The 2022 Kia Telluride is being advertised as an SUV that’s large enough for a family of eight to enjoy a comfortable ride together. This isn’t a statement of fallacy, this SUV does give you eight seats across three rows, but perhaps Kia has made some assumptions about families. If your family doesn’t include small children that haven’t reached adolescence yet, you might not want to drive the Telluride.

What is the seating configuration of the 2022 Kia Telluride?

The standard configuration of seating for this SUV gives you eight seats. You can reduce this number to seven if you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs, but that doesn’t change the one area that is troublesome for the Telluride. When you have the standard setup, you’ll have a 2-3-3 layout for the seating and 2-2-3 with the captain’s chairs. 

Where’s the problem with the seating configuration?

When we take a look at the interior dimensions provided by U.S. News and World Report, we see the cabin of this Kia SUV to measure 157.1 cubic feet, which is rather good, but it’s the legroom in the third row that causes concern. The front row offers the driver and passenger 41.4 inches of legroom, while the second-row passengers will enjoy 42.4-inches of legroom. Step into the rear row, and you’re going to find a cramped 31.4 inches of space for your legs. How can ten inches less room for your legs be acceptable for adults?

For comparison, the Chevy Tahoe brings you a cabin that is 168.3 cubic feet in size. That’s only 11.2 cubic feet larger than the Kia Telluride, and the Tahoe is in the full-size SUV class while the Telluride is part of the midsize SUV lineup. Front passengers in the Tahoe enjoy 44.5 inches of legroom, second-row passengers experience 42.0 inches, and passengers in the third row have 36.7 inches of legroom. Riding in a Tahoe will give you five more inches for your legs to feel comfortable in the rear seats of the Chevy Tahoe while giving you the same number of seats.

Cargo volume is reasonable for the 2022 Telluride

Even though passengers in the third row of the Kia Telluride will feel cramped, especially if they are adult-sized, you will find 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind this rear seat. That’s not bad, considering the full-size Tahoe only offers 25.5 cubic feet. You might expect a much larger SUV to offer more than 4.5 cubic feet of additional cargo over the midsize Telluride.

Who should you drive this Kia SUV?

After reviewing the tight quarters of the rear seat of the Kia Telluride, the question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you should drive this Kia SUV. The Telluride could be the right vehicle for you when your family is only starting to grow, when you want an SUV that gives you a third row that can be used for short-term traveling, or when you want to have an expanded cargo area with the rear seats folded down most of the time. 

Considering when you fold down the rear seat, you immediately expand the cargo space in the rear from 21 cubic feet to 46, this might be the right way for you to use this SUV.

Who should not choose the Kia Telluride?

Do you have a large family, more than five people, and everyone is adult-sized or close to it? If so, the Telluride will not be the vehicle you should drive. Those kids who are reaching their teenage years are only going to get bigger and need more room when you want to take the entire family out for dinner or for a weekend away from home. If you have a larger family and you want an SUV, step up to a larger class and choose something like the Chevy Tahoe.

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This article was updated on 9/1/2022.