3-Row SUV Comparison · New York City

Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: Which 3-Row SUV Should You Buy?

Published November 6, 2026 · Last updated November 6, 2026

Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade used to be a styling argument between two cousins that shared a V6. For 2027 both were redesigned onto the same new platform, the same 199.2-inch body and the same 329-hp hybrid system, yet they went different ways on the gas engine: the Telluride took a 274-hp 2.5-liter turbo with 311 lb-ft, the Palisade a 287-hp 3.5-liter V6 with 260. The Telluride starts at $39,190, the Palisade at $39,735; here is where they differ.

Telluride vs Palisade at a Glance

Get the Telluride and Palisade Priced Side by Side

Tell us which trims you are considering, gas or hybrid, seven or eight seats, and how to reach you. One Plaza Auto Mall product specialist covers both stores and will reply with the matching Telluride and Palisade units on the lot, Plaza pricing, this month's Kia and Hyundai offers, and a back-to-back test drive time. No deposit, no obligation.

Is the Telluride Bigger Than the Palisade?

No. The 2027 Telluride and the Palisade are each 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase, about 2.5 inches longer than the SUVs they replace and roughly a foot longer than a Kia Sorento; both clear 78 inches wide and sit a little over seven inches off the ground, with the Telluride X-Pro raised to 9.1. If the size itself is the problem, the shorter Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are the same two brands in a 190-inch package.

Which Has the Roomier Third Row?

Both SUVs offer eight seats with a second-row bench or seven with captain's chairs, and for 2027 Hyundai stopped charging extra for the bench on SEL, SEL Premium and Limited. The Telluride Hybrid is the exception: seven seats only, with second-row legroom trimmed from 43.0 to 41.4 inches by the battery packaging, a cut the Palisade Hybrid shares.

The third row measures 32.1 inches of legroom in both, which is adult-usable for a trip to Jones Beach but not for a drive to Boston. Headroom is 37.8 inches in the Palisade and 37.4 in the Telluride. The Palisade's real advantage is up front: 44.2 inches of driver legroom against the Telluride's 41.4, nearly three inches, which a tall driver feels immediately.

Which Has More Cargo Space?

Here the Telluride pulls ahead. Kia quotes 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.7 behind the second and 89.3 with both rear rows down; Hyundai's figures for the Palisade are 19.1, 46.3 and 86.7.

The hybrid versions give up almost nothing: the Telluride Hybrid's maximum drops to 88.3 cubic feet, the Palisade Hybrid keeps its gas figures. If cargo volume ranks above everything, the Telluride is the pick; if a longer minivan like the Honda Odyssey is on the table, read Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Odyssey next.

Which Gets Better MPG, and Which Engine Is Stronger?

The gas engines are the biggest split between these two. Kia replaced the old 3.8-liter V6 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four making 274 hp and 311 lb-ft through an eight-speed automatic. Hyundai kept six cylinders, a new 3.5-liter V6 rated 287 hp and 260 lb-ft with the same eight-speed. The Palisade has 13 more horsepower on paper; on a Belt Parkway on-ramp with seven aboard, the Telluride's extra 51 lb-ft is what you feel.

The hybrids are the same hardware, a 2.5-liter turbo four with two electric motors and a six-speed automatic, 329 hp and 339 lb-ft in both. EPA ratings favor the Kia by a hair: the front-drive Telluride Hybrid EX is rated 34/36/35 mpg and the AWD versions 30/32/31, while the Palisade Hybrid Blue SEL is rated 33/35/34 and the heavier Limited and Calligraphy 31/32/31. Gas models: 20/26/22 Telluride, 19/26/21 Palisade, 18/24/20 for both with AWD. Over 12,000 miles a year either hybrid saves roughly 200 gallons.

Which Is Better for AWD, Towing and Driving?

All-wheel drive costs $2,000 on either badge and is standard on the trims that make a point of it: the Telluride X-Line, X-Pro and SX-Prestige, and the Palisade XRT PRO. The Palisade XRT PRO brings a limited-slip differential and tow hooks; the Telluride X-Pro brings 9.1 inches of clearance, all-terrain tires and a 110-volt outlet, on two trim levels.

Towing is 5,000 pounds for both gas models when properly equipped, enough for a small boat or a camper to the Catskills. The hybrids differ: the Telluride Hybrid tows 4,500 pounds, the Palisade Hybrid 4,000. On the road the difference is engine character: the Palisade's V6 makes its 260 lb-ft high in the rev range, the Telluride's turbo delivers its 311 lb-ft from low rpm, so it feels stronger when loaded.

Which Is Safer, and Which Has Better Tech?

IIHS rates both Top Safety Pick+ for 2027, the Telluride with the note that the award applies to vehicles built after June 2026, when Kia upgraded the headlights from Marginal to Good. Each earns Good in every crash test and Good+ for LATCH ease of use. Standard driver-assist equipment is a near match across Kia's Drive Wise and Hyundai's SmartSense suites; the Telluride counts 19 standard aids and up to 29, with a new front-center airbag among its ten, while the Palisade carries ten airbags plus third-row seatbelt pretensioners.

Inside, both start with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both move to twin 12.3-inch panoramic displays on upper trims. The Telluride adds navigation on every trim and a head-up display from SX-Prestige; the Palisade reserves its head-up display for Calligraphy.

Which Has the Better Warranty, Reliability and Resale Value?

The warranties are the same document with different logos: 5 years/60,000 miles basic, 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain and hybrid battery. Hyundai adds complimentary maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles, worth a few hundred dollars that Kia does not match.

Reliability should track closely because the hardware is shared across Hyundai Motor Group, but the turbo four and the hybrid system are new to both models, so neither has a record yet. Resale is where the first-generation Telluride built its reputation, holding value unusually well for a mainstream three-row SUV; whether the new one repeats that is unknown, and in a lease, where the bank sets the residual, the question is moot.

How Much Do the Telluride and Palisade Cost?

The Telluride runs ten gas trims from LX $39,190 to X-Pro SX-Prestige $56,790 and five hybrids from EX $46,490 to X-Line SX-Prestige $57,590, plus $1,545 destination. The Palisade runs six gas trims from SE $39,735 to Calligraphy $54,860 and seven hybrids from Blue SEL $44,560 to Calligraphy Black Ink $57,680, plus $1,650 destination. The full trim lists are in our Telluride and Palisade guides.

The pattern: the Telluride is $545 cheaper to start and slightly cheaper at the top, the Palisade is $1,930 cheaper to get into as a hybrid, and the mid-trim sweet spots, Telluride EX ($43,790) against Palisade SEL Premium ($45,600), are about $1,800 apart with similar equipment. Compare the current Plaza Kia specials and Kia incentives with Plaza Hyundai specials and Hyundai incentives before you decide, and value your trade with a Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer that either store will honor.

Telluride and Palisade in Stock at Plaza Auto Mall

Every 2027 Telluride, Telluride Hybrid, Palisade and Palisade Hybrid on Nostrand Avenue is listed below. Filter by brand, trim, seating or price, or call Plaza Kia at (855) 531-8744 or Plaza Hyundai at (800) 556-2369 and we will have both parked side by side when you arrive. Free delivery within 25 miles.

Which Should You Buy?

Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Kia and Hyundai newsroom pricing releases for the 2027 Telluride and 2027 Palisade; manufacturer specifications; EPA ratings at fueleconomy.gov; IIHS ratings; Kelley Blue Book.

*MSRP excludes destination ($1,545 Kia, $1,650 Hyundai), taxes, title, registration and dealer fees. Figures reflect manufacturer information available as of November 6, 2026 and can change without notice. EPA figures are estimates; your mileage will vary. Tow ratings require proper equipment. Confirm current pricing and availability with the dealer.