The 10 Coolest Features Of The 2022 Kia Telluride

The popularity of mid-size SUVs continues to increase every year, and that has meant that almost every major manufacturer now has at least one entry into the segment. With so many other rivals to contend with, it's getting harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. However, one manufacturer that has done an excellent job of establishing itself as a leader in the segment is Kia, with its popular Telluride SUV. Part of the reason that buyers keep coming back to the Telluride is its value for money, as it undercuts other rivals on price but beats them on build quality and finish.

Kia has also garnered a solid reputation for making reliable vehicles, and in the 2022 J.D. Power survey, it was named the most dependable vehicle brand in America. That combination of affordability, reliability, and the Telluride's many innovative features, make it one of the best mid-size SUVs on the market. For the 2022 model year, Kia hasn't changed much about the car, save for adding a new-look logo and some extra tech features. But then, it didn't need to, as when the current generation of the car debuted, it won the 2020 World Car of the Year award. And, in the words of Bert Lance, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The 2022 Telluride features lightly refreshed looks, with a redesigned grille and Kia's new corporate logo placed front and center. But, that's pretty much it in terms of styling updates, and from a distance, it's tricky to spot the difference between a 2022 model year car and a 2020 model year. That's no bad thing, as the Telluride has been one of the best-looking cars in the segment since its launch. Rival mid-size SUVs like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander look rather drab and forgettable, but the Kia has no such issues.

Walk up to the Telluride and buyers are greeted with Kia's signature tiger-nose grille and LED daytime running lights, which the Hindustan Times describes as having a more "macho appeal" than its competitors. It's certainly distinctive, and it's also available in a variety of colors, with three new options available for the 2022 model year. Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Wood Green join the five previous colors for a total of eight options to choose from.

The main purpose of any SUV of this size is to be a family hauler, and the Telluride can seat up to eight passengers in comfort. Two configurations are available to choose from: a pair of second-row captain's chairs that seat seven across all three rows, or a bench seat in the second row which allows for eight passengers in total. MotorTrend reports that both options are comfortable and give the first and second row plenty of legroom, even for taller adults. The third row is a bit more cramped, but that's not unusual for the segment, and anyway, there's still plenty of room back there for children or smaller adults.

The second and third row seats can also be folded independently to create room for large or oddly-shaped cargo. Child seat anchors are also in plentiful supply, with US News reporting that the Telluride has three sets of LATCH connectors, two of which are in the second row and one is in the third row. There are also tether anchors for the second and third row seats, which gives parents plenty of options for safely seating their offspring.

The Telluride is chock full of the latest infotainment and connectivity features, with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a six-speaker audio system included as standard. All trims now also feature a 10.3" touchscreen, replacing the 8.0" unit in last year's model. Carried over from the previous year are the Telluride's USB ports and power outlets, which are handy for keeping phones and other mobile devices fully charged on longer journeys. There are enough ports for every passenger, with 5 USB charging ports and 3 12V power outlets distributed throughout the car.

Another innovative feature included as standard on EX and SX trims is Driver Talk, which amplifies the driver's voice to communicate better with passengers in the rear of the car. Also available is Quiet Mode, which can be activated when passengers in the second and third row are asleep. The feature will cut all noise output from the speakers in the rear of the car, allowing rear passengers to sleep undisturbed while the driver and front passenger can continue to listen to music.

Given that gas prices only seem to be on a one-way trend upwards in recent months, it's becoming more important than ever to consider a car's efficiency when deciding what to buy. The Telluride isn't the most efficient SUV in the segment, but its ratings remain competitive, putting it in the middle of the pack. The EPA rates the all-wheel-drive Telluride at 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg city, and the front-wheel-drive version fares slightly better, with 26 mpg highway and 20 mpg city.

In comparison, the Toyota 4Runner is the least economical SUV in the segment, with an aging V6 that can only manage 19 mpg highway and 16 mpg city. However, Toyota's other mid-size SUV, the Highlander, gets 35 mpg highway and 36 mpg city in hybrid form, so it's the eco-conscious buyer's best bet. Even the non-hybrid Highlander beats the Telluride in this respect, with 29 mpg highway and 21 mpg city in front-wheel-drive form.

As mentioned previously, the Telluride is remarkably good value for the number of features that buyers get. Four trim options are available, but according to Edmunds, it's the top-spec SX trim that most buyers choose. The car starts at $34,685 including fees for the base-spec LX, rising to $37,185 for the S trim. The EX trim adds more features as standard but costs slightly more at $39,685, and finally the range-topping SX costs $44,585. The car has only been on the market for a few years, but CarEdge estimates that it should hold its value well in the long term, losing less to depreciation than some of its rivals. The Kia is estimated to lose 35% of its value over five years, beating the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Traverse, which are estimated to lose 38% and 39% of their value respectively.

The key selling point of the Telluride is that it provides more features and better build quality than most of its competitors, all while undercutting them on price. It's by no means perfect: among other things, some have criticized the fact that there's no hybrid version, especially in the face of rising gas prices. Other rivals also beat it on third-row legroom or feel more sporty to drive than the Kia does. But, for an all-around package that looks and feels more expensive than it is, the Telluride remains one of the best options on the market, even with such tough competition.