2021 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2021 Kia Telluride

Three automotive brands comprise Hyundai Motor Group (HMG): Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia. Vehicles sold under each brand share platforms, powertrains, and technologies but are styled, packaged, and dynamically tuned to serve different customers. For example, HMG's mid-size three-row SUVs are the 2021 Hyundai Palisade and 2021 Kia Telluride. They're essentially different flavors of the same thing but crafted in different ways for different customers.

The 2021 Palisade is available in SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy trim levels. The Palisade Calligraphy is new this year, a luxury-oriented version with more expressive design details. The 2021 Telluride comes in LX, S, EX, and SX trim. A Nightfall Edition Package adds a trendy blacked-out appearance to the EX and SX trims, while an SX Prestige Package brings the Telluride up to a level of specification similar to the Palisade Calligraphy. You want to know if one of these SUVs is better than the other. The answer, especially when comparing these two models, depends on your preferences and priorities. Keep reading to learn the details. 

Earlier this year, I test-drove the 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy and the 2021 Kia Telluride SX with the Nightfall and Prestige option packages. Each was fully loaded, the Palisade priced at $49,115 and the Telluride at $49,420.

The Calligraphy trim adds lots of visual "fancy" to the already brightly trimmed Palisade. This SUV's styling sparks a love-it-or-hate response in most people, and nobody would ever say the Palisade looks like every other SUV on the road. That's true of the inside, too, which is modern, stylish, and full of quality materials. The Palisade Calligraphy looks and feels like luxury, inside and out. The Telluride SX Prestige is downright plush inside, too. But this SUV takes a sportier and more rugged approach to its design and details. Generally speaking, the Telluride is broadly appealing to people, and if you're into the blacked-out appearance trend, the Nightfall Edition satisfies that preference. Unusual and exclusive colors are also available for the Telluride's exterior and interior. I prefer the Telluride, though you might love the Palisade instead. 

Winner: Kia Telluride

As tested, both of these SUVs supplied premium leather upholstery, a 12-way power adjustable driver's seat with a power thigh support extension, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front and rear seats. That's an unheard-of combination of comfort features in a vehicle priced below $50,000.

Not surprisingly, these SUVs offer equal comfort levels, and their third-row seats are habitable by adults for more than just a short trip. Second-row window shades are helpful when carrying children, and both have airline-style air vents embedded into the ceiling. They differ in terms of rear climate controls and cupholder arrangements, with the Palisade proving more kid-friendly. Tellurides include grab handles galore. Both SUVs offer plenty of interior storage space, but the Palisade appears to have more of it. Cargo space is about the same between the two, with Kia reporting slightly more space behind all three seats.

Winner: Tie

With the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard in lower trims, while higher trims boast a wider 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Each of these setups includes Bluetooth, with multi-device connectivity available for the larger screen. Satellite radio, wireless device charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, and a Rear Seat Quiet Mode are common to both the Hyundai and the Kia.

From here, Hyundai offers better infotainment technology. With the 8-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, while the Kia still requires a cord connected to the USB data port. Strangely, for both the Palisade and Telluride, the larger and more expensive infotainment system does not offer wireless smartphone integration. Beyond this, the Palisade offers a more robust connected services package with a free three-year subscription. Kia's less comprehensive collection of services is free only for the first year of ownership. Also, if you upgrade to the Harman Kardon premium sound system, the Kia supplies 10 speakers while the Hyundai has 12 of them. The Hyundai is also available with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation cluster, while the Kia is not.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

When it comes to safety technology, the Palisade and Telluride draw from the same parts bin. Kia, however, offers more safety features as standard equipment on the base LX trim level, while Hyundai requires an upgrade from the SE to the SEL trim for tech such as Safe Exit Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear cross-traffic alert. 

Additionally, the Kia Telluride includes an ultrasonic rear occupant alert feature that can sense movement in the SUV for up to 24 hours after the owner locks and leaves the vehicle. If a child or pet left inside moves, the horn honks, the lights flash, and the owner gets a text-message alert. Hyundai offers this same system, but you need to get the SEL trim. Hyundai does, however, offer a longer free subscription to safety-related connected services. And it makes the Level 2+ Highway Driving Assist technology more accessible. The 2021 Palisade also earns better crash-test ratings than the 2021 Telluride.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride share a 3.8-liter V6 engine making 291 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 5,200 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission delivers the power to the front wheels unless you get the optional all-wheel-drive system. Each SUV can tow 5,000 pounds. In the Hyundai, electronic push-button controls shift the transmission. The Kia has a traditional PRNDL shifter. Both SUVs offer selectable driving modes, including a Snow mode, and the AWD systems feature a 50:50 power splitting Lock function for improved low-speed traction.

The refined V6 engine offers robust acceleration in each of these SUVs, and neither demonstrates untoward transmission shifting behavior. They each handle inclement weather and muddy trails with ease, though neither boasts serious off-roading capability. Considering that the Palisade and the Telluride have identical powertrains, one is not better than the other unless — like me — you prefer the transmission Telluride's conventional gear selector to the Palisade's push-button system.

Winner: Kia Telluride

Based on official EPA ratings, the Kia Telluride is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Hyundai Palisade. With front-wheel drive, the Kia is rated to get 23 mpg in combined driving while the Hyundai earns 22 mpg. Both SUVs should return 21 mpg in combined driving when equipped with all-wheel drive.

My real-world driving tells a different story. Driven under different traffic conditions several weeks apart, the Hyundai and Kia swapped places using the same testing loop. According to their trip computers, the 2021 Palisade Calligraphy AWD averaged 21.1 mpg while the 2021 Kia Telluride SX Prestige with the Nightfall Edition Package returned 20.5 mpg. This is a tiny difference that changes by methodology, so we'll call it a tie. 

Winner: Tie

While their powertrains and fuel efficiency are the same, the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride feel different when it comes to their ride and handling characteristics. Given the Hyundai's look, not to mention Kia's sportier brand image, you expect the Palisade to be the softer of these two SUVs when it comes to driving dynamics. That's not the case. The Palisade feels more like a traditional SUV, with a firmer ride and greater roll resistance in corners. It feels more athletic than the Kia.

That's not to say that the Telluride's handling is inferior. Instead, it provides a smoother and more compliant ride and allows for more body roll in corners and curves. Rather than pounding the pavement, it glides upon it. You might prefer the Palisade's taut, connected ride, and comparatively flat cornering, but my pick is the Telluride. 

Winner: Kia Telluride

The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride both include one of the best automaker warranty and roadside assistance programs you can get on any vehicle. It consists of 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage.

Beyond this, Hyundai offers a longer rust warranty and places no mileage limit on the five-year free roadside assistance coverage. Furthermore, the Palisade comes with a long list of perks that the Telluride cannot match. Complimentary maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles is one of them, and free Blue Link connected services for three years is another. Plus, if you don't like the Palisade you bought, you can exchange it within three days as long as you haven't driven it more than 300 miles (specific restrictions apply). These SUVs are both incredible values, but the Palisade is even more so. 

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

Objectively speaking, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade is the better choice than the 2021 Kia Telluride. It has a better infotainment system and connected services plan. It has better crash-test ratings. And it offers better value. If you like the way it looks and like the way it drives, you can choose the Palisade without any remorse.

Subjectively speaking, though, my preference is the Kia Telluride. I prefer the way the Kia looks, and I prefer the way the Kia drives. These are critically important factors when it comes to long-term satisfaction with a vehicle. Besides, it's not as though the Telluride fails spectacularly in other areas. In fact, it's better than most of the alternatives in its segment. You should be happy with whichever of these SUVs you choose. 

Winner: Tie