Kia Telluride vs. Hyundai Palisade: Which SUV Is Right For Your Family?

Curious about if the Telluride or Palisade is better for your family? Let’s break down every feature to help you decide!

If you’re in the market for an affordable mid-size SUV, you’ve likely come across two popular contenders: the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade. These vehicles are often compared to each other because they share the same platform, have similar powertrains, and feature many of the same amenities. While they may seem alike on the surface, I think they are two completely different family cars. 

So without any further introduction, let’s break down the key differences between the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade to help decide which car will match up the best to your family’s needs.

A Quick Note on the Redesigns

Both vehicles have been completely redesigned, and it changes the conversation in some meaningful ways. Kelly's take after touring both: they're more like fraternal twins now. Same DNA, same car seat setup, same family-friendly space — they just look and feel a little different. More on that in the redesign section below.

The original comparison below is still valuable as these outgoing models are still widely available, and a lot of the core information holds true. But if you're shopping new for 2026 or 2027, scroll down to the redesign section first.

Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: The Previous Models (Prior to 2026)

Exterior Design

Both SUVs have their own distinct look, and this one comes down to personal taste.

Hyundai Palisade: The Palisade received a minor facelift that kept its design fresh. The bold chrome grille, boxier headlights on higher trims, and 20-inch upgraded wheels give it a more polished, almost luxurious appearance. The hunter green colorway with silver accents is stunning. Hyundai knows how to do exterior color.

Kia Telluride: Personally, I prefer the Telluride's exterior. The 2023 redesign gave it a rugged, adventurous look. It's giving .a little bit 4Runner energy. The back end is sleek and understated. If you want something that feels more off-road-ready and cool, the Telluride delivers.

Pricing

• 2024 Kia Telluride LX: $37,355
• 2024 Hyundai Palisade SE: $38,045

The Telluride starts about $3,000 cheaper, which matters at the entry level. At the top, the gap narrows to less than $500.

Fuel Economy

Both are close:

• Palisade FWD: 19 city / 26 hwy | AWD: 19 city / 24 hwy
• Telluride FWD: 20 city / 26 hwy | AWD: 18 city / 24 hwy

Not a deciding factor because they're essentially identical.

Car Seat Setup (Outgoing Models)

In both SUVs, the second row has lower anchors on the outboard seats and tether anchors across the back. The third row has a single lower anchor on the right outboard seat and tether anchors across the back. The bench seat comes standard on the lowest trim — but only the Telluride allows you to keep the bench on higher trims (LX and EX).

Third Row — Telluride Wins: The Palisade's third-row middle seat is incredibly small. I'm talking American Girl doll territory and not a functional car seat position. The lower anchors back there were placed to check a box, not to actually be used. The Telluride's third row isn't winning any awards either, but it offers more space and functionality.

Third Row Access: Neither SUV has a car seat tilt feature on the outgoing models, which is a real limitation if you need to get to the third row with a car seat installed in row two. The Palisade uses a tilt-and-slide mechanism which is easy to use without a car seat, but not car-seat-friendly. The Telluride uses high/low buttons to slide the second row forward — I like this for littles, but it's still not ideal.

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Amenities Worth Noting

Palisade highlights:

• Blind spot camera that shows real-time footage on the dashboard
• Seatbelt sensors built into the dashboard
• Sunshades and two cupholders per door in the second row
• USB-C chargers throughout
• Massage seats in the first row (highest trim)

Telluride highlights:

• Curved infotainment display
• Surround-view monitoring
• Heads-up display
• Full display mirror / rear camera
• Heated and ventilated second-row seats (higher trims)

Trunk Space

Neither is winning any awards with the third row up. Both can fit a stroller, but you're not hauling Costco alongside it. Fine for daily life, but not exceptional.

Which Should You Choose (Outgoing)?

If I had two kids, I'd choose the Palisade — the amenities, smooth ride, and design details are hard to beat for the price. But if you have three or more kids or need more third-row practicality, the Telluride makes more sense. Test drive both! They feel meaningfully different despite sharing a platform.

2026 Palisade & 2027 Telluride: Kelly's Honest Take on the Redesigns

Both vehicles have been completely overhauled. Here's what I found after touring each.

2026 Hyundai Palisade Redesign

Trim reviewed: Calligraphy (top trim) — MSRP $58,000

Important news before we start: A hybrid Palisade is coming, and it's going to be a game-changer. Allegedly over 30 mpg combined with over 300 horsepower — nothing else in this segment comes close to that combination. If you're not in a rush, it might be worth waiting for.

Exterior

The new grille has a futuristic, angular look — similar to the direction Hyundai took with the Santa Fe. I think it looks sharp. We've all developed more of an appetite for this style, and Hyundai is wearing it well.

Interior — Mixed Feelings

I want to be honest here: I loved the outgoing Palisade's interior, and this redesign is a step back in some ways. They went significantly more minimalistic, and I'm missing some of the beautiful design details that made the old one feel special.

What I'm disappointed about:

• The center console bridge area is gone. This was one of my favorite features of the outgoing model — an open storage area between the front seats where you could toss a lip gloss, your keys, your phone. Now there's a small ledge that doesn't really work, a tiny center console, and you're fighting cup holders for your everyday items. This is genuinely a meaningful loss.
• The door panels feel basic — even on the Calligraphy trim. No wood trim, no contrast materials, no texture variety. It's padded leather, and that's it. I expected more for $58,000.
• The shifter moved to the steering column, and I keep bumping my knee on it. I also don't love having to reach inside or underneath it to operate.
• The screen feels smaller than it looks — it's recessed and angled toward the driver, which makes it feel less accessible for passengers.
• Relaxation mode in the second row — I need to talk about this. Hyundai is selling this as a luxury feature, but you cannot drive safely in relaxation mode. It's written right in the owner's manual. When you're reclined that far, the seatbelt cannot do its job in a crash. Families are going to use this while driving because nobody reads the manual, and that is a real safety concern. Everything power in the second row is, in my opinion, a miss for a family car.

What I do like:

• Built-in dash cam — this is genuinely cool and something I hope more manufacturers add.
• The volume knob and physical climate buttons look great — smooth silver finish, easy to use.
• Wireless charging works well, and USB-C ports on the backs of the front seats keep the second row clean.
• Napa leather seats on the Calligraphy.
• Sunroof in all three rows (no panoramic, but everyone still gets light and ventilation).

Car Seat Improvements — This Is the Good Part

Hyundai made real upgrades here and I want to give them credit:

• Now 4 sets of lower anchors (was 3) and 5 tether anchors (was 4)
• Added car seat tilt — you can now access the third row with a car seat installed. However, it's power-operated and slow. I prefer a manual tilt. And with captain's chairs you can often walk around anyway, so it's most useful when the bench is available.
• Lower anchors are beautifully exposed — easy to find, easy to use. No digging through padding.
• Third row: Added lower anchors in both outboard positions and a tether anchor — a significant improvement.
• Second and third row on tracks — you can slide seats to redistribute legroom for different passengers. Rare and genuinely useful.
• Third row heated seats, ceiling vents, and charging — the second and third rows feel like real seats, not afterthoughts.
• Pedestrian door warning indicator on the door panel tells you if a car is approaching before you open the door. Love this.

Still the Same Issues

• The third-row middle seat is still only big enough for a small child. This is not a 7-passenger car. Do not buy this expecting to seat seven people.
• Skip the bench — seatbelt overlap makes three-across very difficult.
• Power second-row features complicate car seat installs and give kids things to accidentally hit.

Kelly's Bottom Line on the 2026 Palisade

Despite my interior complaints, this is still one of my most recommended family cars — because the car seat improvements, legroom, and second/third-row amenities are genuinely hard to match. If you have older kids especially, the Palisade offers features most competitors don't. I just wish they'd kept the storage and the beautiful design details from the outgoing model.

2027 Kia Telluride Redesign

Note: Kia skipped the 2026 model year entirely and went straight to a full redesign for 2027.

Trim reviewed: S (mid-level) — MSRP $45,000. Available up to ~$60,000.

Exterior

The redesign gives the Telluride a look very similar to the EV9 — boxy, angular, sporty. The Kia lineup is getting more cohesive, and I think it looks good. From the side, it genuinely looks like a luxury vehicle. You could easily mistake it for a Range Rover from certain angles. The flush door handles that pop out when the car unlocks are a nice detail.

My only real complaint: the back end is flat and underwhelming. It's giving new Santa Fe — which makes sense, same company — but it's the weakest angle of the car. The front and sides are sharp; the rear needs something more. I've seen it in multiple colors, and white is the move — the contrast reads really well.

Interior — Better Than the Palisade's Redesign

I'll say it: I prefer the 2027 Telluride's interior over the new Palisade's. It's still more minimalistic than I expected, but it doesn't have the same hollow feeling.

What I like:

• Big, beautiful screen — I love that it integrates into the dash. I'd prefer it slightly more curved, but overall it's impressive.
• Physical buttons are back — a serious volume scroll knob, quick-access buttons, physical climate controls. This is giving Toyota energy and I genuinely appreciate it. Quick, easy, user-friendly.
• Charging setup is excellent — USB-A, three USB-Cs (one clearly labeled for CarPlay), and two wireless chargers with an indicator light that tells you it's actually charging. No more guessing when your phone slips off.
• Small storage cubby under the console for keys and daily items — I appreciate this.
• Comfortable, tall seating position with a cockpit feel. Good headroom.
• I like it here more than the outgoing model from a functionality standpoint.

What I'm less sure about:

• The gear selector placement — I keep bumping my knee on it. Same complaint as the Palisade. Is this just where gear selectors live now?
• Still more minimalistic in materials than I expected. I'm not ready to call it a downgrade, but I'm missing some of those elevated texture details from the outgoing model.
• The rear windshield is small — once you have third-row passengers, visibility gets tight. I'd consider a trim with the rear camera display for this reason.

Car Seat Improvements — Major Wins

The 2027 Telluride made some genuinely exciting upgrades for families:

Added car seat tilt. This was not available on the outgoing model and it changes everything. You can now access the third row with a car seat installed. I tested it with the Nuna Ace booster and with a forward-facing seat on LATCH — installation wasn't affected, and third-row access worked smoothly on both sides. This is the biggest improvement Kia made.

Fixed the seatbelts. On the outgoing Telluride, seatbelts on the captain's chairs were recessed into the seats — kids and boosters had to dig their hand down to buckle. They're now positioned on the sides. The angle isn't perfect, but it is meaningfully better, especially for kids buckling themselves.

Third-row LATCH upgraded significantly:

• Both outboard seats now have lower anchors (was only one outboard position before)
• Three tether anchors instead of two
• This gives families far more versatility for who can sit where as kids grow

Second row highlights:

• Seats on tracks — adjustable legroom distribution
• Ceiling vents, climate control, USBC on backs of both seats
• Wide doors that open nearly flat — really nice for loading kids and car seats
• Fits a Chicco KeyFit Max infant seat comfortably with the driver's seat set for a 6-foot driver

Skip the bench. I haven't seen the bench on the 2027 yet, but I have very low expectations. The seatbelt overlap issue isn't fully resolved, and three-across is still unlikely to be realistic. Captain's chairs are the right call in this car.

Third Row

Stadium-style seating means your knees sit higher than in the outgoing model. It's a tradeoff and more of a "knees up" position by default, though the seats are adjustable. Pair that with lower anchors in both outboard seats and three tethers, and this is now a meaningfully more versatile back row than before. Amenities are good — ceiling vents, charging on both sides, two cupholders per side.

Trunk: Fits a full-size UPPAbaby Vista with the third row up. For the size of the car, that's impressive.

Kelly's Bottom Line on the 2027 Telluride

I'm genuinely excited about this redesign. The car seat tilt, the seatbelt fix, and the expanded LATCH anchors in the third row make this a much more versatile family car than the outgoing model. The interior is more functional than before even if it's missing some luxury warmth. At $45,000 for a mid-level trim, the value is hard to argue with.

So Which Should You Buy?

Here's how I'd break it down in 2026:

Choose the 2027 Kia Telluride if:

• You want a more aggressive, sporty exterior
• Budget is a consideration — starting price is lower across all trims
• You want the car seat tilt and improved third-row LATCH without paying for the top trim
• You prefer physical buttons and a more intuitive front-row experience
• You have younger kids who will be in and out of the third row regularly

Choose the 2026 Hyundai Palisade if:

• Luxury second and third-row amenities are a priority — heated third-row seats, premium finishes
• You have older kids and want a car that grows with them comfortably
• You're interested in waiting for the hybrid version (30+ mpg with 300+ hp — a genuine game changer)
• You value the exposed, easy-to-use LATCH anchors and the expanded hardware throughout
• You want a car that impresses adult passengers in every row

The honest truth: After both redesigns, these cars are more similar than ever in terms of what matters most — car seat setup, space, and family functionality. The biggest remaining differences are price, exterior styling, and the Palisade's upcoming hybrid option. Test drive both. You'll feel the difference immediately, and one of them will just fit your life better.

Still undecided? The Nissan Pathfinder is worth a look as a strong third option in this category.

Kia Telluride vs. Hyundai Palisade: Which is the "Winner"?

If I had just two kids, I’d 100% use the Hyundai Palisade as my family car. While the third row isn’t perfect, and I wish it had a more car seat-friendly tilt, the Palisade offers a smooth, safe ride with plenty of amenities that make it a strong contender.

That said, the Kia Telluride is also a great choice. It’s rugged, stylish, and offers many of the same features as the Palisade. Ultimately, these two vehicles are so different that comparing them feels almost unfair. My best advice? Test drive both. That’s the only way to truly see which one suits your lifestyle better.

And if neither of these SUVs feels quite right, you might want to check out the Nissan Pathfinder. It’s a strong competitor that combines some of the best features of both the Telluride and the Palisade. Lizz swears by it for her family and it could be worth considering if you’re still undecided.