lineup. Our experts have praised the Telluride for its smooth ride quality, luxury-like interior, and a third row that can comfortably accommodate adults. It also comes equipped with plenty of standard features and has the latest in safety technology.

For 2022, you'll see some minor differences in the badging on the Telluride. Kia redesigned its logo and the Telluride emblem on the rear features a different font and wider spacing. All models now come standard with a 10.25-inch screen display that includes navigation, plus automatic climate control.

There are plenty of capable midsize SUVs out there, and for those who want to do their due diligence, it can be worth taking the time to check out the Telluride's competition. The Hyundai Palisade is probably the closest match since it is mechanically similar to the Telluride. You might also consider the Honda Pilot and Volkswagen Atlas, but ultimately the 2022 Telluride is our favorite. Read our Expert Rating below to find out why.

What's it like to live with?

At MatoCar we tested a 2020 Telluride SX V6 AWD as part of our long-term test fleet. It's proved to be a comfortable, capable and dependable family hauler, and, if anything, our fondness for the Telluride has only grown after several thousand miles behind the wheel. Note that while we tested a 2020 Telluride, all of our observations also apply to the 2022 model. Read our Telluride's 20,000-mile long-term test to learn more about what it's like to own.

Which Telluride does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Kia Telluride is available in four trim levels: LX, S, EX and SX. Each trim comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 (291 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on all four trims. Highlighted features include:

LX Starts you off with:

• 18-inch wheels
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Eight-passenger seating
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rear-passenger automatic climate control
• Simulated leather upholstery
• 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Six-speaker audio system

All Tellurides also come with these advanced driver aids:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Telluride and the car in front)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

S The midlevel S trim builds on the base LX, adding:

• 20-inch wheels
• Sunroof
• Roof rails
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Second-row captain's chairs (seating for seven)
• Wireless phone charger

EX The EX trim reverts back to the second-row bench and 18-inch wheels but adds even more features, including:

• Power-folding outside mirrors
• Hands-free liftgate
• Leather seating
• Power-adjustable passenger seat
• Ventilated front seats
• Second-row window sunshades
• Sound-absorbing front door window glass
• Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror

You can add the EX Premium package to get:

• 20-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs

SX The top-level SX includes all of the LX's standard and optional features listed above plus:

• Dual sunroofs
• Larger 7-inch color display in the instrument cluster
• Upgraded power driver's seat with memory settings
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Blind-Spot View Monitor (displays a blind-spot camera view in the Telluride's instrument cluster)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Telluride and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

An optional SX Prestige package tops it all off with:

• Premium leather upholstery
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• Heated and ventilated second-row seats
• Heated steering wheel
• 110-volt household-style power outlet
• Customizable ambient interior lighting

An optional Towing package available for the EX and SX includes:

• Self-leveling rear suspension
• Tow hitch with trailer wiring harness connector

Finally, the Nightfall package for the EX and SX adds:

• Unique black-painted 20-inch wheels
• Black-painted exterior trim