How the Palisade and Telluride Stack Up for Family Drivers

The Palisade and Telluride share a corporate platform but feel different from the driver’s seat. Both are three-row midsize SUVs built by Hyundai Motor Group, with Hyundai handling one and Kia handling the other. Shoppers in Richmond and across central Kentucky often weigh these two against each other, so we put them side by side to help you sort it out.

• Both SUVs offer a 2.5L turbo hybrid with 329 horsepower and over 600 miles of range.
• The Telluride has a small cargo edge while the Palisade carries more standard tech across every trim.
• Pricing starts around $39,000 for either model and tops out near $57,000 on flagship hybrid trims.

Engines and Driving Manners

Both SUVs use the same hybrid setup. Each pairs a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors for 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque combined. That’s plenty of muscle for merging onto I-75 with a full load of kids and gear.

The gas-only path is where they split. Hyundai keeps a 3.5L V6 making 287 hp and 260 lb-ft in the Palisade. Kia goes a different direction with a 2.5L turbo four in the Telluride, putting out 274 hp and 311 lb-ft. So the Palisade has more horsepower for highway pulls while the Telluride brings more low-end twist around town. Both can tow 5,000 lb in gas form. The Palisade hybrid is rated at 4,000 lb of towing and the Telluride hybrid at 4,500 lb.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Telluride Hybrid EX FWD returns an EPA-estimated 34/36/35 mpg. The Palisade Hybrid SEL FWD delivers 33/35/34 mpg. That gap is small in real-world driving. Both hybrids cross the 600-mile mark on a tank, with the Telluride EX FWD claiming up to 637 miles and the Palisade SEL Premium FWD targeting around 619 miles.

On the gas side, the Palisade V6 FWD lands at 19/25/21 mpg while the Telluride turbo FWD edges it slightly at 20/26/22 mpg. The Palisade’s V6 will feel smoother under load, though, especially with a packed cabin.

Space and Interior Layout

Cargo numbers tilt toward the Telluride. Behind the third row, it offers 22.3 cubic feet versus 19.1 for the Palisade. With the third row folded, the Telluride opens up 48.7 cubic feet to the Palisade’s 46.3. Both stretch beyond 86 cubic feet with everything folded flat.

Beyond cargo, the two are almost twins on paper. Each rides on a 116.9-inch wheelbase, measures 199.2 inches long, and stands 69.5 inches tall in standard trim. Both seat seven with captain’s chairs or eight with a second-row bench, and both have 32.1 inches of third-row legroom and 43.0 inches in row two.

Standard Tech and Safety

The Palisade gives you more out of the box. Every trim from base SE up gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six 100-watt USB-C ports spread across all three rows, and the Hyundai SmartSense safety suite. SmartSense covers forward collision avoidance, lane keeping, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and smart cruise control with stop-and-go.

Step up to the Calligraphy and the Palisade adds Highway Driving Assist 2 with automatic lane change, a 12-inch head-up display, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, relaxation seats with deployable leg supports, an integrated front and rear dashcam, and a full-display digital rearview mirror.

The Telluride answers with available HDA 2, a Meridian 14-speaker audio system, a generative AI voice helper, and a digital rearview mirror on SX Prestige trims. Both ride with ten standard airbags and a 360-degree camera available on upper trims.

Pricing by Trim Level

Both lineups span from the high $30s to the high $50s before destination. The Telluride starts at $39,190 plus a $1,545 destination charge. The Palisade SE starts at $39,435 before destination. Both top out near $57,000 on a fully loaded hybrid. Below, see how each lineup matches up trim by trim.

The Right Pick for Your Driveway

So, which is better, the Kia Telluride or the Hyundai Palisade? The honest answer is that it depends on what your family does most. If standard tech and a deeper hybrid trim ladder matter most, the Palisade makes a strong case. Every trim ships with built-in navigation, the full safety suite, and six USB-C ports. The hybrid runs all the way up to a flagship Calligraphy with Nappa leather and relaxation seats. The XRT PRO adds real off-road hardware, including an electronic limited-slip differential and 8.4 inches of ground clearance for backroads through the Daniel Boone National Forest.

If cargo space and slightly better hybrid mileage at the entry level matter more, the Telluride wins those rounds. Its X-Pro pushes ground clearance to 9.1 inches and adds a multi-terrain AWD mode that may appeal to weekend campers.

Test Drive the Palisade at Gates Hyundai

The best way to settle this question is to drive both SUVs from behind the wheel. We invite you to swing by our Richmond, KY, showroom and put a Palisade through its paces. Our team can walk you through every trim from SE to Calligraphy, demo the hybrid powertrain on a real road, and answer questions about HTRAC AWD or Highway Driving Assist 2. We’re happy to set up an unhurried test drive, talk through Hyundai financing options, and help you compare the Palisade against any three-row you’re shopping.

Tags: 2026 Hyundai Palisade, 2027 Kia Telluride, family SUV Richmond KY, Gates Hyundai, Hyundai Palisade hybrid, Palisade vs Telluride, three-row SUV comparison
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