Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: which one fits you?
The short answer
Pick the Telluride if you want more cargo room and more ground clearance; pick the Palisade if you want better fuel economy. The Kia Telluride starts lower, at $39,190 against $39,435, before destination. Behind the back seats it's 49 cubic feet in the Telluride and 46.3 in the Palisade.
Our read: Pick the Telluride if you want more cargo room and more ground clearance; pick the Palisade if you want better fuel economy.
| What you get | Kia Telluride Public record | Hyundai Palisade Public record |
|---|---|---|
| Price range (MSRP) | $39,190–$57,590 | $39,435–$58,780 |
| Cargo, seats up / down | 49 / 89 cu ft | 46.3 / 86.7 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 7.4–9.1 in | 7.4–8.4 in |
| All-wheel / four-wheel drive | Optional: AWD | Optional: AWD (HTRAC All-Wheel Drive with Tow Mode) |
| EPA combined fuel economy | 20–22 mpg | 19–34 mpg |
| What owners report (My MPG) | Too few owner reports yet | Too few owner reports yet |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| NHTSA recalls, 2024–26 models | 7 campaigns | 9 campaigns |
Which one fits more of your stuff
With the back seats up, the Kia Telluride gives you 49 cubic feet against 46.3 in the Hyundai Palisade, about 6% more for groceries, strollers and suitcases.
Fold the seats and the Kia Telluride holds 89 cubic feet to the Hyundai Palisade's 86.7.
Behind the third row of the Kia Telluride there are 22 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
Behind the third row of the Hyundai Palisade there are 19.1 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
What the all-wheel drive actually does
The Kia Telluride comes with all-wheel drive, as an option. Front-wheel drive is standard, AWD is optional on gas and hybrid models, and the X-Pro gets standard AWD with an electronic limited-slip differential and a 50/50 center lock.
The Hyundai Palisade comes with all-wheel drive, which Hyundai calls HTRAC All-Wheel Drive with Tow Mode, as an option. Front-wheel drive is standard and HTRAC AWD is available across the range. AWD is standard on the off-road XRT PRO.
How each handles rough roads and deep snow
The Kia Telluride sits higher: 7.4–9.1 in of ground clearance against 7.4–8.4 in for the Hyundai Palisade. That extra height helps on rutted dirt roads, deep snow and steep driveways.
Kia Telluride: KBB lists 7.4 in minimum; the X-Pro has 9.1 in.
Hyundai Palisade: 7.4 in on all trims except XRT PRO, which has 8.4 in.
Engines, hybrids and what they change
The Kia Telluride comes with 2.5L turbo 4-cyl, 274 hp, 8-speed automatic; 2.5L turbo 4-cyl hybrid, 329 hp combined, 6-speed automatic. The Hyundai Palisade comes with 3.5L V6, 287 hp, 8-speed automatic; 2.5L turbo 4-cyl hybrid, 329 hp combined.
Both offer a hybrid, so you can get the better fuel economy either way; compare the hybrid trims' prices against the gas ones you'd otherwise buy.
Fuel: the EPA number and what owners really get
On the EPA's combined rating the Kia Telluride gets 20–22 mpg and the Hyundai Palisade gets 19–34 mpg, depending on engine and drivetrain. The higher end of each range is usually the hybrid or front-drive version.
What each one costs before you negotiate
By the window sticker, the Kia Telluride runs $39,190–$57,590 and the Hyundai Palisade runs $39,435–$58,780, before the destination charge.
Reliability: what we can and can't tell you
We couldn't find a free, independent reliability signal for either the Kia Telluride or the Hyundai Palisade that we could verify, so we won't guess one: any reliability estimate here would be ours, not a measurement.
Recalls are facts, not scores: NHTSA lists 7 campaigns for the Kia Telluride and 9 campaigns for the Hyundai Palisade for the last three model years. Recall repairs are free; check a car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What to know before you test-drive
Kia Telluride: It replaces the V6 with a 2.5T and adds a hybrid. Seats 8, or 7 with captain's chairs; per Capital One the hybrid seats 7 only.
Hyundai Palisade: The 2026 is an all-new second generation. It adds the first Palisade Hybrid (Hyundai estimates 34 mpg combined), an XRT PRO off-road trim and power-sliding/reclining third-row seats.
Questions people ask
Is the Telluride or the Palisade bigger inside?
With the back seats up, the Kia Telluride gives you 49 cubic feet against 46.3 in the Hyundai Palisade, about 6% more for groceries, strollers and suitcases. Fold the seats and the Kia Telluride holds 89 cubic feet to the Hyundai Palisade's 86.7. Behind the third row of the Kia Telluride there are 22 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full. Behind the third row of the Hyundai Palisade there are 19.1 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
Does the Telluride or the Palisade have better all-wheel drive?
The Kia Telluride comes with all-wheel drive, as an option. Front-wheel drive is standard, AWD is optional on gas and hybrid models, and the X-Pro gets standard AWD with an electronic limited-slip differential and a 50/50 center lock. The Hyundai Palisade comes with all-wheel drive, which Hyundai calls HTRAC All-Wheel Drive with Tow Mode, as an option. Front-wheel drive is standard and HTRAC AWD is available across the range. AWD is standard on the off-road XRT PRO.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Telluride or the Palisade?
On the EPA's combined rating the Kia Telluride gets 20–22 mpg and the Hyundai Palisade gets 19–34 mpg, depending on engine and drivetrain. The higher end of each range is usually the hybrid or front-drive version.
How much more is the Palisade than the Telluride?
By the window sticker, the Kia Telluride runs $39,190–$57,590 and the Hyundai Palisade runs $39,435–$58,780, before the destination charge.
Sources
- EPA fuel economy ratings and owner-reported MPG (fueleconomy.gov), U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- NHTSA recalls database, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Cars.com 2027 Kia Telluride specs (LX FWD); high is Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige AWD from cars.com/research/kia-telluride_hybrid-2027/specs/. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Cars.com 2026 Hyundai Palisade specs (SE FWD); high is Hybrid Calligraphy AWD from cars.com/research/hyundai-palisade_hybrid-2026/specs/. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Kelley Blue Book 2026 Hyundai Palisade review. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Kelley Blue Book 2027 Kia Telluride review. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Kelley Blue Book 2026 Hyundai Palisade specs. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Hyundai Newsroom: 2026 Palisade XRT PRO (5,000 lb gas, 4,000 lb hybrid). Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- The Truth About Cars: 2027 Kia Telluride. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
Labels tell you how much to lean on a figure: Public record comes from a government or manufacturer source, Estimate is worked out and can move, Keel data is aggregated from many listings, and Dealer says is a dealer's own claim.