2027 Kia Telluride vs. 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The Telluride spans 274 / 329 horsepower and 10 mapped trim positions; the Palisade spans 291 horsepower and 7. The better fit depends on the exact powertrain, drivetrain and equipment path. This comparison weighs powertrain range, drivetrain, trim structure, capability, seating & cargo, using each vehicle's own verified manufacturer and EPA-sourced facts instead of a single averaged rating. The Telluride carries 10 mapped trim positions and 3 linked sources; the Palisade carries 7 and 3, so either side can be verified against its own primary record instead of taken on this page's summary alone. Configuration, not badge name, decides which one actually fits. Check the exact trim and powertrain before treating either vehicle's specification as settled.

Checked Aug. 17, 2026United States specifications6 linked sources

Decision fieldKia TellurideHyundai Palisade

Power274 / 329 hp291 hp

DrivetrainFWD / AWDFWD / AWD

Trim map10 published positions7 published positions

Seating7 or 87 or 8

Powertrain contextPowertrain: 2.5L turbo four-cylinder or 2.5L turbo hybrid · Output: 274 / 329 hpPowertrain: 3.8L V6 · Output: 291 hp

Towing contextThe most the 2027 Kia Telluride is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb.The most the 2025 Hyundai Palisade is published to tow is 5,000 lb.

Ranges and maximums describe family-level possibilities. Open each vehicle record before treating a number or feature as applicable to a particular trim.

What separates them

Four decisions that change the answer.

This comparison does not force a universal winner. It identifies the configuration question that matters for each use case.

Powertrain range

Telluride: Powertrain 2.5L turbo four-cylinder or 2.5L turbo hybrid; Output 274 / 329 hp. Palisade: Powertrain 3.8L V6; Output 291 hp.

Drivetrain

The Telluride is represented with FWD / AWD; the Palisade with FWD / AWD. Standard status must be checked by trim.

Trim structure

The Telluride comes in 10 trims and the Palisade in 7. Package combinations can create additional builds.

Capability

The most the 2027 Kia Telluride is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb. The most the 2025 Hyundai Palisade is published to tow is 5,000 lb.

Seating & cargo

The 2027 Kia Telluride seats 7 or 8 (three-row SUV). The 2025 Hyundai Palisade seats 7 or 8 (three-row SUV).

Model-year note: the Hyundai Palisade figures below come from EPA's 2027 records, the nearest model year EPA lists for it.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Kia Telluride: 6 records · Hyundai Palisade: 6 records.

Decision field	Kia Telluride	Hyundai Palisade
Exact EPA records	6	6
Model / option labels	6	6
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI
Transmissions	Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8)	Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8)
Fuel types	Regular	Regular
EPA classes	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	19–35 MPG/MPGe	19–34 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$1850–3400 per year	$1900–3400 per year

Head to head

Kia Telluride vs. Hyundai Palisade: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Kia Telluride	Hyundai Palisade
Starting price (KBB base)	$40,735	$41,385
Top trim price (KBB base)	$58,335	$58,510
Horsepower	n/a	287 hp
Torque	n/a	260 lb-ft
Curb weight	n/a	4,575-4,872 lb
Length	199.2 in	199.2-200.4 in
Wheelbase	116.9 in	116.9 in
Cargo volume	89.3 cu ft	86.7 cu ft
Towing capacity	5,000-5,500 lb	5,000 lb
Seating	7-8 seats	7-8 seats
Basic warranty	5 years	5 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2027 model year); prices are KBB base prices.

The Kia Telluride starts $650 lower: $40,735 against $41,385 before options and fees.
On length, the Hyundai Palisade leads: 200.4 in against 199.2 in.
Both list the same wheelbase: 116.9 in.
On cargo volume, the Kia Telluride leads: 89.3 cu ft against 86.7 cu ft.
On maximum towing capacity, the Kia Telluride leads: 5,500 lb against 5,000 lb.
Both list the same seating capacity: 8 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 5 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade.

2027 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2019. Positioned above the Sorento, it was previewed as a concept car in 2016, with the production model debuting in early 2019 as a 2020 model. It shares components and specifications with its Hyundai counterpart, the Hyundai Palisade, including its engine, transmission, and wheelbase.

Safety: The 2020 and 2021 model years of the Telluride were awarded "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS, it was later awarded "Top Safety Pick+".
Recalls and problems: In March 2024, Kia recalled over 427,000 Tellurides from 2020 to 2024 model years, due to rollaway risks which the vehicles rolls away when placed in 'P' gear. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is because of improper assembly of the intermediate shaft and the right front driveshaft could cause unintended vehicle movement, if the driver failed to engage the parking brake.
Awards: In 2020, the Telluride received the 2020 World Car of the Year as well as Motor Trend's SUV of the Year.

Source: Kia Telluride (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Kia Telluride overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (5 campaigns across the latest model years)

June 2026, Seat Belts:Front. Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal… Consequence: A seat belt strap that does not extend can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
March 2026, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Anchorage. Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may not latch properly. Consequence: A seat belt buckle that is not latched properly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
February 2026, Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash. Consequence: A seat back frame that fails to properly restrain an occupant during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Owners filed 24 complaints with NHTSA for the 2027 Kia Telluride, most often about seat belts (7), power train (6), seats (5).

2027 Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured and marketed by Hyundai Motor Company since late 2018. It replaced the Maxcruz (also known as Santa Fe XL outside of South Korea) as the flagship SUV under the Hyundai brand. A second-generation Palisade was introduced for the 2026 model's first hybrid powertrain.

Powertrain: Safety The Palisade was awarded "Top Safety Pick" and "Top Safety Pick+" (from 2021 to 2023 model years) by IIHS.

Source: Hyundai Palisade (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Hyundai Palisade overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (6 campaigns across the latest model years)

March 2026, Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Hyundai Palisade and 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with "Limited" and "Calligraphy" trim packages. The internal wiring within the third-row driver-side seat belt buckle may become damaged and result in a permanent display… Consequence: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
March 2026, Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly:Power Adjust. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package. The second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after… Consequence: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury or death.
January 2026, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument… Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 245 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Palisade, most often about service brakes (96), seat belts (57), unknown or other (43).

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2027 Kia Telluride or the 2027 Hyundai Palisade?

Efficiency

The 2027 Kia Telluride lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (27 vs. the 2027 Hyundai Palisade's 26.5 MPG/MPGe).