We’ll compare the hybrid versions of the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade to understand how these two closely related SUVs differ in everyday driving.
Miguel CortinaWriterWilliam WalkerPhotographerApr 06, 2026
The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are siblings in all but name. These three-row SUVs share their architecture, powertrain, wheelbase, and technology, with dimensions that are almost identical. The real difference lies in their personalities. The Telluride leans toward a rugged, upscale adventurer, while the Palisade leans into a softer, more indulgent vibe.
Both models are entering their second generation after overperforming from the start. The Telluride made an immediate impact, taking home the 2020 MotorTrend SUV of the Year award in its debut year. The Palisade has never been far behind, consistently ranking among our favorites; we even named it the best three-row SUV you could buy following its midcycle update.
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To compare the two, we headed to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. Known for its constant land movement, the area offers a bit of everything: winding roads, city streets, highway stretches, and even rough pavement shaped by landslides and minor earthquakes. Along the way, we evaluated their space across all three rows, ease of access to that third row, and how their infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems stack up.
Spoiler alert: This was a razor-close comparison. Both Kia and Hyundai have delivered standout models, and you can’t really go wrong with either. But we don’t do ties here at MotorTrend. After a thorough evaluation, one ultimately pulled ahead. And as you might expect, it wasn’t an easy decision.
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But First, Some Context
For this comparison, we lined up the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy AWD against the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD. Both are at the top of their respective lineups and are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors that together produce 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission routes the power to all four wheels.
The Palisade is priced at $60,625; the Kia undercuts it slightly at $60,210. Neither is exactly affordable, but in today’s market, a $60,000 three-row hybrid SUV is something to consider. One important difference: The Telluride is built in West Point, Georgia, while the Palisade is imported from Ulsan, South Korea.
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Front Row Revelations
They’re similar in many ways, but once you’re inside their cabins, you’ll notice significant differences, especially in the front row. The Kia leans into a midcentury modern aesthetic that feels both minimal and elegant. Material quality is excellent throughout; the leather is supple, the Alcantara headliner wouldn’t feel out of place in a Bentley, and the wood-look trim across the dashboard and center console come across as genuinely premium.
One downside to the Telluride’s interior is its lack of physical controls. The center console features only four buttons for the climate system, with the rest of the HVAC functions housed on a panel between the driver’s instrument panel display and the infotainment screen. That placement makes them awkward to use, as it’s partially blocked by the steering wheel from the driver’s perspective and requires a stretch from the passenger seat. It’s a clever use of otherwise dead space but not the most practical solution.
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The Palisade, on the other hand, feels more welcoming inside. Features editor Christian Seabaugh described the cabin as “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’s not wrong. It’s less minimalist than the Telluride and approaches luxury in a warmer, more contemporary way.
Part of what makes the Palisade’s interior feel more welcoming is its control layout. All the HVAC functions are grouped in one place and are easily accessible to both the driver and front passenger. The capacitive touch controls can feel a bit crowded, but we still prefer this setup over the Kia’s approach. The Palisade also benefits from both volume and tuning knobs, while the Telluride only offers the former.
Both interiors provide three conveniently placed USB-C ports, but the Telluride adds a second wireless charging pad to the Palisade’s single one. The Hyundai counters with a neat trick: a UV-C sterilization compartment in the center console that can sanitize your phone, keys, or wallet in about 10 minutes, something the Kia doesn’t offer.
What to Know About the Rear Seats
Both of our Korean hybrid test vehicles came equipped with second-row captain’s chairs, meaning they seat seven passengers in total. Comfort is excellent in either SUV, and both offer thoughtfully placed USB ports on the backs of the front seats for easy access. Panoramic sunroofs in both models also help brighten the cabin and enhance the sense of openness.
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Accessing the third row is relatively easy in both the Telluride and Palisade, thanks to second-row seats that slide forward at the push of a button. The opening between the C-pillar and the seat is wide enough for most adults to squeeze through, and once back there, legroom is respectable. The Palisade, however, has a clear advantage because its third row can recline and slide fore and aft. That flexibility can eat into cargo space, but it offers a noticeable difference in comfort, especially for adults on longer trips when the cargo area isn’t fully utilized.
The Palisade is also the only one with a power-folding third row, which comes in handy when you’re raising or lowering the seats with your hands full. In the Telluride, a strap releases the latch to fold the seat, and you must use that same strap to pull it back up until it locks into place. It’s not difficult, but we’d prefer to press a button and let the SUV do the work. One major caveat to that convenience: The power seats are the subject of a stop-sale and recall spurred by 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
Look closely at their infotainment systems, and you’d be hard-pressed to spot any meaningful differences. Both SUVs share essentially the same technology, with a few unique features to set them apart. The Kia offers built-in streaming apps like YouTube, Disney+, and even live TV on its main screen, while the Palisade counters with an integrated front and rear dashcam.
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Both SUVs feature a dual 12.3-inch display setup, with one screen dedicated to the driver and the other for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with built-in navigation and a head-up display. They also offer seven USB-C ports spread across all three rows, massaging front seats, and a digital key.
While the Telluride has a slight edge on the technology front, thanks largely to its ability to stream video on the infotainment screen when parked, some buyers may find the Palisade’s built-in dashcam more useful and a better value, as Kia’s data subscription service costs around $40 per month. In the end, both infotainment systems are fundamentally similar, and the choice comes down to what you value more.
Telluride and Palisade Safety Features
Hyundai and Kia have made significant strides in advanced driver assistance systems. In both SUVs, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist worked 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 safety technologies, their behavior on the road is virtually identical. Throughout our drive loops, we didn’t notice any meaningful differences in how the systems performed, but we did appreciate their smooth execution and how easy it is to engage both adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.
Impressive Hybrid Fuel Economy
Despite using the same powertrain, the Telluride is slightly more efficient than the Palisade. The Kia is rated at 30/32/31 mpg city/highway/combined, compared to the Palisade’s 29/30/29 mpg. The difference is almost certainly due to wheel size, as the Palisade rides on 21-inch wheels while the Telluride uses 20s.
How Each Model Rides and Handles
One area where the Kia and Hyundai begin to diverge (beyond styling) is how they drive. Each brand has its own engineering team, and they have tuned these SUVs in slightly different ways to help give them distinct personalities.
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We found the Palisade rides slightly better than the Telluride, showing more composure over broken pavement. The difference was most noticeable on the rough, undulating roads around Portuguese Bend in Palos Verdes. Where the Palisade glides with ease, the Telluride lets more of the Bend’s whoops and dips make their way into the cabin.
The Telluride’s steering also requires slightly more effort off-center. As Seabaugh noted, it “lacked the smooth, confidence-inspiring torque buildup.” It’s still perfectly competent for the class, but when driven back to back, we preferred the Palisade’s more natural feel.
