Assume you have considered Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride For the next 3-row SUV. In that case, you probably know that both models are almost identical under metal. Rather, they were until recently. Redesigned in 2026 with a new style, new engine and upgraded technology features, the second-generation Palisade is improving the already impressive model that has been consistently finished near the top of Edmunds’ annual SUV rankings.
For now, Kia has set up a Pat with Telluride. A redesign has come, but so far, Kia has not released any official details or timetables. If you’re thinking about buying a new three-row SUV, do you have a new Palisade, a current Telluride, or even a wait? Edmunds’ car experts compared and looked into these two family-friendly SUVs.
Price and value
Let’s start with the obvious. The 2026 Palace starts at $41,035 including destination fees, while the 2025 Telluride starts at $37,885. Both SUVs come with standard 8-seater seats, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Smartphone Integration, Adaptive Cruise Control and Vlind Spot Warning. Telluride also offers standard synthetic leather upholstery. This gives a more premium feel than the standard Palisade seating.
While the drop in Telluride’s starting price is convincing, Palisade offers several extras to justify the higher prices. These include wireless connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (no need to use a USB cord), front and rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic braking.
It’s a similar story at the top of the range. The stacked Telluride SX-Prestige costs $52,885, while the Palisade Calligraphy costs $56,160. You’re paying more for that Palisade, but you’ll get some extras, such as massage driver seats and front and rear dash cams, which you can use to record and review videos.
Winner: Tie
Engine and MPG
There are two new engines for the 2026 Palisade change. The 287 horsepower V6 is the standard and goes up to 21 mpg, estimated by Hyundai for combined urban/highway driving. A 258 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid will also be participating in the lineup. Fuel economy estimates were not available when the article was published, but I think the Palisade Hybrid will be in the mid-30s from low MPG.
However, the new base V6 is one step further backwards. It makes almost the same power as the larger V6 it replaces, but it also contends with what it has to be heavier be. Hyundai’s 400 pound extra pound appeared in Edmunds’ tests, taking 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. This is more than a second slower than before, making the Palisade one of the slowest three rows of SUVs today.
Telluride has a 291 horsepower V6 with a maximum of 22 mpg combination. This helps you reach 60 mph in 7.5 seconds in Edmunds’ test. This is roughly average compared to rivals. The next generation of Telluride is hoping to adopt Palisade’s new powertrain. Still, for now it depends on whether the Telluride V6 needs great acceleration or the more modest MPG potential of the Palisade Hybrid.
Winner: Tie
Comfort and cargo space
The Palisade is extremely quiet and comfortable, glides easily across rough road surfaces without interfering with the cabin. The driver is well visible, with both rear rows having a vast expanse of headroom and legroom. Telluride is equally stiff and allows for bad paths, but the seating and calmness in the new palace is just a bit. This assessment is not a Telluride charge more than evidence of Palisade upgrade.
Both SUVs can carry large amounts of cargo and can work well in a variety of situations. They either take it home from a big shop or load it up for a family road trip. The Palisade can hold 19.1 cubic feet of cargo on the back of the third row or 46.3 cubes when folded. Fold both the second and third rows to use 86.7 cubic feet. Telluride has a slight amount of space in its spec sheet, but it’s not enough to make a meaningful difference to actual use.
Winner: Palisade
Edmunds says
The new second generation palace polishes what was already a class-leading SUV. Freshness is an advantage, but future redesigns of Telluride will need to be redesigned evenly by its opponents.
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This story was provided Associated Press By the car website Edmunds.
Dan Julio is a contributor to Edmunds.
