2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was offered in four trim levels: SEL, SEL Premium, Limited, and Calligraphy. Each trim level maintained a stylish and commanding presence, with the base SEL trim featuring 18-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille framed by LED projector headlights. The Palisade's profile was enhanced by body-color, heated side mirrors, with higher trims adding power-folding and auto-dimming features. The rear of the Palisade was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and stacks of LED taillights. Inside, the Palisade impressed with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and three-stage heating elements. Higher trims offered luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and integrated driver's seat memory settings. The interior design was noted for its organic shapes and thoughtful storage solutions, providing a richer feeling of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality varied with color and trim level, with body-colored vertical strakes at the edges. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured rectangular grille blocks and distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, while the rear view adopted a Range Rover-like style with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette with synthetic leather and suede seats. The seats were noted for their flat and firm cushions, but the surrounding materials quality was excellent. Various trim surfaces were available, including engineered wood and carbon fiber.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of slow hybrids, offering a fun-to-drive experience with its 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The turbo-four engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but combined with the electric motors, the total output reached 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and next-generation hybrid system contributed to the Palisade's impressive performance, allowing it to disconnect the engine and rely solely on the electric motor in low-speed situations. The Palisade's cabin was noted for its lack of noise and vibration, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, with nice weight and balance, although the pedals felt a bit squishy.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid version added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The Telluride Hybrid was mated to a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The vehicle offered a smooth and quiet ride, with the transition between electric and gas power being undetectable. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided a comfortable ride despite its lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed and controllable on winding roads, with a soft brake pedal effort that required some getting used to.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 86.7 cubic feet of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. The battery's position under the front passenger seat reduced second-row legroom, but the Palisade still provided more space than most competitors. The third row offered 32.1 inches of legroom, with the Calligraphy trim increasing it to 33.6 inches. The Palisade's cabin was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and six USB-C power outlets. The vehicle came standard with seating for seven, with an option for a second-row bench to increase occupancy to eight. The Palisade featured numerous storage cubbies, including a center console with a rubberized cargo space and a small shelf ahead of the front-passenger seat.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The seat cushions were mounted low, reducing thigh support, but headroom and legroom were adequate. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cu-ft of cargo behind the third row, with a total capacity of 89.3 cu-ft when the second-row seatbacks were folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride featured a large center bin with deployable cupholders, a shallow center armrest bin, and medium-sized door pockets for smaller items.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Palisade also featured a Passenger Talk intercom system and a 15-watt wireless charging pad. The Limited and Calligraphy trims added a 14-speaker Bose stereo and a built-in dashcam. The Palisade introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included a native navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Telluride offered dual wireless phone chargers and customizable infotainment screen themes. The SX trim and above came with a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it required a hard tap to register inputs, and the climate control screen was difficult to use while driving.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. The blind-view monitor was standard on the SEL Premium and up, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. At the time of writing, the Palisade had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride also featured a driver attention monitor, though it was prone to false alerts at night. The highway driving assist was particularly helpful on longer trips. The Telluride had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing.