2022 Kia Telluride Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Despite the stiff competition in the midsize SUV market, the Kia Telluride has made its way to the top of the list for many drivers and critics. It first made its debut in 2020 and it instantly impressed drivers with its spacious cabin and value. Due to how new it is, the Telluride has not had time to work out all of the kinks. Luckily, this SUV did not have too many in the first place. That said, the 2022 Kia Telluride gets many things right, but there are a few areas where shoppers may find it lacking.

What's New for 2022?

Despite being relatively new, Kia has gone ahead and made some significant upgrades for the 2022 Telluride. All models are now equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen that features an integrated navigation system. Dual-zone automatic climate control made its way onto the standard equipment list as well. Perhaps the most impressive addition is the semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control system that is equipped on all 2022 Telluride models. There are also a few exterior changes made, including the style of the Kia badging that will be making its way across the lineup.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Kia Telluride – The Pros

1. Plenty of Room for Passengers

Like many three-row SUVs, the Telluride is available with either a second-row bench or second-row captain's chairs. This determines whether the vehicle can seat seven or eight people. Either way, the Telluride is impressive with the amount of space it gives riders in all three rows. Even taller people will feel comfortable and not cramped in the third row of this SUV, thanks to generous head and legroom. As a bonus, the seating in all three rows is comfortable and supportive enough to help passengers endure long road trips.

2. Plenty of Room for Cargo

Being the versatile SUV that it is, the Telluride can also help drivers haul all sorts of gear. Behind the third row of seats, drivers are given access to 21 cubic feet of space. The average family will likely find this to be enough for their weekly shopping trip. If a combo of passenger and cargo space is called for, there are a generous 46 cubic feet behind the second row. For moving across town or stocking up at the hardware store, the Telluride offers up 87 cubic feet when folding both rear rows of seating down.

3. Incredible Value Thanks to Standard Features

One of the things that Kia does better than nearly any other brand is giving drivers a lot of bang for their buck. The entry-level LX model comes loaded with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a total of six USB ports. A power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support is on the standard equipment list as well. To add convenience to the vehicle, the Telluride comes with a remote engine start and proximity keyless entry. The icing on top is the long list of advanced safety features.

4. Capable of Light Off-Roading

Obviously, the Telluride is not designed to be the most off-road-ready SUV out there. Still, with 8-inches of ground clearance and skid plates, this family-oriented vehicle can get a little dirty. Those who opt for the optional all-wheel-drive system will find a snow mode, along with an AWD lock that can improve traction in off-roading situations.

5. Available Tow Package

When properly equipped, the Kia Telluride is able to bring along up to 5,000 pounds. This requires the optional towing package, which includes a tow hitch complete with a trailer wiring harness connector. It also has a self-leveling rear suspension, allowing drivers to bring along their favorite toys without having to sacrifice ride quality.

6. High Predicted Reliability

J.D. Power gives new vehicles a predicted reliability score. The scale runs from zero to 100. For the 2022 Kia Telluride, they gave a score of 85. This puts it firmly in the "Great" range. Buyers can feel relatively confident that they are getting something that they can rely on for the foreseeable future.

7. Complete Suite of Driver Aids

Although advanced safety features are becoming more common, many SUVs still reserve them for higher trim levels or make buyers purchase additional packages. On top of more frequently seen driver aids, such as lane-keep assist and forward-collision mitigation, the Telluride is also equipped with adaptive cruise control. The very popular blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert options are also found on all 2022 models. Other highlights include driver attention monitoring, lane departure warning, and a rear-seat alert.

8. High-Quality Cabin Materials

The Telluride is celebrated for being one of the more affordable family SUVs out there. Many people will be pleasantly surprised that even with this distinction, the Telluride is quite upscale inside. Even the entry-level model uses high-quality materials and has a modern design. As buyers look to higher trims, they can find sophisticated perks like 64-color ambient interior lighting.

9. Easy-to-Use Tech Features

With a 10.25-inch touchscreen at the heart of its infotainment system, the Telluride has all the technology a driver could want. The combination of physical and touch controls makes it easy to navigate the menus and find the right features. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard features, along with voice recognition and Bluetooth. All models also include satellite radio and at least six speakers to enjoy it on.

10. Hard-to-Top Warranty Coverage

Kia has one of the most incredible warranties in the business. For its basic coverage, the Telluride comes with six years or 50,000 miles. And for the powertrain, it is extended to ten years or 100,000 miles. This is significantly longer than SUVs from most of the Telluride's competitors.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Kia Telluride – The Cons

1. Engine Lacks Excitement

A 3.8L V6 engine is standard for the entire Telluride lineup in 2022. It creates 291-horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Although this sounds like a lot, it struggles to move the Telluride, particularly with a carload of passengers. On the plus side, the eight-speed automatic transmission can be counted on for smooth shifts. If quick acceleration is a priority, drivers will need to look elsewhere.

2. Fuel Economy is Mediocre

With front-wheel drive, the Telluride is EPA estimated to get 20mpg in the city and 26mpg on the highway. This is considered slightly below average for the midsize SUV class. When drivers opt for all-wheel drive, they can expect only 19mpg in the city and 24mpg on the highway.

3. No Hybrid Option Yet

Along those same lines, the 2022 Telluride is still missing a hybrid powertrain option. If this SUV wants to stay relevant moving forward, Kia will need to expand its choices for what is underneath the hood.

4. Small Item Storage is Lacking

While this may seem like nitpicking, there are very few places for stashing sunglasses and cell phone chargers found throughout the cabin of the Telluride. This is surprising considering how much attention to detail went into nearly every other design aspect. Many drivers will likely be willing to overlook this fact due to the upscale cabin design and generous space for larger cargo.

 

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Kia Telluride vs. 2022 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is another driver favorite in the three-row SUV game. It, too, has three spacious rows of seating. The Pilot also has a bit more acceleration and cargo space to offer. At the same time, the cabin and technology feel a little dated. One of the Telluride's biggest appeals is its modern design. Plus, the Pilot cannot compete with the warranty that Kia gives all of its SUVs.

2022 Kia Telluride vs. 2022 Hyundai Palisade

Due to the connections between Kia and Hyundai, the Telluride and Palisade are very similar SUVs. They share many of the same features and are even rocking the same powertrain. Hyundai is also another brand that offers longer warranty coverage than buyers will find elsewhere. The Telluride does have a larger touchscreen and dual-zone automatic climate control on its standard feature list. It is a pretty safe bet that the Palisade will be gaining these things soon, but for now, it falls a bit short.

Conclusion

Overall, it is hard to find that many things not to like about the 2022 Kia Telluride. The engine could certainly be more engaging, but at the end of the day, it gets the job done. Kia will need to work on improving the efficiency and/or power of their standard engine, as well as add a hybrid powertrain moving forward. To stay near the top of the pack, they may also want to make some tweaks to the cabin that make it a bit more family-friendly, particularly when it comes to stashing smaller items.