The 2022 Kia Telluride is a masterpiece. Don’t get me wrong; the Telluride lacks pizzaz. If the Kia Telluride were food, It would be baked chicken (low sodium) with steamed broccoli; It’s nutritious, a good value, and inoffensively flavored. Baked chicken and broccoli is not many people’s favorite meal of all time, but many people make it every night for dinner. That’s the 2022 Kia Telluride. And, that’s why the Telluride is still one of the best SUVs on the road.

The 2022 Kia Telluride SX is one of the best SUVs on the market 

Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Kia Telluride a 97/100. Since the Telluride’s debut, it has gotten nothing but rave reviews. So, when we got our test unit, the excitement was in full swing. Even though “excitement” and “Kia Telluride” should never be said that closely together, I realized the big Kia SUV is still the GOAT. 

I had the 2022 Kia Telluride SX. Powered by a decently snappy 3.8-liter V6, the Telluride SX is a nice mix of utility and comfort. No aspect of the Kia Telluride is over-the-top. The three-row Kia gives drivers everything they need and a feeling that they are also getting something they want. This is the genius behind the Telluride, giving the sense of luxury while still being a practical daily driver. 

The Kia Telluride SX trim is the top trim level for the massively popular three-row SUV. The V6 is the only engine option, but the SX comes with a myriad of features like  20″ Black Finished Alloy Wheels, rear sunroof, rear captain’s chairs, etc. Our test model also features automatic leveling suspension, heads-up display, Nappa Leather, Cloth headliner, and heard and cooled seats in the second row. The Telluride comes correct. 

Is the Kia Telluride good off-road? 

The 2022 Kia Telluride is no body-on-frame off-roader, but it does have a decently clever automatic smart all-wheel drive system that allows for some mild off-roading. Unlike proper 4x4s, the Telluride uses an electronic differential system that tells the car where to send power as grip fails on loose surfaces. 

This system is really cool. It is surprisingly smart and delivers good power to whichever wheel needs it the most. However, that doesn’t make it a proper off-roader. The Kia Telluride can go off-road but probably shouldn’t make a habit of it. 

To be clear, “going off-road” can mean anything from a dirt road to bouldering in Moab, but we typically mean something more like a proper trail, not a dirt road. The Kia Telluride can run rough dirt roads with the best of them, but it won’t be doing any water crossings or much rock hopping. But for most folks, the Telluride can do more off-roading than will ever be required of it. 

Is the 2022 Kia Telluride worth it? 

The Kia Telluride is one of the most objectively good SUVs that has come out in a very long time. No, it’s not the most exciting ride in the world, but it’s not supposed to be. The whole point of the Telluride is giving folks who need a minivan an SUV they can have instead. 

It has the features, the reliability, the look, and the feel of a car that can reach the masses, and it has. It doesn’t have to be your favorite SUV, but its objective greatness won’t be denied.