Hyundai Palisade vs. Kia Telluride: Which Is the Better SUV?
Two of the hottest three-row SUVs on the market right now are built by Hyundai and Kia – and they share far more than their parent companies may care to let on.
But are the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride mere exercises in badge engineering? We decided to test both vehicles to see for ourselves.
We don’t think so, and nor do other automotive experts, many of whom have showered awards on these two range-topping models.
Hyundai Palisade vs. Kia Telluride Comparison
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The Tale of the Tape
The numbers make clear that these two SUVs both cast the same shadow, with the Palisade measuring just a hair shorter and narrower. That disparity is likely due to the styling, something we’ll dive into greater detail about in just a moment.
We noticed both vehicles ride the same 114.2-inch wheelbase. That’s not surprising – there are massive cost savings for parent-company Hyundai by sharing a wheelbase. The 114.2-inch span is about par for the segment, trailing the Volkswagen Atlas (117 inches), Chevrolet Traverse (120 inches), and Ford Explorer (119 inches) but edging out the Toyota Highlander (112 inches) and Honda Pilot (111 inches).
Styling
The biggest differentiator between the Palisade and Telluride is also the most subjective: styling. While the engineers were working together to hash out the mechanical details, the stylists were duking it out in the studios. Ultimately, Kia went for the more aggressive look and Hyundai aimed for luxury.
Both styles are attractive in their own right, but there’s no doubt that the Hyundai is the more glamorous of the two with its abundance of chrome on the front end. Slightly more flamboyant character lines along the Palisade’s bodysides also help cultivate a more urbane image than the squared-off Telluride.
The Telluride also has a few other tricks up its sleeve, such as putting the painted rear roof pillar aft of the rear cargo side glass – the Palisade puts its big pillars just behind the rear doors. These sort of details help trick the eye into thinking that these two SUVs are less alike than they really are.
Utility and Roominess
We mentioned that the Kia and Hyundai share almost identical dimensions. It’s the same story in the cabin, where the stated passenger volume of both SUVs comes within five cubic feet of each other. The smaller of the two is the Palisade, which checks out considering it is the physically smaller of the two. Interior design differences may also eat into some of the total overall volume.
Legroom shouldn’t be a concern with either model. Up front occupants enjoy a typical 41 inches of legroom. The second row is more impressive: a full 42 inches in both models. That’s better than most of the competitive set, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Chevrolet Traverse.
Most trims of both the Palisade and Telluride also feature standard second-row captain’s chairs, which reduces total seating capacity from eight to seven for both SUVs. A three-across third row is standard on all models, but we imagine it can get a bit cramped with three passengers vying for the mere 31 inches of legroom.
The Telluride wins on cargo capacity, but only behind the third row might the difference be noticeable: 21 cubic feet in the Telluride versus 18 cubic feet in the Palisade. That might not sound like much, but when the whole brood is piled in and you need to fit that last backpack in the trunk, the extra cubes of the Telluride may come in handy.
Amenities
On the low end the Kia and Hyundai are true to their budget roots, coming standard with modest cloth upholstery, manually-adjusted seats, and manual climate control. Infotainment is also the same on both vehicles: an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, while upper versions get a 10.3-inch touchscreen that, oddly enough, requires a wired connection for smartphone connectivity.
At the top end of the range, however, you can see where the Telluride and the Palisade begin to take on their own identities. Luxury becomes a decisive factor once you begin analyzing the highest price points of these SUVs.
Let’s first consider the Telluride. Its range-topping model is the SX Turbo, which starts at $42,490. Among its amenities are 20-inch wheels, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, and dual sunroofs. It also comes with 10-speaker Harman-Kardon audio and a surround-view camera, as well as the full roster of active-safety gear. If you want more you’ll need the Premium Package, which tosses in Nappa leather and second-row heated and cooled seats.
The Palisade, on the other hand, doesn’t cap out until the $46,200 Calligraphy Edition. The extra money buys extravagances such as a microfiber headliner, 12-speaker Harman-Kardon audio, a heated steering wheel, and a full digital display. None of these listed features are available on the Telluride.
The Telluride offers Nappa leather as an option on its top model; The Calligraphy gets the stuff standard, and Hyundai also stitches it in a quilted pattern on the seats and doors for a more upscale look.
There’s no doubt you’ll fork over more money for a top-shelf Palisade, but the additional coin buys a more luxurious experience. We’d argue that this is where these two SUVs are furthest apart in philosophy and appeal.
Safety
There isn’t much to say here. Both the Telluride and Palisade are loaded up with driver assists such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist.
Both also pass the IIHS and NHTSA crash tests with flying colors, but only the Palisade gets the coveted Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS when equipped with its exclusive optional headlights.
Performance
Again, not much differentiates the Palisade from the Telluride. Under the hood, these two SUVs share the same 3.8-liter V-6 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and an available all-wheel drive system. Each SUV is rated for 290 horsepower and will return the same EPA-rated 21 combined with all-wheel drive.
Car and Driver found that the Palisade was the quicker of the two, going 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds; their test of the Telluride required a 7.1-second time for the same sprint. Interestingly enough, the Palisade is also the heavier of the two SUVs, so seeing it outrun the Telluride to 60 mph is interesting. Blame the driver, the conditions, or the particular car, but without analyzing the variables it seems the Palisade is indeed the quicker of the two.
Despite the Telluride looking the more outdoorsy of the two, we wouldn’t take either far from the pavement. They share a road-biased all-wheel drive system that isn’t intended for any serious backcountry work but is just fine for getting to the average trailhead.
Which Is Better, The Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade?
We found that the answer really depends on what you want.
If more luxury is your preference, the Palisade is the better bet, particularly on top trims. It offers certain fancy features that aren’t found on the poshest Tellurides for any price.
If you prefer a more squared-off, rugged style, the Kia will better scratch your itch. Whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong with the compelling package of either SUV.
