Sal Collaziano
Staff member
Our seat time in the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride has established that both new-for-2020 SUVs excel in many of the same ways. This makes sense considering the shared components between the two vehicles (Hyundai and Kia are affiliated brands), including a V-6 powertrain and the same wheelbase.
It also makes sense that they’re rather equal on price: the Telluride starts at $32,785 (all prices include the destination charge), while the Palisade starts at $32,645. This makes picking between the two SUVs a tough proposition, something equivalent cost and performance will do. Thankfully, if you go trim by trim across the two vehicles, a few differences emerge at various prices. During the Palisade media preview, Hyundai engineers told us that everything you see or touch in the two vehicles is different, as they don’t share exterior body panels or interior design.
Note, too, that the Telluride comes in four trim levels (LX, S, EX and SX) while the Palisade has three (SE, SEL and Limited). The bottom two trims on either side match up well on price, but the Telluride’s EX trim matches up best against a Palisade SEL with some options packages. Conversely, the Palisade’s Limited trim is more comparable to a Telluride SX with some option packages. Those who want all-wheel drive should bear in mind that it costs $2,000 in the Telluride but $1,700 in the Palisade; the systems are the same.
Our rundown won’t be totally comprehensive, as that would get too far into the weeds. We’ll stick to the equipment and features that we think could sway you in one direction or another — beyond your subjective assessment of styling, of course.
Starting at the bottom: (click to read more - comment later!)
It also makes sense that they’re rather equal on price: the Telluride starts at $32,785 (all prices include the destination charge), while the Palisade starts at $32,645. This makes picking between the two SUVs a tough proposition, something equivalent cost and performance will do. Thankfully, if you go trim by trim across the two vehicles, a few differences emerge at various prices. During the Palisade media preview, Hyundai engineers told us that everything you see or touch in the two vehicles is different, as they don’t share exterior body panels or interior design.
Note, too, that the Telluride comes in four trim levels (LX, S, EX and SX) while the Palisade has three (SE, SEL and Limited). The bottom two trims on either side match up well on price, but the Telluride’s EX trim matches up best against a Palisade SEL with some options packages. Conversely, the Palisade’s Limited trim is more comparable to a Telluride SX with some option packages. Those who want all-wheel drive should bear in mind that it costs $2,000 in the Telluride but $1,700 in the Palisade; the systems are the same.
Our rundown won’t be totally comprehensive, as that would get too far into the weeds. We’ll stick to the equipment and features that we think could sway you in one direction or another — beyond your subjective assessment of styling, of course.
Starting at the bottom: (click to read more - comment later!)
