Today, we’ve decided to compare two seemingly identical but distinct SUVs. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are two practical and impressive mid-size SUVs that currently rule the entry-level three-row mid-size SUV segment, and we’ve put together everything you need to know to help you make a smart choice on which of these SUVs you should lease in 2022.
With a handsome exterior and surprisingly luxurious interior, a gutsy naturally aspirated V-6, and impressive reliability ratings, the duo does the job of an entry-level luxury SUV perfectly, and choosing between these exciting vehicles tends to be difficult.
What’s New
Kia adds a couple of upgrades to its three-row jewel; the biggest upgrade for us is the introduction of the automaker’s new logo, which now adorns the front end, rear end, and steering wheel. Kia has also made some amazing features standard across the Telluride’s lineup, features like the automaker’s navigation-based adaptive cruise control. A 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display replaces the smaller 8-inch display previously offered on the bottom trims, and fully automatic temperature controls have also been introduced. The Telluride also gets a mild touch on its grilles.
For the Hyundai Palisade, more safety features are now standard on the base model for 2022. These features include blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic avoidance. Also, buyers can’t get dark-brown leather upholstery on the Calligraphy trim anymore. Apart from these few changes, the Palisade did not witness any major revamps for the 2022 model year.
Power And Transmission
The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are so closely related that they share similar underpinnings, same engine, and transmission. Since Kia is an off-shoot of the Hyundai car brand, these similarities don’t strike us as a surprise.
Beneath the hood of every Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade is a zealous 3.6Liter naturally aspirated V-6 engine that puts out 291-horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering power to the two front wheels or all four wheels depending on whether you opt for the AWD models. Both SUVs have a towing capacity of around 5000 pounds.
Handling And Performance
These Similarities between these two mid-size three-row SUVs make it difficult for most drivers to tell the difference in ride quality. The Kia Telluride handles ok, but we wish it were a lot crisper. While it’s not so satisfying to drive, the response when you hit the throttle is not the best we’ve experienced, but these downsides are minimal, and they are still not enough to deter our love for this mid-size hauler. The 2022 Telluride manages to hit 0-60mph in 7.1seconds.
Meanwhile, the Hyundai Palisade delivers similar results, except that it’s slightly more agile and faster as it sprints from 0-60mph in 6.9seconds, beating the Telluride by 0.2seconds. You can choose to lease the 2022 Hyundai Palisade for its slightly more athletic handling, and quicker engine.
But overall, both vehicles deliver a refined ride and are extremely comfortable as their suspension does a great job to maintain comfort while on bumpy roads. We are optimistic that these near-perfect SUVs will deliver an impeccable experience in the coming years since they are still in their first generation. There’s still plenty of room for improvements.
Fuel Economy
Yes, we know you might encounter difficulties finding a fuel-efficient vehicle in this class of mid-size three-row SUVs, but the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are not the worst. They managed to earn a slightly better rating than key rivals like the Volkswagen Atlas.
The front-wheel-drive models are the most fuel-efficient with an EPA rating of 20-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway for the Telluride, while the Palisade falls slightly behind with 19-mpg in the city.
Opting for all-wheel-drive models reduces fuel efficiency to 19-mpg and 24-mpg in the city and highway, respectively, for both SUVs.
Interior
This is where the Telluride and its platform-mate, the Palisade, will shock you. Who would ever believe that one day, we would be this close to comparing the interior of vehicles from Hyundai and Kia against the likes of Mercedes Benz?
The lower trims might appear luxurious, but it’s nothing compared to what you get going up the trim levels. These SUVs accords you premium value for your money with an abundance of luxury, space, convenience, and tech features.
The Kia Telluride is spacious and can seat up to eight passengers using second-row bench seats or seven if you opt for a pair of captain seats in the second row. You can get heated and ventilated seats made from quality Nappa leather in higher trims. There’s a heads-up display and a 10.3-inch modern infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility. Wireless charging is available, and USB outlets are generously placed around the cabin.
On the exterior, we prefer the Telluride’s simple design to the Palisade’s controversial front-end.
The Hyundai Palisade isn’t less luxurious either. With amazing build quality and a spacious cabin, the Palisade is very comfortable and heavy with cutting-edge tech features. The Palisade is also a very practical SUV with a floating bridge center console and multiple cubby storage spaces. The seats and infotainment setup are identical to what we have in the Telluride, but the Palisade adopts a digital gauge display against the Telluride’s analog instrument panel.
You can consider leasing the 2022 Kia Telluride given its more charming exterior design, and slightly higher fuel rating.
The mid-size 3-row SUV segment is a very competitive one, with virtually every car brand fully active with at least one offering. However, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade easily outclasses the competition in performance, design, handling, luxury, and build quality, not forgetting affordability.
To get the very best lease deals at unbelievably low prices, don’t hesitate to contact VIP Auto. We are unrivaled when it comes to providing customers with the best cars at pocket-friendly prices. Reach out to us now at 1201 Buck Rd Suite 1, Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053 (215) 660 0300 https://www.vipautopa.com/, and we will have your choice vehicle delivered to your preferred location.
