The Kia Telluride is one of the best-selling vehicles produced by the Korean automaker and continues to sustain its winning formula in 2022. Indeed, the largest SUV in the Kia range even won the award for 'The Best 3-Row SUV for the money' by the editors of U.S. News Best Cars. Without a doubt, The Korean SUV has been very well received in the U.S. market since its launch in 2020. Indeed, it was also voted ‘World Car Of The Year' in 2020. What’s more, Kia experienced a 25-percent increase in sales of the Telluride last year and its growth is largely expected to continue throughout 2022.

It appears as though the Telluride provides what other 2022 SUVs of a similar segment cannot. Indeed, one area in particular in which Kia has leaped ahead is interior quality and ambiance. The spacious interior, for instance, scores highly in comfort, advanced tech, and high levels of standard equipment. Moreover, the engine provides enough power and has proved to be generally reliable.

In addition, Kia’s trump card has always been the unbeatable powertrain warranty it offers on all Kia vehicles. Couple that with low ownership costs and the Telluride certainly makes for an unbeatable package. Reportedly, a majority of Telluride customers are generally impressed by the advanced safety and driver assistance systems, the huge cargo area, and the spacious third-row bench, transforming the Telluride into an eight-seater SUV.

For the 2022 model, the award-winning SUV has acquired subtle updates over the previous Telluride, though will largely remain unchanged. The fresh styling of the Telluride is, without a doubt, appealing and makes a sensible choice compared to other manufacturers in the same market segment.

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Technical Innovation

Kia Telluride 2022
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The Kia Telluride’s rugged architecture and clean lines present all the hallmarks of a serious SUV. Although it shares many components with its sister rival, the Hyundai Palisade, it looks more aggressive in appearance. It seems that Kia extracts all the good qualities of other manufacturers and applies them subtly to their products. The Telluride is no exception. However, the Kia Motor Company is no longer building vehicles that were once regarded as ‘cheap and cheerful.'

The 2022 Telluride received minor design enhancements such as a revised meshed grille, which now features the new Kia logo in a stylized font. The distinctive tall, narrow headlights provide the Kia SUV a unique identity, setting it apart from anything on the road. What’s more, the ‘Nightfall’ edition is the one to go for and adds gloss black finishes to wheels, badges, light bezels, and roof rails.

The Kia also boasts more features than any of its rivals. With arguably the most spacious interior in its class, the Telluride provides a pleasingly airy ambiance that can accommodate up to eight occupants by utilizing a second-row bench seat. Thanks to its large dimensions, there’s a generous amount of legroom and the boxy shape of the Telluride means lots of headroom. Furthermore, the choice of materials and colors are similar to those in premium model SUVs. The Telluride comes in four trim levels (LX, S, EX, and SX) and for the 2022 lineup, more equipment is available for base models.

Key features include Smart Cruise Control, which adjusts speed according to the curvature of the road, Dual-zone climate control, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen display.

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Engine And Performance

Kia Telluride 2022
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Engine choices for the 2022 Telluride is largely unchanged from the outgoing model. The 3.8-liter V6 power plant develops a peak power of 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This means 0-60-mph times of the SUV are around the 7.5-second mark. Performance, just like the previous model, is generous rather than startling, however, is not bad considering it weighs a little over 2 tons.

With an eight-speed transmission fitted as standard on all 2022 Telluride models, all-wheel drive will remain an option. Furthermore, the driver has a choice of four driving modes to play with – Smart, Eco, Sport, and Comfort. Depending on the driving mode selected, the power splits between the front and the rear wheels accordingly. For those interested in serious off-roading, a lock mode provides a 50/50 split of power to all wheels,

The Kia Telluride is hard to fault. However, some may be critical of its fuel economy, which is possibly the only flaw in the rugged SUV. Reports suggest 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, are adequate considering the bulk. Nevertheless, the ride quality and comfort more than compensate for the less impressive gas mileage.

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The Telluride SUV's Winning Formula

2022 Telluride Nightfall Edition
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Prices for the 2022 Telluride start at $34,000 for the LX base model, going up to around $43,000 for the top-spec SX. However, for an additional $2,000 on top of the price, you can acquire an All-Wheel Drive Telluride, which is probably the best choice.