Up to eight passengers will notice cut-above trim in the base versions those in the SX will ride in cooled second-row captain’s chairs covered in quilted leather and wonder how they ever got along in the Before Times. We’re still bowled over by the Telluride’s wealth management: It makes the most of its interior space by upgrading finishes from very good to spectacular. Gas mileage is middling, and there’s no hybrid offered. Ride quality shines, especially compared to the dated Pilot and the too-taut Explorer: the Telluride quietly smothers bumps and road seams, while it also provides up to 5,000 lb of towing capacity.

Performance doesn’t soar to the same heights, but the Telluride’s 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6 works well with its 8-speed automatic to provide ample acceleration through the front or all four wheels. The body’s appealing the cabin’s a cut above even that, especially with the SX’s quilted nappa leather and wood trim. With a shape that neatly slips between the rugged and the urbane, the sleek 2022 Telluride wears just the right balance of angles and curves.

New 2022 kia telluride