Best Family Car of 2022
Winner: 2022 Kia Telluride
Cars.com editors — many of whom are parents — expect a lot from a family car.
It will appeal to many people (big and small) and carry many things, and this year’s winner delivers.
From cargo and ride comfort to car seat accessories and family-friendly features, the 2022 Kia Telluride brings it all home — and with an eye toward value.
Launched for the 2020 model year, the Telluride three-row SUV is available with seven or eight seats.
The only powertrain is a 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission that works well with either front or all-wheel drive.
The Telluride is stable and built for good handling on long trips. If the trip involves towing other toys, Telluride’s 5,000 tow capacity should come in handy.
For 2022, Telluride received a few upgrades to freshen it up and boost its appeal.
Kia has updated the grille and redesigned the badge, with lower trims getting standard features including a large 10.25-inch touchscreen and advanced safety technology, and safety is one of the areas where the Telluride shines.
The Telluride has received a top rating from the Insurance Institute for road safety, and standard features include emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and stop-motion, lane-keeping assist, cruise control rail, and defect detection. from braking and steering, and rear cross-traffic alert and intervention.
Parents will appreciate two other standard safety features: the Elderly Monitor System, which uses sensors to alert drivers, and the Safety Assisted Exit System for the seats. and prevent the back door from opening if an oncoming car or bike is detected.
The Telluride also performed well in our car seat review for ample space and easy second and third anchors.
Getting into the third row is also easy with a one-button slider on the second seat. The third row itself isn’t a bad seat either, with plenty of space for adults.
All of these factors, plus the SUV’s focus on value — the 2022 Kia Telluride is one of the most affordable options in a crowded field — are favored by Cars.com’s editorial staff to come up with the 2022 car prices.
2022 Kia Telluride details and reviews
The old, burning debate of minivans versus SUVs got a little more interesting thanks to Kia’s new Carnival for 2022.
Yes, it’s a small car packed with all the goodies you’d expect – and some you don’t – but does it look like it? Not exactly.
The Carnival replaces the Sedona in Kia’s lineup, and the changes go beyond a name change.
Along with the move to blocky, SUV-like styling, the Carnival gets a new engine, updated infotainment system, a host of family-friendly benefits, and other safety features.
The only powertrain is a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission; energy is soft and powerful, even when filled with people and things.
Carnival has seating for seven or eight people in three rows and can easily accommodate a tribe of car seats.
With three easy-to-access lower anchors and plenty of room in the second row, installing three car seats is easy, and the third row of the cabin also has two sets of lower-accessible anchors.
Family-friendly features make or break a small car, and Carnival has loaded. Highlights include an available in-cab camera system that allows front-row occupants to keep an eye on children in the back, an available touch-screen rear entertainment system, and standard sliding door closers.
Last but not least for families, the Carnival is affordable, with more features for the price than other vehicles.
The minivan’s combination of features, functionality, and value make it the pick for the family car of the year 2022.
