Mid-Size SUV Showdown: 2025 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2025 Kia Telluride

Choosing the right midsize SUV for your family means weighing overall capabilities, features, and the reliability of your investment. Both the 2025 Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride share a common platform and engine size—a testament to their strong engineering foundation. Yet the Palisade provides a more refined balance of luxury, technology, and convenience tailored for families traveling through Oklahoma City, Guthrie, and Bethany.

Note: Dimensions and capacities can vary slightly by trim and equipment.

While towing capacity is marginally higher with select Telluride trims, the Palisade's towing capability meets the needs of most families and recreational users around Moore and Norman, supporting trailers and boats for weekend lake trips. More importantly, the Palisade's packaging offers better passenger volume, especially noticeable in second-row seating, ensuring comfort on long drives through Oklahoma City's neighborhoods and beyond.

Performance and Exterior Style: Strength Meets Sophistication

The Palisade and Telluride both harness a smooth 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower paired with a competent 8-speed automatic transmission. However, the Palisade is tuned for a refined ride that balances confident handling with comfort—a critical advantage for Midwestern roads that alternate between urban routes in Edmond and highway journeys toward Guthrie.

• Drive Modes and Traction: The Palisade features multiple drive modes, including a Smart Mode that adjusts engine and transmission response based on conditions, plus an optional HTRAC all-wheel-drive system with advanced torque vectoring for enhanced traction, perfect for Oklahoma's changing weather.
• Suspension Setup: Independent multi-link rear suspension in the Palisade offers an impressively smooth ride over rough pavement and gravel roads familiar to Yukon and Bethany drivers. While the Telluride's ride is crisp, some find it harsher on bumpy surfaces.
• Exterior Design: The Palisade presents a more modern, angular front fascia with wider silver D-pillar accents that lend a subtle upscale feel. The available Calligraphy Night Edition adds black wheel and trim treatments for a bold presence unmatched by the Telluride's more traditional styling.

The Palisade's understated yet upscale aesthetics complement professionals commuting in Midwest City or families heading for weekend getaways, while its suspension thoughtfully addresses comfort without sacrificing control.

Interior Comfort and Tech Features: Designed Around Your Family

Spacious Seating and Cargo Flexibility

For local families in Oklahoma City, Moore, and Norman, interior space and comfort are priorities. The Palisade delivers generous passenger volume, especially in the critical second row where legroom measures approximately 42.4 inches — more than most in this segment, including the Telluride.

• The Palisade's base SE trim boasts an 8-passenger setup with a bench in the second row, while higher trims like SEL and above offer plush captain's chairs with easier access between rows.
• Both models seat up to eight passengers, but the Palisade provides thoughtful enhancements like heated and ventilated seats in the second and third rows on upper trims, creating comfort for family and friends during all seasons.
• Cargo space behind the third row is a practical 18.0 cubic feet in the Palisade, slightly less than the Telluride's 21 cubic feet but with smart storage solutions and folding seat options that facilitate loading bulky items after weekend markets in Bethany or sports equipment from Edmond.

Infotainment and Connectivity Advantages

Staying connected in a family SUV is essential for busy lifestyles in Midwest City and beyond. The Palisade's tech arsenal not only matches but enhances expectations:

• Display and Interface: All trims feature a large 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Telluride offers a similar screen size but the Palisade's display integrates navigation, climate, and media more seamlessly.
• Premium Audio: Higher-tier Palisades offer a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system known for rich, clear sound—ideal for road trips from Guthrie to Yukon. The Telluride's Harman/Kardon system has fewer speakers (10) and slightly less punch.
• Connected Features: Hyundai's Bluelink+ subscription gives three years of complimentary connected car services, including remote start, vehicle diagnostics, and emergency assistance—well-matched for Oklahoma's unpredictable weather. Kia Connect also offers a 3-year subscription but requires a smartphone connection for certain features.
• Innovative Convenience: The Palisade's Digital Key 2 system enables keyless entry and ignition via compatible smartphones, simplifying daily routines for Midwest City drivers.

Safety Systems and Driver Assistance: Proactive Protection for Oklahoma Roads

Safety is often the deciding factor for Oklahoma families, and the Palisade shines with Hyundai's comprehensive SmartSense suite, which is standard or more robustly equipped across trims compared to the Telluride.

• Standard and Advanced Features: Both SUVs include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane keep assist, but the Palisade extends into emergency evasive steering and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering on more trims, giving drivers in Norman and Midwest City advanced tools during highway travel and stop-and-go traffic.
• Blind-Spot View Monitor: This camera-based system, which displays blind-spot images in the gauge cluster, is more broadly available in the Palisade and simplifies lane changes on busy Edmond freeways.
• Crash Safety: The Palisade holds a strong IIHS Top Safety Pick rating and an anticipated 5-star overall NHTSA rating, matching or exceeding the Telluride's safety credentials.
• Additional Safety Perks: Features like Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Assist come standard on all Palisade trims, helping prevent unattended children or pets from being left behind—a critical peace of mind for proactive parents.

Fuel Efficiency and Ownership Costs: Practicality that Saves

Fuel economy matters for daily drives between Midwest City, Oklahoma City, and Yukon, and the Palisade's efficiency closely matches the Telluride's, offering competitive mileage that suits family and professional commuters alike.

• EPA ratings show the Palisade delivers 19 city / 26 highway MPG in front-wheel-drive variants, and 19/24 MPG for all-wheel drive models, closely paralleling the Telluride's estimates.
• Features like Idle Stop & Go and Smart Mode, enhancing savings during stop-start city traffic.
• Hyundai's comprehensive warranty package promises peace of ownership with complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles—an advantage over the Telluride, which offers no free maintenance.

Value Proposition and Warranty: Confidence You Can Count On

Beyond initial pricing—which starts near $37,200 for the Palisade SE and about $36,390 for the Telluride LX—the Palisade emerges as a wiser long-term investment.

• Warranty Excellence: The Hyundai Palisade's powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles for the original owner, matching Kia's similarly long coverage, but Hyundai adds 3 years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance—saving you money on oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections with our comprehensive service department.
• Visit our Parts Request Page for genuine OEM Hyundai components and trusted factory-trained technicians.
• Use our Trade Valuation Page and drive home the newest Palisade that fits your family's needs.
• Browse our Hyundai Palisade vehicles available now, along with quality certified pre-owned Hyundai SUVs perfect for budget-conscious buyers.