The 2022 Kia Telluride and the 2022 Hyundai Palisade tied for first place on U.S. News’ list of best midsize SUVs of 2022. The two vehicles are also on the site’s ‘2022 Best 3-Row SUV for the Money‘ list. In this article, we’ll highlight and compare each vehicle to learn why it’s hard to choose just one.

2022 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Kia Telluride made the list due to its impressive features, competitive price, excellent handling, quiet cabin, and driver-assist feature such as highway driving assist. According to U.S. News, the starting MSRP price for the 2022 Kia Telluride ranges from $33,390, considered average for a midsize SUV. The two mid-range trims start at $35,290 and $37,790, and the SX trim has a starting price of $42,690.

2022 Kia Telluride performance

The 2022 Kia Telluride can do some light adventuring with 8 inches of ground clearance, a standard skid plate, and a dedicated snow-driving mode. It also has an optional all-wheel drive system with an AWD lock. The SUV drives like a small crossover due to its good maneuverability and weighted steering, remaining planted when taking corners. The 2022 Telluride has a 3.8-liter V6 engine that provides 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

Interior features of the Telluride

The Telluride offers 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which you can then fold for more room and a total of 87 cubic feet of space. It comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with easily navigable menus, voice recognition, navigation, satellite radio, and six USB ports. It also comes with proximity keyless entry, remote start, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

2022 Hyundai Palisade

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade made the U.S. News list for its intuitive tech features, quality, value, and comfort it provides. The cabin is also one of the nicest in the midsize SUV class, and the V6 engine offers plenty of power. The starting MSRP for the base trim of the Palisade starts at $33,150, which is in the typical range for the class. The Calligraphy trim, the top-of-the-line trim, retails for $46,690.

2022 Hyundai Palisade performance

While it’s not an SUV that you use for off-roading, the Palisade has an all-wheel drive system capable of handling snow-covered streets, gravel roads, and gliding smoothly over rougher pavement. It also steers well and navigates sharp turns with minimal leaning. The quiet V6 engine offers 291 horsepower paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Interior features of the Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade midsize SUV has an 8-inch intuitive touch screen, five USB ports, satellite radio, wireless device charging, and a navigation system. It also provides 18 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet of space with the second row folded along with the third. Drivers know the Palisade for having a stylish interior with a quiet cabin.

Telluride vs. Palisade

These two midsize SUV models have nearly identical starting prices for the base trims, and they both seat eight people comfortably. The Kia Telluride has slightly better gas mileage, with an EPA estimate of 20 mpg for city driving and 26 mpg for highway driving. For comparison, the Hyundai Palisade gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. 

A few things separate the midsize SUVs, but it’s up to the driver to determine what they need. Do they need an off-road SUV, or are they fine with a vehicle that isn’t built for off-roading but can still handle gravel roads and snowy streets with an all-wheel drive system?