2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid vs. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid: Same Blood, Different Spirit
Miguel Cortina | Writer
William Walker | Photographer
April 06, 2026
The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are siblings, sharing their foundational blueprint—platform, powertrain, wheelbase, and dimensions are nearly identical. Yet, where they truly diverge is in their personality. The Telluride projects an image of a rugged, sophisticated adventurer, while the Palisade leans into a softer, more indulgent aesthetic.
Both models have emerged from their debut generations having significantly exceeded expectations. The Telluride made an instant impression, earning MotorTrend’s prestigious 2020 SUV of the Year award in its inaugural year. The Palisade has consistently remained in contention, often ranking among our favorites. Following its midcycle update, we recognized it as the best three-row SUV currently available.
For this comparative assessment, we drove the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy AWD and the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD through the demanding landscape of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. Known for its geotechnical instability, this region offers a diverse driving environment, featuring twisty roads, urban streets, highway stretches, and unpaved surfaces affected by landslides and minor seismic activity. Over the course of the journey, we evaluated their interior capacity across all three rows, ease of access to the third row, and the performance of their infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems.
To provide context for this comparison, we tested the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy AWD against the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD. Both variants represent the pinnacle of their respective lineups and utilize a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, collectively delivering 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission routes power to the all-wheel-drive system.
The Palisade is priced at $60,625, while the Kia offers a slight price advantage at $60,210. While neither is inexpensive, a $60,000 three-row hybrid SUV is a realistic consideration in today’s automotive market. An important distinction: the Telluride is manufactured in West Point, Georgia, whereas the Palisade is imported from Ulsan, South Korea.
Front Row Revelations
While the vehicles are similar in many ways, a comparison of their interiors reveals significant differences, particularly in the front row. The Kia adopts a midcentury modern design philosophy that feels both minimalist and elegant. The quality of the materials is superb; the leather is supple, the Alcantara headliner would not be out of place in a luxury vehicle, and the faux wood trim spanning the dash and center console exudes a genuine sense of luxury.
One drawback of the Telluride’s interior design is its reliance on physical controls. The center console features only four buttons for climate control, with the remainder of the HVAC functions integrated into a control panel positioned between the driver’s instrument cluster display and the infotainment screen. This placement makes them awkward to use, as they are partially obstructed by the steering wheel from the driver’s perspective and require a considerable reach from the passenger seat. While it ingeniously utilizes otherwise unused space, it is not the most practical arrangement.
The Palisade, conversely, offers a more inviting interior environment. Editor Christian Seabaugh observed that the cabin feels more like “a home’s living room rather than an airliner. The design is unique, special, and its own thing. It’s the type of design that’s going to make the Palisade feel like an escape from the outside world, not part of the problem.” He is correct. The design is less minimalist than the Telluride and approaches luxury in a warmer, more contemporary manner.
Part of what contributes to the Palisade’s welcoming cabin is its control layout. All HVAC functions are consolidated in one area and are easily accessible to both the driver and front passenger. Although the capacitive touch controls may feel somewhat cramped, this configuration is preferable to the Kia’s approach. The Palisade also benefits from both volume and tuning knobs, whereas the Telluride only provides the former.
Both interiors offer three conveniently located USB-C ports, but the Telluride adds a second wireless charging pad to the Palisade’s single pad. The Hyundai counters with a neat feature: a UV-C sterilization compartment in the center console that can sanitize your phone, keys, or wallet in approximately 10 minutes, a capability not available in the Kia.
What to Know About the Rear Seats
Both of the Korean hybrid test vehicles we evaluated were equipped with second-row captain’s chairs, resulting in a total seating capacity of seven passengers. In both SUVs, comfort is excellent, and both feature thoughtfully positioned USB ports on the back of the front seats for easy access. The panoramic sunroofs in both models also enhance the sense of openness in the cabin.
Accessing the third row is relatively straightforward in both the Telluride and Palisade, thanks to second-row seats that slide forward with the push of a button. The gap between the C-pillar and the seat is sufficiently wide for most adults to maneuver through, and once situated in the rear, legroom is adequate. However, the Palisade holds a distinct advantage as its third row offers recline and fore/aft sliding adjustments. This enhanced flexibility can reduce cargo space, but it provides a tangible difference in passenger comfort, especially for adults on longer journeys when the luggage compartment is not utilized to its full capacity.
The Palisade is also the only one equipped with a power-folding third row, a practical feature when raising or lowering the seats with your hands full. In the Telluride, a strap releases the latch to fold the seat, and the same strap must be used to pull it back up until it locks securely. While not difficult, we prefer the convenience of a button that allows the vehicle to perform the operation autonomously. A significant caveat to this convenience: the power seats have been the subject of a stop-sale and recall following the tragic death of a child. Hyundai has recalled Palisades equipped with power second- and third-row seats, and Kia has subsequently recalled Tellurides equipped with powered second-row seats.
Cabin Technology Features
Examining their infotainment systems closely, it is difficult to identify any significant differences. Both SUVs share essentially the same technology, with a few distinctive features setting them apart. The Kia offers integrated streaming applications such as YouTube, Disney+, and even live television on its main screen, while the Palisade counters with a built-in front and rear dashcam.
Both SUVs feature a dual 12.3-inch display configuration, with one screen dedicated to the driver and the other for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with built-in navigation and a head-up display. They also provide seven USB-C ports distributed across all three rows, massaging front seats, and a digital key feature.
While the Telluride holds a slight advantage in the technology category, primarily due to its ability to stream video on the infotainment screen when parked, some buyers may find the Palisade’s built-in dashcam more practical and a better value, as Kia’s data subscription service costs approximately $40 per month. Ultimately, both infotainment systems are fundamentally similar, and the choice depends on individual preferences.
Telluride and Palisade Safety Features
Hyundai and Kia have made significant advancements in advanced driver assistance systems. In both SUVs, the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist systems performed flawlessly, keeping the vehicles centered in their lanes while maintaining a safe but not overly conservative distance from traffic ahead on the highway.
Because these vehicles share the same safety technologies, their behavior on the road is virtually identical. Throughout our test drives, we did not observe any meaningful differences in system performance, but we did appreciate their smooth operation and the ease with which both adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist can be engaged.
Impressive Hybrid Fuel Economy
Despite utilizing the same powertrain, the Telluride is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Palisade. The Kia is rated at 30 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined, compared to the Palisade’s 29 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. This difference is most likely attributable to wheel size, as the Palisade rides on 21-inch wheels while the Telluride uses 20-inch wheels.
How Each Model Rides and Handles
One area where the Kia and Hyundai begin to diverge (beyond styling) is in their driving dynamics. Each brand has its own engineering team, and they have tuned these SUVs in slightly different ways to help them cultivate distinct personalities.
We found that the Palisade rides slightly better than the Telluride, demonstrating greater composure over broken pavement. The difference was most noticeable on the rough, undulating roads around Portuguese Bend in Palos Verdes. While the Palisade glides with ease, the Telluride allows more of the Bend’s uneven surfaces to reach the cabin occupants.
The Telluride’s steering also requires slightly more effort off-center. As Seabaugh pointed out, it “lacked the smooth, confidence-inspiring torque buildup.” While still perfectly capable for the class, when driven back-to-back, we preferred the Palisade’s more natural feel.
Given that these SUVs share the same hybridized 2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder and six-speed automatic combination, it is no surprise that they behave similarly in everyday driving. Around town and during freeway merges, both feel responsive off the line, with sufficient torque to handle inclines and acceleration without
