The Kia Telluride hits above its weight class

Three years into its life cycle, the Kia Telluride continues to hit above its weight class. It even knocks it out of the park when it comes to baseball cliches. But enough with the sports metaphors. It also happens to have the best warranty in the industry, too. Napleton News spent a week inside Kia’s bestseller. Here’s what we thought.

What’s new on the Kia Telluride SX Prestige?

• New Kia logos are boldly seen throughout.
• Larger, more functional touchscreen display with expanded capabilities.
• A larger grouping of driver assistance features is now standard.
• Dual-zone automatic climate control is onboard, too.

In addition to that, it is priced right, includes many desirable features such as three-row seating and has an unbeatable warranty.

Moving right along

The Kia Telluride and its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, receive their power from a single source: Hyundai Group’s 3.8-liter gas direct-injection V6 engine. Absent a turbo or any other power boost, the engine still delivers 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. That torque is sent to the front wheels by an 8-speed automatic transmission. FWD is standard but can be supplemented by available all-wheel drive.

The Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds regardless of drivetrain packages.

How does the Kia Telluride look?

Similar to how it looked at its debut, the Telluride is back for more, save for a revised logo. The new Kia script is located front and back, along with a revised Telluride imprint stretching across the hatchback using a smaller typeface than before.

There are four trim levels for the Telluride. They begin with the base LX and EX models, complete with 18-inch wheels. The S and the SX are high-line models that include 20-inch wheels.

Finally, Kia offers a Telluride “Nightfall Edition” available on the EX and SX models. Instead of the blingy brightwork, various trim parts are finished in black for an extra sinister look.

What’s it like inside?

Modern and filled with the latest technology, the Kia Telluride impressed at nearly every turn. The front row seating was comfortable regardless of which side you sat on. Our tester included Captain’s chairs in the middle row and a traditional third row for adults (yes, adults!) to make themselves at home in. The Telluride can be configured as an eight-passenger vehicle equipped with a middle row bench seat or a seven-passenger SUV when outfitted with the Captain’s chairs.

Gauges are run-of-the-mill until you get to the Blind-Spot View Monitors, which use side mirror-mounted cameras to show what is directly in your blind spot once you have turned on your turn signal, indicating an intention to change lanes.

The Telluride SX includes a 360-degree camera system, a blind-spot view monitor, and a dual-pane sunroof. Our SX Prestige model goes even further with heated and cooled rear seats. Add to that the incredible sounds of the 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system. After taking a listen, you may never get out.

Behind the wheel of the Kia Telluride

Kia’s illustrious past has seen it building cars and SUVs that were not considered the first choice of a budding car buyer with a big stack of moolah burning its way through their pocket. That was then. Today, it’s a different story. Kia is making some of the most in-demand vehicles to ply the highway. Exhibit A is the Telluride. It is large, comfortable, well-built and fun to drive. It would even drive better if Kia did not let the Sirius XM radio subscription lapse! It’s ok, though, as I had a backup. I subscribe using the Sirius XM iPhone app.

But back to driving.

The Telluride is considered a midsize SUV, although it looks pretty significant to our eyes. Buckle up inside and you’ll find a traditional gearshift selector to get you on your way. The one thing we noticed inside the Telluride was a quiet confidence letting you know your vehicle had your best interests at heart.

Acceleration was stout, which is especially nice considering the V6 is not boosted by a turbo- or supercharger. Its nearly 300 horsepower output was sufficient for every situation we encountered.

The interior was quiet and large enough to keep you comfortable while on the move. We were surprised to find our tester equipped with heated and cooled Captain’s chairs. Oh, did we mention the Telluride is a great road tripper?

We’re packing our bags now.

2022 Kia Telluride SX AWD Specifications