2022 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD Features Review: No Ship Like a Flagship

Our affection for the Kia Telluride is no secret. It took our top honors in our 2020 SUV of the Year test and then came out ahead of the pack in a recent comparison test against other three-row SUVs. Although an updated 2023 Kia Telluride is on the way, we wanted to spend a little extra time with a fully equipped current example.

Impending changes include an updated exterior with new front and rear bumpers, redesigned LED headlights and taillights, new wheel designs and exterior paint colors, a larger curved infotainment display and an available digital gauge cluster, plus some other interior changes. While most of the aforementioned items represent improvements, we're going to be sad to see the current version's signature amber running lights depart.

The top-trim version of the Kia Telluride, the SX AWD, is packed full of features and optional equipment. We spent a week driving one around Portland, Oregon, and had some time to savor the details. Our car was frequently loaded up with six or seven passengers, so we had the chance to really put the Telluride through its paces as a people carrier. Here's a look at everything we think Kia gets right with its flagship SUV, and some things we hope are improved with the upcoming refresh and beyond.

Styling sells and Kia has had no problem moving its Telluride SUV off of dealer lots. That's been in no small part due to its stylish and distinctive exterior. We love the 2022 Telluride's rectangular daytime running lights and upside-down-L-shaped taillights. Our test car was equipped with optional Wolf Gray paint ($495) and the Nightfall Edition package which added exclusive contrasting black 20-inch wheels, a black grille, and black exterior trim. In all, we think this is one of the best-looking Telluride specifications available, and we hope Kia keeps offering winning color options and combos for the updated model.

All Tellurides are equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6 developing 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available across the range. We spent a year with a FWD model and absolutely recommend stepping up to the AWD system, as on this test model; it puts down the power better and doesn't exhibit torque steer like the FWD version.

The Telluride's steering is well-calibrated for feel and accuracy. Its transmission provides slick gear changes, and the V-6 engine has plenty of grunt to haul a full carload of passengers up to freeway speeds. It's a great-sounding powertrain, too. Brake-pedal feel can be a little soft but the stoppers have plenty of power. Passengers commented on the smooth ride and quiet cabin.

The 2022 Kia Telluride's interior is nicely executed with plenty of high-quality materials. We particularly like the faux wood paneling on the dash and door trim. Most frequent touchpoints are soft, but even the harder plastics feel and look premium. Although we don't think the interior looks dated yet, the upcoming 2023 Telluride receives a new steering wheel, dash trim panels, and vents.

Our test example came equipped with the SX Prestige package ($2,300) which spruced up the seats with Nappa leather, as well as luxury-level soft cloth on the headliner and sun visors. In this regard, the Telluride SX punches up toward the premium segment.

One of the areas where the 2022 Telluride can improve—and should with the 2023 update—is its technology offerings. That isn't to say it's lacking, exactly; the 10.3-inch touchscreen is easy to navigate and the graphics are legible. There's also more tech available within the SX Prestige package, including a head-up display, a 110-volt household outlet, heated and ventilated seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. As expected for the area surrounding Portland, we experienced some adverse weather. Kia doesn't get enough credit for showing the wiper speed settings on the digital gauge cluster, which is handy during storms.

As automakers continue jockeying to deliver segment-leading infotainment screens, the 2022 Telluride SX AWD lacks the full or partial digital instrument cluster that some of its competitors use. However, the 2023 Kia Telluride will be offered with a 12.3-inch screen that pairs with a 12.3-inch infotainment display, which should bolster the cabin's high-tech ambiance.

What won't change and could use tweaking is the uplevel Harman/Kardon sound system, which is standard on the SX model. Front-row occupants enjoy full, crisp sound quality from the 10-speaker setup, but passengers in the second and even more so in the third row reported not being able to hear the music as well as we could up front, although adjusting the focus largely solved this issue. We think the 2022 Telluride could use a couple of additional speakers throughout the cabin to treat everyone to the same stellar audio quality.

The 2022 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD has attractive seats with a cool ridge-like pattern. It has standard heated and cooled front-row seats and, thanks to the SX Prestige package, folks sitting in the second-row captain's chairs enjoy that benefit as well. Even in the third row, there's plenty of head- and legroom for adults to sit comfortably. Our passengers also enjoyed the abundance of USB ports for mobile-device charging. It was also easy to load and unload passengers; buttons on top of the second-row chairs fold those seats and enable them to slide freely and easily. Most folks will find these chairs perfect for commutes and road trips.

The Telluride plays in the three-row midsize SUV space and offers a capacious 87.0 cubic feet of cargo area with all of the seats flipped down. For four folks traveling from the airport with two pieces of carry-on luggage each, we only needed to flip down the rear row, which yields 46.0 cubes of space. Even with the rear seats up, there's still enough room for a full load of groceries, especially when the under-floor cargo space is utilized to stow fragile items. Flipping down the rear seats is simple, and long straps can be pulled to raise the seats back up. The middle row can be collapsed in an instant using buttons in the rear. The powered liftgate was also a handy convenience feature, especially with its hands-free access, which was very easy to trigger with a wave of the foot.

In all, it's hard not to recommend the fully equipped 2022 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD, or any Telluride for that matter. Our test car stickered at $51,010 and represents an overwhelmingly complete and feature-rich overall package. Luxury features like heated and ventilated first and second rows go a long way, and the numerous USB ports and cup holders are always welcome. This three-row SUV's shortcomings are few, and the updated 2023 Telluride should address our small complaints; its bigger screens and additional technology will be nice additions to the equipment list. We'll still lament the loss of the pre-refresh model's sweet DRLs, although that small sacrifice is likely to be worth the upgrade.

• 2022 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD Base Price: $45,815
• Wolf Gray Paint: $495
• Nightfall Edition Package: 1,395
• SX Prestige Package: $2,300
• Towing Package: $795
• Carpeted Floor Mats: $210
• Total MSRP: $51,010