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Caraganza First Drive Review 2022 KIA Telluride: But here we are

If you would have told me back in say 1994, that we’d be streaming movies at home instead of going to the theater, or Blockbuster; that Russians would be flying us to the International Space Station; you’d order something that could appear at your door the same day by asking “Alexa” or that electric cars wouldn’t be just golf carts restricted to the greens and could actually drive on the road, well you get the idea. As the old saying goes, I would have told you, you were insane.

But here we are.

1994 was also the year a small Korean car company named KIA introduced its first model in the US. Had you told me then that the company would someday have vehicles that rivaled just about anything we could make in Detroit I would have, again, told you “Neon michyeoss-eo” which is Korean for you’re crazy, which would have been weird since I don’t actually speak Korean.

But here we are.

As the world has changed, dramatically in most cases, since 1994, so has KIA. In the early years the cars were cheap both in price, and the way they were made. Almost laughable in some instances.

That’s not the case these days. Through the years the quality of the KIA product has improved and in the last couple of decades has risen to the same level as any of the Big 3.

I’ve had a chance to spend time with many KIA vehicles, sedans, sports cars, and SUVs. But until recently I’d never spent time with the biggest of the KIA fleet, the Telluride.

For recent week, though, I looked at said: But here we are.

The Telluride was introduced in 2019 and for 2022 the biggest change was the display of the new KIA branding that is now across the whole lineup.

The Telluride can be had in four trim levels: LX, S, EX and SX. Each comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on all four trims.

The KIA “Drive Wise” driver assistance features with adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, and lane keeping assist are standard across the line.

The entry level LX is nicely equipped with simulated leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, keyless entry and push-button start, eight-passenger seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, with rear-passenger automatic climate control, 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a six-speaker audio system.

By the time you get up to the top-of-the-line SX, you’ve added things like a 20-inch wheels, a hands-free liftgate, leather seating, ventilated front seats, sound-absorbing front door window glass, auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, LED headlights, dual sunroofs, a larger 7-inch color display in the instrument cluster, an upgraded power driver’s seat with memory settings, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a surround-view camera system.

The SX was my tester for the week, and it also had the optional ($2,300) SX Prestige package that adds premium leather upholstery, a head-up display, heated and ventilated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, customizable ambient interior lighting, and a 110-volt household-style power outlet. And my tester had the optional Towing package ($795) with self-leveling rear suspension, and a tow hitch with a trailer wiring harness connector.

All that might sound like a lot, and it is. But, while the KIA brand has changed through the years, one thing that hasn’t is the value. This Telluride SX was loaded. And the MSRP topped out at $49,120. Compare that with some of the other big luxury SUVs I’ve spent time with recently like the Infiniti QX 60 ($63,250), the Jeep Grand Wagoneer ($106,990), Lincoln Nautilus ($66,185), the Ford Expedition ($77,680), and the GMC Yukon ($83,195), just to name a few.

So, yeah, the value is still there.

On the road the Telluride drives, and rides, just as well as the others, and with the all-wheel drive and an 8-inch ground clearance, a bit of off-roading isn’t out of the question. The interior is roomy and spacious like the others, as well as upscale with an excellent build quality. It’s a very nice place to be.

Overall, combining the looks, the quality, the ride, and the power, the Telluride surprised. Sure, I knew that KIAs were good, but with the Telluride KIA shows they can be luxurious and hold their own against others in the segment. That’s something that had you told me a few years ago…well you know what I would have said.

But here we are.

2023 Update: I actually didn’t think Kia could improve on the 2022, yet they did. A year after my first week with an SX they sent me a 2023 SX-Prestige which is an even higher level. Oh, and for 2023 they added the X-Line and X-Pro trim levels. This in addition to giving the grill, headlights, and front bumper a nice redesign. Inside there’s a new all-digital instrument panel with dual 12.3-inch screens that handles the infotainment and gauge displays. This is what others like BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes are doing. Also, navigation is now standard across the lineup, as is an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.

My Prestige SX was the X-Line that gives the Telluride even more off-road capability.  There’s a little higher ride height (0.4 of an inch more to be exact), and the traction control system gets reworked. On the outside the X-Line gets a distinctive grille, body-color door handles, bridge-type roof rails and 20-inch wheels.

Of course the Prestige X-Line does cost a bit more than the 2022 ($54,120 MSRP), but with the new look and the new interior that could rival the “big dogs” the Telluride shows that shows Kia has indeed arrived, and others better take notice.

The 2022 KIA Telluride SX AWD
MSRP: $44,590
MSRP (as tested): $49,120
Engine: 3.8-liter V-6 291 horsepower @6000 rpm, 262 ft-lbs. torque @5200 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
Base Curb Weight: 4354 lbs.
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 19 city, 24 highway, 21 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 22 mpg

Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 114.2
Length: 196.9
Width, without mirrors: 78.3
Height: 68.9
Front Track Width: 67.2
Rear Track Width: 67.6
Minimum Ground Clearance: 8

Interior dimensions
Passenger / Seating Capacity: 7
Total Passenger Volume (cubic feet): 157.1
Front Head Room (inches): 39.5
Front Leg Room (inches): 41.4
Front Shoulder Room (inches): 61.6
Front Hip Room (inches): 58.9
Second Row Head Room (inches): 38.8
Second Row Leg Room (inches): 42.4
Second Row Shoulder Room (inches): 59.9
Second Row Hip Room (inches): 58
Third Row Head Room (inches): 37.8
Third Row Leg Room (inches): 31.4
Third Row Shoulder Room (inches): 55.3
Third Row Hip Room (inches): 43.7
Cargo Space/Area Behind Front Row (cubic feet): 87
Cargo Space/Area Behind Second Row (cubic feet): 46
Cargo Space/Area Behind Third Row (cubic feet): 21

Warranty
5 Basic Years / 60,000 Basic Miles
10 Drivetrain Years / 100,000 Drivetrain Miles
5 Corrosion Years / 100,000 Corrosion Miles
5 Roadside Assistance Years / 60,000 Roadside Assistance Miles

2023 Telluride

2022 Telluride

Greg Engle
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