2020 Hyundai Palisade Vs 2020 KIA Telluride
2020 Hyundai Palisade Vs 2020 KIA Telluride
Posted on December 31, 2020
It is always difficult to choose between Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the same class. Both brands are owned by the Hyundai Motor Company, a South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer. This means that the vehicles produced by both brands share many commonalities.
In the midsize three-row SUV category, Hyundai offers the Palisade and Kia offers the Telluride. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride share the same platform, engine, and transmission. They offer the same number of seats, similar technology and convenience features, and almost-identical practicality.
In the end, the decision between the Hyundai and Kia comes down to small nuances, a preference for one of the vehicles in terms of exterior and interior styling, and, of course, price.
2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2020 Kia Telluride - Price
Any battle involving Hyundai vs. Kia vehicles cannot start before discussing the price of the vehicles. As eight-seat midsize SUVs, the Palisade and Telluride do not come cheap.
Starting at $38,699, the Palisade is Hyundai's flagship SUV and the latest addition to its lineup. It comes in four model configurations: Essential, Preferred, Luxury, and Ultimate.
Starting at $44,995, the 2020 Kia Telluride is significantly more expensive than the Palisade. It comes in four model configurations: EX, SX, SX Limited, and SX Limited with Nappa.
2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2020 Kia Telluride - Engine, Handling, and Fuel Economy
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride are built with the exact same engine and transmission--a 3.8-litre GDI V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual shift mode. They both have a fuel economy of 12.5 L/100km in the city and 9.6 L/100km on the highway.
It is in the handling that differences start to show based on the different body structures. The Palisade offers good body control for its size and surprisingly tight steering, while the Telluride does not handle quick transitions as well.
2020 Hyundai Palisade - Standard Features
To see the real differences between the Palisade and the Telluride, buyers will need to delve deeper into the features that are and are not included in both vehicles.
The base model 2020 Hyundai Palisade Essential comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), drive mode select, downhill brake control and hill-start control, remote keyless entry with alarm, adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, parking distance warning, and rear occupant alert.
In the interior, drivers will be surrounded with convenience with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 3.5-inch multi-information display, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, seven USB ports, four 12-volt outlets, rearview camera, and smartphone integration. In terms of comfort, the front seats and steering wheel are heated, there are HVAC vents in the second and third row (second row controls as well), sliding second row seats, 60/40 split-fold seats for the second and third row, and more.
2020 Kia Telluride - Standard Features
The base model 2020 Kia Telluride EX comes standard with front-wheel drive, automatic headlights, high beam assist, rear occupant alert, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, lane follow assist, driver attention warning, FCA, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, smart cruise control, highway drive assist, and rearview camera.
The interior of the Telluride shows where some of the extra cost comes from, including a 10.25-inch multimedia interface with integrated navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, smartphone integration, wireless phone charger, push button start, LED interior lighting, 3.5-inch instrument cluster, smart power liftgate, sunroof, synthetic leather seats, and heated front seats and steering wheel.
2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2020 Kia Telluride - Space
Both the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride provide seating for up to eight passengers, so they are equal in terms of occupant capacity. Again, they are almost equal in terms of cargo capacity as well, though the Telluride has the slight advantage, especially behind the third row where it offers almost 100 litres more space than the Palisade.
2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2020 Kia Telluride - Overall
Among midsize three-row SUVs, drivers would be hard-pressed to choose between the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride. However, the cost savings, higher seating position, intuitive dashboard layout, and class-leading features give the edge to the 2020 Hyundai Palisade. It is a well-rounded package that delivers value, space, and style to buyers.