Compared: 2024 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2024 Kia Telluride

It's a family feud of similarities between these Korean-made three-row, midsize SUVs.

Brennan Sullivan | 

Aug 27, 2024 | 2 min read

Hyundai | Kia

Now entering its fourth model year, the Kia Telluride has proven to be a hit with consumers, thanks to its boxy styling, reasonable asking price, and high-end features. If you're looking at one, you're probably also considering its platform-mate, the Hyundai Palisade, which is the same vehicle underneath.

The Hyundai Palisade is still fresh off a recent redesign, with a striking front end introduced in 2023 and a few new interior touches.

Kia

The Telluride Undercuts the Palisade's Base Price

Although the Telluride and Palisade look quite different, these cousins are similar under the skin and in price, with the 2024 Telluride starting at just under $38,000 and the 2024 Palisade coming in at just over $38,000.

These entry-level models both feature a 3.8-liter V6 engine and standard front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available as a $2,000 option on either car. Despite these major resemblances, there are more subtle differences to be found.

Leather seats, for example, are available on the Telluride starting with the EX trim for about $43,000. That's a steep discount to about $49,000 for the Palisade Limited, the least expensive trim with leather upholstery.

Kia and Hyundai Fit Similar Features to Their Midsize SUVs

The distinctions continue inside each vehicle. While both the Telluride and the Palisade can be appointed with seven- and eight-occupant seating configurations, only the Palisade offers optional heated seats in the third row. The Palisade also features a Harman Kardon sound system boasting 12 speakers, as opposed to the Telluride's 10.

While the Hyundai may have more to offer in terms of creature comforts, the Telluride is engineered to be rugged and capable in utility-focused settings. The Telluride can be equipped with an 8.4-inch ride height, giving you a bit more freedom than the 8.0-inch clearance found on all versions of the Palisade.

The Kia also boasts a maximum towing capacity of 5,500 pounds, besting the Hyundai's 5,000-pound limit.

Hyundai

The Palisade Boasts Better AWD Fuel Economy

Predictably, those similar drivetrains result in similar fuel economy. The most fuel-efficient version of the 2024 Telluride is the front-drive base model, which achieves an estimated 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined. It's a virtually identical story with the Palisade, whose front-wheel-drive variant is given a 19/26/22 mpg estimate.

The AWD Palisade squeaks out a small victory over the Telluride, netting a 19/24/21 mpg rating, as opposed to the Telluride's 18/24/20 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Brennan Sullivan

Brennan Sullivan is a writer and lifelong car fanatic. With an appreciation for all makes and models, Brennan is particularly passionate about the rich history of the automotive industry. In his spare time, he's the caretaker of a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, and a Golden Retriever named Willow.