Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: Which 3-Row Fits Your Family?
Last updated Oct 28, 2026
Specs note: I checked every figure on kia.com, hyundaiusa.com and fueleconomy.gov on Oct 28, 2026. Specs vary by trim. Confirm on the window sticker.
Quick answer: The 2027 Telluride and 2027 Palisade share the same length on most trims and the same wheelbase, and both gas versions tow 5,000 lb. The Telluride has more cargo behind the 3rd row (22.3 vs 19.1 cu ft) and a turbo four instead of a V6. Its Hybrid tows more, too: 4,500 vs 4,000 lb.
Sources: kia.com and hyundaiusa.com spec pages, checked Oct 28, 2026.
These two get compared a lot, and for good reason. They come from sister companies, they’re nearly the same size, and their hybrids share a powertrain. So the honest answer comes down to a few real differences.
Hey, I’m Rick G. at Overturf KIA in Pasco. I sell Kias, so I’ll be upfront about that. Every number below comes from Kia’s and Hyundai’s own spec pages or the EPA, with the date I checked. Where the Palisade comes out ahead, I’ll say so. Compare on paper here, then come drive the Telluride.
Quick answer: Telluride or Palisade?
- Same footprint. Both list 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase (the Palisade XRT PRO is 200.4), and both list 32.1 inches of 3rd-row legroom.
- More cargo in the Telluride. 22.3 cu ft behind the 3rd row vs 19.1.
- Different gas engines. The Telluride’s turbo four has more torque. The Palisade’s V6 has a little more horsepower. EPA mileage is a tie.
- Hybrid towing goes to the Telluride. 4,500 lb vs 4,000 lb with trailer brakes.
- Where the Palisade wins. You can get its Hybrid with 8 seats, and the Telluride Hybrid is 7 only. The Palisade also has more 1st-row legroom (44.2 vs 41.4 inches).
Book a Telluride test drive · Bring your trade
Tell me which Telluride trim you want to try. I’ll check what’s on the lot and email you to confirm a time.
Side-by-side specs
Table A: gas, 2027 vs 2027
| 2027 Telluride (gas) | 2027 Palisade (gas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L turbo four | 3.5L V6 |
| Horsepower / torque | 274 hp / 311 lb-ft | 287 hp / 260 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Seats | 7 or 8 (8 on two trims) | 7 or 8, by trim |
| Length / wheelbase | 199.2 / 116.9 in | 199.2 / 116.9 in (XRT PRO 200.4, Calligraphy 199.4) |
| Width | 78.3 in | 78 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.4 in (X-Pro 9.1) | 7.4 in (XRT PRO 8.4) |
| Legroom, 1st / 2nd / 3rd row | 41.4 / 43.0 / 32.1 in | 44.2 / 43.0 / 32.1 in |
| Cargo behind 3rd / 2nd / 1st row | 22.3 / 48.7 / 89.3 cu ft | 19.1 / 46.3 / 86.7 cu ft |
| Towing, properly equipped | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb with trailer brakes (1,650 without) |
| EPA combined, FWD / AWD | 22 / 20 mpg | 22 / 20 mpg |
| EPA combined, off-road trim | 19 mpg (X-Pro) | 19 mpg (XRT PRO) |
| Fuel tank | 19.0 gal | 19 gal |
| Basic / powertrain warranty | 5yr/60k · 10yr/100k | 5yr/60k · 10yr/100k |
Sources: kia.com 2027 Telluride specs; hyundaiusa.com 2027 Palisade page and specs; fueleconomy.gov 2027 Palisade listings (Palisade transmission). All checked Oct 28, 2026. Confirm on the window sticker.
Table B: hybrids
| 2027 Telluride Hybrid | 2027 Palisade Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp / 339 lb-ft, 6-speed automatic | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp / 339 lb-ft, 6-speed automatic |
| Seats | 7 on every trim | 7 or 8, by trim |
| Cargo behind 3rd / 2nd / 1st row | 21.3 / 47.7 / 88.3 cu ft | 19.1 / 46.3 / 86.7 cu ft |
| Towing | 4,500 lb | 4,000 lb with trailer brakes (1,650 without) |
| EPA combined, FWD | 33 mpg (35 on one version) | 34 on two trims, 31 on two others |
| EPA combined, AWD | 31 mpg | 30 mpg |
| Fuel tank | 18.2 gal | 18.2 gal |
| Hybrid battery warranty | 10yr/100k | 10yr/100k |
Sources: kia.com 2027 Telluride Hybrid specs; hyundaiusa.com 2027 Palisade page (hybrid powertrain, seats, cargo, towing); fueleconomy.gov 2027 Palisade Hybrid listings (mpg, 6-speed; tank from EPA range math, 619 mi / 34 mpg = 18.2 gal). All checked Oct 28, 2026.
Engines: turbo four vs V6, and the two hybrids
Gas
The Telluride uses a 2.5L turbo four with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft and an 8-speed automatic. The Palisade uses a 3.5L V6 with 287 hp and 260 lb-ft. So the Palisade has 13 more horsepower, and the Telluride has 51 more lb-ft of torque.
Torque is what gets a loaded SUV moving. Kia lists the Telluride’s peak from 1,700 rpm. Hyundai lists the V6’s at 5,000 rpm. You’ll feel that most merging onto I-182 with a full crew. EPA mileage is a tie, so this one comes down to feel.
Hybrid vs hybrid
Here they’re close cousins. Both list a 2.5L turbo hybrid rated at 329 hp and 339 lb-ft with a 6-speed automatic, and both have an 18.2-gallon tank. The differences are seats, cargo, towing and mileage by trim.
Seats, car seats and the 3rd row
Both offer 7 or 8 seats depending on trim. On the gas Telluride, the LX and EX have the 8-seat bench, and the rest get 2nd-row captain’s chairs. Every Telluride Hybrid seats 7. Hyundai offers 8 seats on some Palisade Hybrid trims, so if you want a hybrid with a bench, that’s a point for the Palisade.
On paper the 3rd rows match, with 32.1 inches of legroom in both. Kia lists 4 total LATCH positions on the Telluride but doesn’t say on kia.com which seats have them, so check the owner’s manual diagram. Bring your car seats when you come drive the Telluride and try them in.
Cargo for Tri-Cities weekends
Behind the 3rd row is where you’ll notice it. Kia lists 22.3 cu ft for the gas Telluride and 21.3 for the Hybrid. Hyundai lists 19.1 for the Palisade. That’s 3.2 more cubic feet in the gas Telluride with every seat up.
Fold the 3rd row and it’s 48.7 vs 46.3. Fold both rows and it’s 89.3 vs 86.7. If you’re packing for a weekend at the lake with a full crew, bring the stroller or the sports bags and see how they fit.
Towing: boats, campers and the hybrid gap
Gas: a tie. Kia lists 5,000 lb for the 2027 gas Telluride. Hyundai lists 5,000 lb with trailer brakes for the gas Palisade, and 1,650 without.
Hybrid: the Telluride is rated higher. The Telluride Hybrid is rated 4,500 lb. Hyundai lists 4,000 lb with trailer brakes for the Palisade Hybrid. If you want a hybrid and you pull a small boat on the Columbia or a camper up to the Blue Mountains, that extra 500 lb gives you more room under the rating.
Either way, read the owner’s manual for the hitch, wiring and trailer brake setup, and check the window sticker.
Book a Telluride test drive · Bring your trade
Tell me what you tow when you book, and I’ll have the Telluride towing specs ready.
Mileage: EPA ratings only
| Telluride | Palisade | |
|---|---|---|
| Gas FWD, combined | 22 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Gas AWD, combined | 20 mpg | 20 mpg |
| Off-road trim (X-Pro / XRT PRO) | 19 mpg | 19 mpg |
| Hybrid FWD, combined | 33 mpg (35 on one version) | 34 (two trims) or 31 (two trims) |
| Hybrid AWD, combined | 31 mpg | 30 mpg |
Sources: fueleconomy.gov 2027 Telluride and 2027 Palisade listings (Oct 28, 2026); hyundaiusa.com for which Palisade Hybrid trims get the 34 mpg rating (Oct 28, 2026).
Gas is a dead heat. With AWD hybrids, the Telluride is rated 1 mpg better. With FWD hybrids, it depends on the trim, and two Palisade trims come out a touch ahead. Your real mileage on Hwy 240 in January will be lower than any sticker, for both.
Winter and gravel: X-Pro vs XRT PRO
Both brands offer a rugged trim. The Telluride X-Pro comes with AWD standard and gets 9.1 inches of ground clearance, 18-inch all-terrain tires and an electronic limited-slip differential. The Palisade XRT PRO gets 8.4 inches, all-terrain tires and an electronic rear limited-slip differential.
For Columbia Basin winters, tires matter more than either badge. AWD helps you get going. Good winter tires help you stop and turn.
Warranty: proof, not trash talk
The headline terms match. Kia and Hyundai both list 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage, and both list 10-year/100,000-mile coverage on the hybrid battery. Neither wins on the headline, so read the booklets, not the ads.
Shopping used? A Kia Certified Pre-Owned buyer gets the remainder of the original factory warranty, not a fresh 10 years. My Kia CPO guide walks through it.
How to compare: on paper first, then drive the Telluride
- 3rd row. Compare the legroom here (32.1 vs 32.1), then sit in the Telluride’s 3rd row yourself.
- Car seats. Bring yours and try them in the Telluride.
- Cargo with every seat up. Bring the stroller or the sports bags.
- The merge. Take the Telluride onto I-182 or US-395 and feel the turbo’s low-end torque.
- The hitch. If you tow, check what’s on the window sticker.
Compare on paper, then drive the Telluride. If the Telluride trim you want is on the lot, I’ll have it ready.
Cross-shopping more than one? See the 2027 Telluride gas guide, the Telluride Hybrid guide, Telluride vs Highlander, Carnival vs Telluride and, one size down, Sportage vs Tucson.
Ready to compare?
Book a Telluride test drive · Bring your trade
Bringing a trade? Bring the title, or your lender’s name and loan account number, plus your license, registration, insurance card, and every key and fob. Here’s my trade-in checklist.
Fresh write-up on the lot: MSRP plus today’s published incentives.
FAQs
Is the Telluride bigger than the Palisade?
They’re about the same size outside. Kia and Hyundai both list 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase for most trims, with 32.1 inches of 3rd-row legroom. The difference is cargo. The gas Telluride has 22.3 cubic feet behind the 3rd row and the Palisade has 19.1, so the Telluride holds a bit more.
Which tows more, the Telluride or the Palisade?
With gas engines, it’s a tie. Kia lists 5,000 lb for the 2027 Telluride, and Hyundai lists 5,000 lb for the Palisade with trailer brakes. With hybrids, the Telluride Hybrid is rated 4,500 lb and the Palisade Hybrid 4,000 lb with trailer brakes. Check the owner’s manual for the hitch and brake setup.
Which gets better mpg, the Telluride or the Palisade?
The gas models tie. The EPA rates both at 22 mpg combined with FWD and 20 with AWD. With hybrids, it depends on drive. With AWD, the Telluride Hybrid is rated 31 and the Palisade Hybrid 30. With FWD, Hyundai lists 34 on two Palisade Hybrid trims, and the EPA lists the Telluride Hybrid at 33 or 35.
Do the Telluride and Palisade come with 8 seats?
Yes, on some trims of each. The 2027 gas Telluride offers 8 seats with a 2nd-row bench on two trims and 7 on the rest, and every Telluride Hybrid seats 7. Hyundai offers the Palisade, gas or hybrid, with 7 or 8 seats depending on trim. Check the seat count on the window sticker.
Do the Telluride and Palisade use the same engine?
Not the gas versions. The 2027 Telluride uses a 2.5L turbo four with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft, while the 2027 Palisade uses a 3.5L V6 with 287 hp and 260 lb-ft. The hybrids are close cousins: both list a 2.5L turbo hybrid at 329 hp and 339 lb-ft with a 6-speed automatic.
Which has the better warranty, Kia or Hyundai?
On the headline numbers, they match. Kia and Hyundai both list 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage for the original owner, and both list 10-year/100,000-mile coverage on the hybrid battery. Since the headline terms match, read the warranty booklets for the fine print, not the ads.
Checked Oct 28, 2026 (PT): kia.com 2027 Telluride specs; kia.com 2027 Telluride Hybrid specs; hyundaiusa.com 2027 Palisade (Palisade specs); fueleconomy.gov 2026 and 2027 Palisade listings; Kia warranty and the warranty block on kia.com Telluride Hybrid specs; Hyundai warranty; fueleconomy.gov 2027 Telluride listings (ids 50421, 50436, 50586, 50422, 50423, 50437). Always confirm the window sticker for the VIN you drive.