If you’re weighing your options between the Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride for a spacious three-row SUV, you’re likely aware that these two vehicles are much alike. That said, recent updates have introduced some differences. The Palisade has received a refresh for 2026 with revamped styling, engines, and technology, enhancing a model that already ranks highly on Edmunds’ annual SUV list.
Kia, in contrast, hasn’t yet updated the Telluride, although a new version is anticipated soon without any specific details or schedule released. So, if you’re deciding whether to purchase your family’s next SUV now or later, the choice between the newly updated Palisade, the existing Telluride, or waiting for something fresh can be a puzzle. Experts from Edmunds have compared these two highly rated SUVs to guide you.
Price and value
Starting with price, the 2026 Palisade is priced from $41,035 with the destination fee. On the other hand, the 2025 Telluride starts at $37,885. Each comes with similar features—standard seating for eight, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise, and blind-spot monitoring. However, the Telluride includes standard synthetic leather seats, offering a more refined vibe compared to the Palisade’s standard fabric upholstery.
The Telluride’s lower base price is attractive, yet the Palisade justifies its premium with additional features like wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with front and rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic braking.
This pattern continues at the higher end. The Telluride SX-Prestige reaches $52,885, whereas the Palisade Calligraphy is priced at $56,160. Although more expensive, the Palisade presents added benefits not found in the Telluride, including a massaging driver’s seat and dual dashcams for recording and reviewing live footage.
Winner: tie
Engines and mpg
Among the updates in the 2026 Palisade are two new engines: a standard V6 producing 287 horsepower with an estimated 21 mpg in city/highway driving, and a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid making 258 horsepower. While specific fuel economy numbers for the hybrid aren’t confirmed, it’s expected to achieve figures in the low to mid-30s.
The new base V6 is a step backward, however. It makes roughly the same power as the larger V6 it replaces, but it also contends with a heavier Palisade. The Hyundai’s extra 400 pounds showed up in Edmunds’ testing, where it took 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. That’s more than 1 second slower than before and makes the Palisade one of today’s slowest three-row SUVs.
The Telluride has a 291-horsepower V6 that gets up to 22 mpg combined. That helps it reach 60 mph in 7.5 seconds in Edmunds’ testing, which is about average compared to its rivals. We expect the next-gen Telluride to adopt the new powertrains in the Palisade. Still, for now, it comes down to whether you want the superior acceleration of the Telluride’s V6 or the more frugal mpg potential of the Palisade Hybrid.
Winner: tie
Comfort and cargo space
The Palisade is supremely quiet and comfortable, easily gliding over rough road surfaces without disturbing the cabin. There’s ample visibility for the driver, and both rear rows offer vast expanses of headroom and legroom. The Telluride is equally cushy and forgiving of bad roads, but the new Palisade’s seats and composure are just a bitbetter. This assessment is less an indictment of the Telluride than a testament to the Palisade’s upgrades.
Both SUVs can haul a large amount of cargo and work well for a variety of situations, whether it be bringing home a haul from a big-box store or loading up luggage for a family road trip. The Palisade can hold 19.1 cubic feet of cargo behind its third row or 46.3 cubes if you fold down the third row. Fold down both the second and third rows and you’ll have 86.7 cubic feet to work with. The Telluride has slightly more space on the spec sheet but not enough to make a meaningful difference in real-world use.
Winner: Palisade
Edmunds says
The new second-gen Palisade polishes what was already a class-leading SUV. Freshness is an advantage, but Telluride’s forthcoming redesign should put it back on even footing with its counterpart.
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This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.
Dan Frio is a contributor at Edmunds.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
