The 2022 Kia Telluride is a super popular midsize SUV. The Kia Telluride has been dominating sales since it was first released a few years ago, and there are a lot of good reasons why that’s true. Yet the Telluride isn’t a perfect SUV. In fact, some of its faults may be enough to make you consider buying a different sport utility vehicle instead. Here’s what makes the 2022 Kia Telluride a good SUV – and why you just might want to look elsewhere for your next ride.

The 2022 Kia Telluride is a good SUV at a great price

This 2022 Kia Telluride cost is for the base model, the LX. The 2022 Kia Telluride LX has a 3.8-liter V6 engine that makes 291-hp and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The LX can also seat up to eight passengers and has a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a push-button as well as remote start. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

It has a super spacious 3rd row

A comfortable third-row is a huge asset in a midsize SUV, and the 2022 Kia Telluride delivers. In fact, the Kia Telluride has one of the best third-rows of any midsize SUV, with owners of the Telluride saying the ease of accessing it is one of the best parts of the SUV.

The Telluride is very safe…

The 2022 Kia Telluride is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It gets good ratings in all of the important crash test categories. Even the subcategories in the small overlap front driver and passenger sides, moderate overlap front, and side crash test ratings are all good. Front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian in the 2021 Telluride is superior. It’s the headlights that make the Telluride fall short of receiving the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award.

…but its updated side crash test is just marginal

Despite the 2022 Kia Telluride’s Top Safety Pick award, it’s worth noting that the 2022 Telluride received only a marginal rating in the updated side crash test, which isn’t yet part of the Top Safety Pick awards.

The Kia Telluride doesn’t have good headlights

In addition to its updated side crash test being only marginal, the 2022 Kia Telluride’s headlights are a safety concern that you might want to be aware of. There are only two headlight variations available for the 2022 Telluride. One has an acceptable rating, while the other has a poor rating. This is important because more than half of all fatal car accidents occur in the dark. In addition, people are three times more likely to die in a car accident at night than they are during the day. 

Its handling is just so-so

The 2022 Kia Telluride has just average handling, according to Consumer Reports. To determine the routine handling score, Consumer Reports says, “Our expert judgment reflects how agile the vehicle is on the road by the amount of body lean and steering response. Also includes turning circle, the bumper clearance needed to make a complete U-turn.”

If you’re thinking of buying the 2022 Kia Telluride, there are a lot of reasons to consider going through with the purchase. Still, there are a few that you might want to look at some of the Kia Telluride’s competitors, like the 2022 Hyundai Palisade or 2022 Toyota Highlander.