The 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Hyundai Palisade have both been fully redesigned, and while they still share a platform under the Hyundai Motor Co. umbrella, these two three-row SUVs now have real differences worth paying attention to. If you’re shopping for a new family hauler and can’t decide between these two popular nameplates, you’re not alone. The choice used to be mostly about styling preference, but this generation adds a few wrinkles that make the decision a little trickier.
- Both SUVs now offer a shared hybrid powertrain, while the Palisade gets a new V6 and the Telluride switches to a turbocharged four-cylinder for its gas-only option.
- Max towing capacity sits at 5,000 pounds for both gas models, but the hybrids differ, with the Telluride hybrid rated higher.
- The gas Palisade starts at $41,035 including destination, while Telluride pricing starts at $40,735 for the basic LX trim.
What Powers Each SUV
This is where the biggest split between these two siblings shows up. The 2026 Palisade uses a new naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 producing 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All of that runs through an eight-speed automatic transmission with your choice of front- or all-wheel drive.
The 2027 Telluride ditches the old V6 entirely in favor of a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. That’s less horsepower than the Palisade’s V6, but a good chunk more torque, which should translate to punchier acceleration in everyday driving. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic and comes in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations.
The shared hybrid setup pairs a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and two electric motors, producing a total system output of 329 horsepower. Kia estimates the Telluride Hybrid will do as well as 35 mpg combined, which is in line with the Palisade Hybrid’s ratings.
Telluride vs. Palisade: Towing, Trims, and Off-Road Chops
Max towing is 5,000 pounds for both gas models. The Telluride Hybrid is rated to pull 4,500 pounds, while the Palisade Hybrid has a 4,000-pound limit. That 500-pound difference might matter if you’re towing a small boat or camper with the hybrid, and it gives the Kia a clear edge here.
Hyundai sells the 2026 Palisade in seven gas trims and six hybrid trims. The 2027 Telluride will be available in 10 gas and five hybrid trims. That’s a lot of choices on both sides. Whether you’re eyeing something brand new or browsing used cars to trade in for one of these, the trim variety should make it easy to find a price point that works.
Both brands now offer adventure-oriented variants. Kia’s X-Pro gets 9.1 inches of ground clearance, wider off-road-ready tires, black body cladding, a special Terrain mode, and recovery hooks in the front and rear. The Palisade XRT Pro has slightly less ground clearance at 8.4 inches. Neither model includes skid plates, so these trims are better suited for dirt roads and snow than serious rock crawling.
Interior Tech and Safety Features
Both interiors look and feel modern, and the styling differs a lot even if the features don’t. The Telluride comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 19 driver assistance systems. The Palisade gets a similar 12.3-inch curved display setup with comparable connectivity.
Both SUVs offer the same standard driver assists, including blind-spot warning, forward collision warning and avoidance, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and front and rear parking sensors. More advanced versions of Highway Driving Assist and forward collision avoidance are available on both, along with blind-spot cameras and surround-view camera systems.
Acoustic first-row side glass is standard on the Palisade, with acoustic rear side glass available on higher trims. The Telluride offers sound-absorbing first-row side glass on higher trims and doesn’t offer it for the second row. If cabin quiet matters to you, the Palisade has a slight advantage there.
The clearest split between these two shows up at the top of each lineup. Hyundai’s top trim is called Calligraphy and leans into luxury. Meanwhile, the Telluride’s X-Pro is designed for rugged adventures. One goes plush, the other goes tough.
Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade? Picking the Right Three-Row for Your Family
If you want a smoother, quieter ride and a traditional V6 under the hood, the 2026 Palisade is the pick. Its Calligraphy trim genuinely punches above its price class for interior quality. If you’d rather have the snappier turbo-four, better hybrid towing capacity, and a more rugged top trim, the 2027 Telluride is your SUV.
In practice, pricing between the two brands is extremely close across the lineup. The good news? You honestly can’t go wrong with either one. These two are among the best three-row SUVs you can buy today, and the fact that they push each other to be better means buyers win regardless of which badge they choose.
