Another Obvious Choice for the Best Family Car of 2022
Family cars have evolved much since their days as blocky, wood-paneled station wagons with juice-stained, rear-facing third-row seats featuring enough space for the weekly grocery store run and the family dogs. With enough safety features and family-friendly technology, even today’s base model people haulers are packed with the necessary trappings to soothe the souls of child-focused parents. But when it comes to choosing the best family car for 2022? Cars.com went with the obvious choice, the 2022 Kia Telluride SUV.
The 2022 Kia Telluride SUV is the “Best Family Car” for 2022
When the Kia Telluride launched in 2020, it sought to compete directly with similarly-sized minivans and larger SUVs as the car of choice for the modern family. Evaluated on its crash testing results, safety features, and interior space to transport people, pets, sporting gear, and vacation luggage, Kia’s Telluride won “Best Family Car” for 2022 from a collection of automotive publications like Cars.com.
The 2022 Kia Telluride is roomy enough for children, their friends, and much more
One of the essential features of a family car is enough room to carry parents, children, their friends, and the family Labrador. The three-row Telluride boasts seven seats, eight if you sacrifice the second-row captain’s chairs.
While the Kia Telluride is smaller than traditional three-row SUVs like the Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition, it offers plenty of room to accommodate a growing family. Kia states the third row of the Telluride boats an impressive 31.4 inches of legroom, enough for even an adult to be content. Yet, all rows can fold down and offer the following cargo capacities to support carried cargo for school sports days and summer vacations:
- 87 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the first row
- 46 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the second row
- 21 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the third row
The 2022 Kia Telluride ensures children will have all electronics charged
Another area where the Kia Telluride shines is the number of features offered, over 170 according to The Keea. While the Telluride has a plethora of driver-oriented touches like steering wheel-mounted audio controls, voice recognition, and an embedded telematics mobile unit, much more focus is placed on passengers.
Standard interior equipment includes three 12V power outlets, five USB charging ports, six speakers, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, so your children have plenty to distract them.
Higher trim levels will add a few more amenities with a luxury touch to the mid-size SUV. The SX package comes with Nappa leather seat trim, a 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, a 64-color mood lighting system, and heated front and second-row seats to keep your family’s bottoms warm on those frosty mornings.
The 2022 Kia Telluride boasts impressive standard safety equipment
It isn’t the 291-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6, the handsome exterior looks, or the optional all-wheel drive that makes the Kia Telluride this year’s best family car. It’s how safe it will keep you and your family.
The 2022 Kia Telluride holds a top safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), boasting top marks in nearly every crashworthiness, crash avoidance, and passenger anchoring category. Almost every safety feature offered in the top-of-line SX trim level can be found in the base LX, starting at an agreeable $32,790 MSRP.
2022 Kia Telluride safety features include:
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Forward collision warning
- Highway driving assist
- Lane-centering steering lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and assist
- Safe exit assist
- Rear blind spot detection with braking and steering intervention
- Rear occupant alert system
Tellurides also feature Kia’s parent-centered Car Seat Check and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. This system ensures infants and toddlers are properly harnessed while traveling. Parents carrying a child in their arms will also welcome the one-button slide feature allowing access to the third-row seats.
Should you buy a 2022 Kia Telluride?
The Kia Telluride sits among a crowded field of modern family haulers, most of which are tried and true. Nevertheless, family car buyers would have to spend much more than the Telluride’s base price to get the standard safety features, interior cargo space, and seating arrangement competitors offer.
Even better for potential family car buyers, the premium SX trim package starts at an agreeable $43,290 MSRP, and comes with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
