The 2025 Palisade and 2025 Kia Telluride: Same class, different paths
The 2025 Hyundai Palisade and the 2025 Kia Telluride are both three-row mid-size SUVs, but their designs appeal to particular buyer profiles, which may or may not match your driving preferences. The base price of the 2025 Palisade is $37,200, while the entry-level 2025 Telluride is $36,390. The 2025 Telluride hasn’t changed much from its 2024 production year, and the 2025 Palisade has made a few minor lineup adjustments. This Hyundai’s mid-level SEL Premium trim, which debuted in 2025, takes the place of the optional Premium package and sits between the XRT and Limited trim levels. Hyundai has also made the Palisade XRT’s surround camera view standard. Check out the rest of our guide below for key information helping you determine which model best suits your needs.
Kia
Performance, efficiency & ride style
Despite using the same platform, the 2025 Hyundai Palisade’s ride style emphasizes comfort through greater absorption of road imperfections, whereas its Kia counterpart is defined by a firmer suspension that minimizes body movement on- and off-road. The Palisade’s single engine option is a 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). FWD Palisade trims deliver 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, while AWD versions get 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The maximum towing capacity of the 2025 Palisade is 5,000 lbs.
The 2025 Kia Telluride also has a 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and a choice of FWD or AWD. However, the Telluride’s maximum towing is slightly higher than the Palisade at 5,500 lbs, and there’s a small fuel economy difference, with FWD trims offering 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. AWD versions provide 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
Exterior design spotlight
Both the 2025 Hyundai Palisade and the 2025 Kia Telluride’s exterior designs reflect their ride styles, as the former opts for a more premium look, contrasting with the latter’s ruggedness. In addition to seven colors, the Palisade’s exterior features 18-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights (DRLs), and LED taillights, which are standard on all trims except the base SE. Available features contributing to the Palisade’s premium look include side mirror approach lights and door handle welcome lights.
The 2025 Telluride includes the 18-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and standard LED taillights on most trims, but this Kia distinguishes itself with available LED fog lights, eight available colors instead of seven, and more exterior cladding. Both models offer available roof rails and feature the same standard 8-inch ground clearance; however, the X-Line and X-Pro Telluride trims have an 8.4-inch ground clearance.
Small interior differences worth considering
These two SUVs seat seven or eight passengers, with the seven-seat configuration in each having second-row captain’s chairs. You’ll find 2.7 inches of additional front legroom in the Palisade at 44.1 inches, but the models’ second and third-row legroom specs are the same at 42.4 inches and 31.4 inches, respectively. Telluride drivers receive slightly more cargo volume, with 21 cu ft behind the third row, 46 cu ft behind the second row, and 87 cu ft with all seats folded. In comparison, the Palisade has 18 cu ft of cargo space behind the third row, 45.8 cu ft behind the second row, and 86.4 cu ft with all seats folded.
As for seating surfaces, the base 2025 Palisade features cloth material, while the entry-level Telluride features synthetic leather. Throughout the rest of the trim lineup, these two SUVs offer synthetic leather, leather-trimmed, and Nappa leather seating options. However, the Telluride offers five exterior colors, two more than the Palisade.
The Palisade’s tech gives it a more premium cabin
Both the Palisade and the Telluride feature a 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen, but the Palisade gets a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on all trims, while the Telluride offers a standard 4.2-inch digital instrument display, with an optional 12.3-inch version. These two SUVs each come with driver intercoms — easing front-to-rear passenger communication — along with front row audio isolation, but the Palisade’s available Harman Kardon sound system features 12 speakers, two more than its Kia counterpart. On the safety front, the Telluride was awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of Top Safety Pick+, while the Palisade received the organization’s second-best score of Top Safety Pick.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Hyundai Palisade and the 2025 Kia Telluride reflect their respective approaches of luxurious comfort versus rugged utility inside and out. On the outside, the Palisade forms its premium profile with a bolder grille and sleeker lines, while the Telluride is equipped with more cladding, a boxier profile, and a marginally higher available ground clearance. Inside, this Hyundai boasts more capable tech in the display and sound system categories, along with greater front passenger legroom, but its Kia counterpart emphasizes practicality through a higher cargo capacity and a better IIHS rating. Regardless of whether you’re seeking a three-row mid-size SUV leaning toward luxury or utility, be sure to test drive each model before making a decision.
About the author
Cody Carlson
Contributing Writer, Autoblog