Just when you thought the Kia Telluride was the number one SUV in every single category for 2020, it got leaped by the Hyundai Palisade. As the rivalry between Hyundai and Kia intensifies, check out why the 2020 Hyundai Palisade was able to overcome the Kia Telluride. 

The Hyundai Palisade gains superior rankings 

The U.S. News recently ranked the Hyundai Palisade ahead of the Kia Telluride on their list of the best three-row SUVs for 2020. The Ford Expedition came first, followed by the Hyundai Palisade in second, as the Kia Telluride landed in third place. 

We would compare the Ford Expedition to these vehicles, but it starts around $52k. The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride both start around $31k, so they provide a more competitive comparison. Also, this list of three-row SUV contenders includes 26 options. 

Why the Hyundai Palisade ranks higher 

When U.S. News reviewed the Hyundai Palisade, they found an abundance of positive features to report. One of the most notable positives is the number of features and the quality ride that’s included with the Hyundai Palisade while it maintains an average price for its class. 

A few of the standard features included with the Palisade are power-folding seats, automatic folding seats in the third row, smart cruise control with stop & go, forward collision prevention, trailer sway control, distracted driver warning, lane-keeping assistance, and more. 

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The Hyundai Palisade is also praised for the amount of family-friendly features it provides. As a midsize SUV, it’s incredibly spacious. There is an abundance of legroom in each row, providing enough space for everyone.

You can access up to 176 cubic feet of cargo space for all of your gear. There are also USB chargers in each row to keep all of the must-have electronic devices charged. 

Plus, the Palisade is noted for having a smooth ride with a quiet interior to enjoy. It comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine that dishes out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

With this engine, the Palisade can tow up to 5,000 lb. The heavy-duty oil transmission cooler also helps to provide maxim performance while towing. 

The reason U.S. News ranked the Hyundai Palisade ahead of the Kia Telluride is because the Palisade comes with more standard features and items that aren’t available in the Telluride. For example, the Palisade has folding power seats and a 12.3” digital cluster display. 

This doesn’t mean the Kia Telluride is bad 

U.S. News had plenty of great things to say about the Kia Telluride as well. After reviewing it, they loved the plush and comfortable interior that the Telluride has to offer. Plus, it provides the most versatility with its cargo and passenger space to help families achieve stress-free road trips. 

Despite not being built for off-roading, it does include optional all-wheel-drive to provide the ability to drive through snow and other slippery conditions. Also, it has several safety features included with a high dependability rating. But it may have a stiffer, less sporty ride compared to the Palisade.