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The Kia Telluride is the top dog in the midsize SUV segment, but which trim is best? Buying a vehicle can be nerve-wracking because drivers often keep vehicles for years before making a switch. Sometimes the easiest way to choose a trim level is through the process of elimination.

2022 Kia Telluride SX: Want

A gray 2022 Kia Telluride midsize SUV is driving on a wet road.
The 2022 Kia Telluride | Kia

It’s natural to want the final Telluride SX trim level. The Telluride SX is the model loaded with all the goodies that South Korean automaker Kia has to offer.

The 2022 Kia Telluride SX starts at $43,290. It comes with leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Telluride SX also includes interior mood lighting, one-touch sliding and folding rear seats, and woodgrain interior accents.

The final trim features heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, first and second-row sunroofs, and sound-absorbing windshield glass. It also comes with automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, a blind-spot view monitor, and a smart power liftgate.

The Telluride SX is the trim to want because of its many advanced tech features and creature comforts. That being said, the SX costs at least $9,900 more than the base model LX trim. Many consumers will pass on the SX because more affordable trim levels also offer plenty of great standard features. It’s important to note that Car and Driver recommends the SX trim over other Telluride trim levels. If it’s within your price range, this could be the Telluride for you.

2022 Kia Telluride EX: Pass

A green 2022 Kia Telluride midsize SUV is parked outdoors.
The 2022 Kia Telluride | Kia

It’s tough to pass on any Kia Telluride, but for process of elimination’s sake one has to go. That doesn’t mean that any Telluride trim level is bad, it just means that some trims offer more value for the money than others.

The Tellurride EX is a pass compared to other Telluride trims because of affordability and standard features. The 2022 Kia Telluride EX starts at $38,390. It’s $5,000 more than the base model LX trim. While there isn’t a huge price jump between the LX and EX, the second trim level offers enough value for most consumers.

The Telluride S trim comes standard with a wireless phone charger, SynTex seating materials with heated front seats, and a power sunroof. It also features roof rails, a rear park distance warning, and smart key with push-button and remote start. The 2022 Telluride S even includes navigation based cruise control with stop and go.

The 2022 Kia Telluride EX adds some great features like leather-trimmed seats and power-folding mirrors, but many drivers will forego those features in favor of a more affordable midsize SUV. When it comes to the best Telluride trim for the money, the EX is a pass.

2022 Kia Telluride LX: Buy

Many drivers consider base models as barebones. One of the many reasons that the Telluride leads its segment is because it offers great value at every trim level. The entry-level 2022 Kia Telluride LX comes standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, SynTex seating materials, and a smart key with push-button and automatic start.

Many automakers reserve features like leather-wrapped steering wheels and smart keys for upper trim levels, so the Telluride is a breath of fresh air. The most affordable Telluride trim holds its own against upper trim levels, and for that reason, the base model 2022 Kia Telluride LX is a buy. The LX is a huge part of why the Telluride is the best midsize SUV on the market.

Read more about the Kia Telluride in the next article below.

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