For most families, the 2027 Kia Telluride is the smarter buy, and the Telluride Hybrid EX at $46,490 is our pick. It gets the best gas mileage of the two at 35 mpg combined, adds ventilated front seats, a sunroof and a real spare tire, and the Telluride wins three of our four price-matched rounds. Pick the 2027 Hyundai Palisade SEL at $42,240 if you want a gas SUV with full leather-look seats and a fully digital gauge display: it is the one round the Palisade wins.
Key takeaways
- The Kia Telluride wins three of our four price-matched rounds; the Hyundai Palisade wins the gas captain's-chair round.
- The Telluride Hybrid EX gets the best mileage of the two, 35 mpg combined, and keeps a real spare tire.
- The hybrid saves about $1,000 a year in fuel over the gas version of either SUV.
- The Telluride has more cargo space behind the third row; the Palisade has more front legroom.
- Both hold an IIHS Top Safety Pick+; for the Telluride it applies to SUVs built after June 2026.
Side by side
| 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid EX | 2027 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid SEL | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (FWD) | $46,490 | $44,560 |
| Engine | 2.5L turbo 4-cylinder hybrid | 2.5L turbo 4-cylinder hybrid |
| Power | 329 hp | 329 hp |
| EPA combined mpg | 35 | 34 |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | 21.3 cu ft | 19.1 cu ft |
| Hybrid towing | 4,500 lb | 4,000 lb |
| Spare tire | compact spare | tire repair kit |
Prices checked in November 2026 on each maker's site. MSRP shown without destination charge, taxes or dealer fees.
Prices and trims
The 2027 Kia Telluride is all-new this year. The Hyundai Palisade was redesigned a year earlier. Hyundai and Kia belong to the same group, and these two share the same 116.9-inch wheelbase and the same 199.2-inch length.
Counting gas and hybrid, the Telluride comes in 15 versions and the Palisade in 11. The gas Telluride starts at $39,190 and the gas Palisade at $39,735. Destination adds $1,545 at Kia and $1,600 at Hyundai, and all-wheel drive adds $2,000 at both.
| Round | Kia Telluride | Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entry gas, FWD | LX $39,190 | SE $39,735 |
| 2. Gas with captain's chairs, FWD | S $42,090 | SEL $42,240 |
| 3. Entry hybrid, FWD | Hybrid EX $46,490 | Hybrid SEL $44,560 |
| 4. Top hybrid, AWD | Hybrid SX Prestige $56,590 | Hybrid Calligraphy $59,180 |
Engines: gas or hybrid?
The gas Telluride uses a 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft. The gas Palisade keeps a 3.5-liter V6 with 287 hp and 260 lb-ft, so the Kia pulls harder at low speeds and the Hyundai has a little more at the top. Both hybrids make 329 hp and 339 lb-ft.
The hybrid is the easiest call here. It costs about $2,700 more on the Telluride EX and about $2,300 more on the Palisade SEL. But the EPA rates both gas versions with front-wheel drive at 22 mpg combined, against 35 for the Telluride Hybrid EX and 34 for the Palisade Hybrid SEL. That is about $1,000 a year less in fuel. Over five years, counting price, destination and EPA fuel cost, the hybrid comes out ahead: about $2,550 less on the Telluride and about $2,700 less on the Palisade. With all-wheel drive, the hybrids get 31 (Kia) and 30 (Hyundai).
| EPA combined (FWD) | Kia Telluride | Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 22 mpg, about $2,900 a year | 22 mpg, about $2,900 a year |
| Hybrid | 35 mpg, about $1,850 a year | 34 mpg, about $1,900 a year |
Size, cargo and towing
Both have a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Palisade gives front passengers about 2.8 inches more legroom (44.2 against 41.4). Second and third-row legroom is the same in both.
| Cargo | Telluride gas | Telluride Hybrid | Palisade (gas and hybrid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind 3rd row | 22.3 cu ft | 21.3 cu ft | 19.1 cu ft |
| Behind 2nd row | 48.7 cu ft | 47.7 cu ft | 46.3 cu ft |
| All seats folded | 89.3 cu ft | 88.3 cu ft | 86.7 cu ft |
Both gas models tow 5,000 lb. The Telluride Hybrid tows 4,500 lb and the Palisade Hybrid 4,000. Every Telluride and every gas Palisade carries a compact spare tire; every Palisade Hybrid has a tire repair kit instead. For the outdoors, the Telluride X-Pro adds all-terrain tires and 9.1 inches of ground clearance.
Round one: entry-level gas
The Telluride LX against the Palisade SE, both gas with front-wheel drive and eight seats. The Kia is about $550 lower, both get 22 mpg, and over five years the Telluride costs about $600 less. Neither has heated seats or a power driver's seat. Both have blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic braking, adaptive cruise and front and rear parking sensors. The Telluride adds a dual wireless phone charger and more cargo space behind the third row. Close, but round one goes to the Telluride, 100 to 90.
Round two: gas with captain's chairs
The Telluride S against the Palisade SEL, both gas with front-wheel drive and second-row captain's chairs, just $150 apart. Both have heated front seats, a power driver's seat, a power liftgate and a wireless charger. The Telluride adds a power sunroof and 20-inch wheels. The Palisade adds a fully digital gauge display, full leather-look seats and second-row sunshades. It is almost a tie, and the Palisade edges it, 100 to 97.
Round three: entry-level hybrids
The Telluride Hybrid EX against the Palisade Hybrid SEL, both with front-wheel drive. The Palisade is about $1,900 lower and still costs about $1,600 less over five years. But the Telluride Hybrid EX adds ventilated front seats, a power passenger seat, a sunroof, a household-style power outlet and a real spare tire. Round three goes to the Telluride, 100 to 86, and this is the round that sets our overall pick.
Round four: the top hybrids
The Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige against the Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy, both with all-wheel drive. The Kia is about $2,600 lower and gets 31 mpg to the Hyundai's 30. Both have heated and ventilated seats in the first two rows, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera, premium audio and remote parking. The Palisade adds Nappa leather and a built-in dash cam, and its reclining power second-row seats and heated third-row seats are standard here but optional on the Kia. Over five years the Kia costs about $3,100 less. Round four: Telluride, 100 to 97.
Our value score
We count the standard features you will actually use, weighted by how often you use them, and divide by five years of price, destination and EPA fuel cost. The better car in each round scores 100. The full method is on our How we research page.
| Round | Matchup | 5-year cost | Value score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telluride LX vs Palisade SE | $55,235 vs $55,835 | 100 vs 90 |
| 2 | Telluride S vs Palisade SEL | $58,135 vs $58,340 | 97 vs 100 |
| 3 | Telluride Hybrid EX vs Palisade Hybrid SEL | $57,285 vs $55,660 | 100 vs 86 |
| 4 | Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige vs Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy | $68,385 vs $71,530 | 100 vs 97 |
The Telluride wins three rounds, but two of them are close. Our score does not count crash tests, warranty, engines or looks.
Safety and recalls
Both have 10 airbags and automatic emergency braking on every trim. The 2027 Palisade gets five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests; the new Telluride has not been rated yet. At the IIHS, both hold a Top Safety Pick+. For the Telluride, the award applies to SUVs built after June 2026, when the headlights were upgraded, so check the build date on the door sticker.
The 2027 Telluride has two recalls so far, both for seat belts. The 2026 Palisade has three: instrument display software, and the power rear seats and third-row belt buckle wiring on the Limited and Calligraphy. All are fixed free, at the dealer or by an over-the-air update.
Warranty
Both cover the whole car for 5 years or 60,000 miles and the engine and transmission for 10 years or 100,000 miles for the first owner. Hyundai's roadside assistance runs 5 years with no mileage limit, against 5 years or 60,000 miles at Kia. Neither includes free scheduled maintenance.
Which one is right for you?
- Best gas mileage: Telluride Hybrid EX, 35 mpg combined.
- Tightest budget: Telluride LX, the lowest five-year cost here.
- Gas SUV with leather-look seats and digital gauges: Palisade SEL.
- Towing with a hybrid: Telluride Hybrid, rated 500 lb higher.
- Outdoors: Telluride X-Pro, with all-terrain tires.
- Every luxury: Palisade Calligraphy, with Nappa leather and lounge seats.
Comparing the Palisade Hybrid with Toyota's 3-row hybrid too? Read our Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid comparison, watch the full video above, and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in October and November 2026.
- 2027 Kia Telluride prices and specs: kia.com Telluride · kia.com Telluride Hybrid
- 2027 Hyundai Palisade prices and specs: hyundaiusa.com Palisade · hyundaiusa.com Palisade Hybrid
- Destination charges and AWD prices: Kia and Hyundai pricing releases (Telluride Hybrid, Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy Black Ink)
- EPA fuel economy: Telluride FWD, Telluride Hybrid FWD, Telluride Hybrid AWD, Palisade FWD, Palisade Hybrid FWD, Palisade Hybrid AWD (fueleconomy.gov)
- Crash tests and recalls: NHTSA · IIHS 2027 Kia Telluride · IIHS 2026 Hyundai Palisade
- Warranty: kia.com warranty · hyundaiusa.com Palisade compare page
Buy the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid EX. At $46,490 with front-wheel drive it gets 35 mpg combined, ventilated front seats, a sunroof, a household-style outlet and a real spare tire, and the Telluride wins three of our four rounds. If you want a gas SUV with full leather-look seats and digital gauges, get the 2027 Hyundai Palisade SEL at $42,240.
Common questions
Are the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade the same car?
They are cousins from the same group and share the same 116.9-inch wheelbase and 199.2-inch length, but they have different styling, different gas engines (a turbo four in the Telluride, a V6 in the Palisade), different equipment and different cargo space.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Telluride Hybrid or the Palisade Hybrid?
The Kia Telluride Hybrid, by a little. The EPA rates the Telluride Hybrid EX at 35 mpg combined and the Palisade Hybrid SEL at 34 with front-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive it is 31 against 30. Both gas versions get 22.
Which has more cargo space?
The Kia Telluride. The gas Telluride holds 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row against 19.1 in the Palisade, and 89.3 with all seats folded against 86.7.
Does the Palisade Hybrid have a spare tire?
No. Every Hyundai Palisade Hybrid comes with a tire repair kit. Every Kia Telluride, gas or hybrid, and every gas Palisade has a compact spare tire.
Which is safer, the Telluride or the Palisade?
Both have 10 airbags and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The Telluride's award applies to SUVs built after June 2026, when its headlights were upgraded. The 2027 Palisade has five stars overall from NHTSA; the new Telluride has not been rated yet.