A Week With: 2022 Kia Telluride SX AWD

During the past decade, Kia has made huge strides. It has increased its sales and outgrown its old image as a discount brand with a so-so reputation for quality and design. 

Kia’s makeover, however, has been very broad and very complete. Starting with the introduction of the Kia Soul at a time was crawling out from under the wreckage of a financial meltdown, the South Korean automaker’s progress has been nothing but impressive. 

Overview

It now sits on top of J.D. Power’s influential Initial Quality Survey for mass market brands and vehicles like the Kia Telluride, the automaker’s midsized sport-utility vehicle, is part of the reason. The Telluride is versatile and comes with the solid driving dynamics appreciated during family or social activities. 

The 2022 Kia SX V-6 AWD also comes with a broad array of latest safety and connectivity features to make it easy while commuting, running daily errands or taking off for the weekend or a family vacation. 

Exterior

Kia’s designers threw a lot of hardware at the overly familiar sport-utility vehicle shape, but the effort paid off. The light fixtures at the vehicle’s corners, the stylized 20-inch wheels, the bold shapes used for the grille and front fascia and crisp badging give the 2022 Telluride set it apart in a crowded segment. 

It also moves your eye away from the bulky SUV body when the vehicle is standing still. I thought the fixture for the rear taillamp, which crossed into the rear liftgate, was particularly clever since it was unobtrusive but effective. 

Interior

Kia has made a concerted effort to give its vehicles roomy, comfortable interiors that deliver an ambienceand feel of a luxury vehicle. In addition, the features such as the horizontal entertainment and navigation screen in the center stack fits neatly into the dashboard. Kia also employs knobs, which continue to seem quite up to date, to control the HVAC and entertainment units. But there are also controls tucked inside the leather-wrapped steering wheel and the buttons to activate the heated seats are easy to find on a cold evening. 

There also are plenty of small storage spaces and the second-row seats are very accessible though I could not say the same for the third row, which I must assume are used only by small children or jovial occasions when it might seem like fun to squeeze into one vehicle for a short trip. Folding the third row flat creates enough space for substantial amount of luggage or big packages. Visibility from the driver’s seat in the Telluride is excellent. 

Powertrain

The 2022 Kia Telluride SX V-6 AWD is equipped with a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder with direct injection. The 6-cylinder engine is matched up to an 8-speed transmission and the combination delivers 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The driveline is equipped with on demand all-wheel drive for traveling on slick or broken surfaces. The Telluride also is equipped with a drive-mode selector. The 2022 Kia Telluride has a 21 mpg combined fuel-economy rating has a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which includes 19 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway.  

Safety and Technology

The 2022 Telluride is equipped with dual advanced airbags for front seat occupants, as well as seat-mounted side-impact and side-curtain airbags and vehicle stability management. It also has driver-assistance features such as forward collision avoidance assistance, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert and accident-avoidance smart cruise control. 

It is also equipped with a 10.25-inch screen for navigation and entertainment. Kia’s UVO connectivity features Bluetooth as well as Sirius satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with Surround View Camera, head-up display, a Harman Kardon sound system, parking distance warning and wireless charging. 

Driving Impressions

As a well-appointed family-oriented vehicle, the 2022 Kia Telluride delivers efficient driving dynamics, including a comfortable ride, smooth handling and a surprising amount of maneuverability for a vehicle of its size. The suspension is nicely tuned even and works well — even on a wet dirt road the Telluride keeps its footing. 

The overall ride and handling is augmented by the 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder engine, which delivers ample power both from a standing start in traffic and out on the freeway if you pull out to pass. All the way around, the Telluride delivers solid ride and handling.  

2022 Kia Telluride SX AWD specifications

Wrap Up

Overall, midsized sport-utility vehicles from mass market brands now occupy a price point once reserved for luxury vehicles. Nevertheless, if you are willing to spend more than $49,000 on a midsized sport-utility vehicle, which seems to have become the typical price for one these days, then the 2022 Kia Telluride is certainly worth a look. 

It comes with a lot of equipment, a pleasant cabin, ample versatility and plenty of power for all kinds of roads and situations. In addition, Kia’s overall quality has earned plaudits, and the South Korean automaker stands behind its vehicles with a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty.  

2022 Kia Telluride SX AWD ­— Frequently Asked Questions