2022 KIA Telluride SX Review: A Different Breed Of Family SUV

The 2022 KIA Telluride has a lot to offer. Let’s find out how the 2022 Telluride SX stacks up. Think about one of the hottest cars on the market right now. Is it a KIA? Probably not. Is it a family SUV? Unlikely. Your opinion might change radically after taking a peek at what the 2022 Kia Telluride has to offer. Can a 3-row family SUV be good looking, fun to drive, safe and fairly-priced? It sure looks like KIA is ticking all the boxes.

Even before chip-shortage hit hard into supply chains, there was already an overwhelming demand for the Kia Telluride. As demand went through the roof post-covid, dealers started either quickly cleaning their stock or practicing obnoxiously high markups, driving prices way above the MSRP.

So why still hurry to buy it?

For one, because even after two years since launch, there isn’t another SUV to challenge this family SUV’s position in the market. To get things moving, a naturally aspirated V6 sends 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via a standard 8-speed automatic gearbox. Optionally, buyers can opt for the all-wheel drive system which will see the SX trim doing 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

Power figures may not blow anyone out of the water; it is still worth remembering this is a family SUV and not a sports SUV to rival Jeep’s Trackhawk by any means. Besides a lack of vigor in the lower RPM range, the 2022 KIA Telluride SX catches up to speed quickly and provides a firm ride with a decent amount of body control. In order to get the best ride for the Telluride, the optional self-leveling rear air suspension should be optioned.

The steering feels connected to the road and comes with surprising precision. Despite its size, the Telluride stops rather fast when pressing confidently on the brakes.

Family adventure time becomes easier with the Telluride SX

Featuring 8 inches of ground clearance and a whooping 5000 lbs of towing capacity, the Telluride can pretty much carry its weight (and that of your family) to pretty much any camping site. The V6 will put in the work and be good for 20/26 mpg city/highway on the front wheel drive version. The all-wheel drive option drops fuel economy to 19/24 mpg for the added benefit of better traction and more confident access to trails.

The 2022 Kia Telluride SX boasts a bold outer appearance. Body lines are straight and cut suddenly, without many blends. The front end gives a mean look to other cars while the rear end looks futuristic with vertically curved tail lights.

However, once you get inside, you are greeted by an upscale interior with premium finishes all around. Attractive materials are mixed with excellent build quality. The top SX trim brings memory settings for the driver seat, heads-up display and even ventilation for the rear seats.

Thanks to its length, the Telluride is very spacious. It can accommodate up to 8 passengers when equipped with the second-row bench seat or 7 people when bought with the captain’s seats. There is plenty of storage space all around the cabin and, folding the rear rows will provide enough room for anything you can throw at it.

Kia Telluride the best family SUV out there? Probably.

Looking up and down, left to right, it’s hard to find anything unpleasant about the 2022 Kia Telluride. Especially considering the SX trim with the optional all-wheel drive, this 3-row family SUV checks all the boxes for performance, safety, comfort and storage space. No wonder dealerships are still going empty on the model, even with considerable markups.