You probably remember when the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride were some of the hottest family crossovers on the market. Demand far outpaced supply, and many customers paid well over MSRP for these three-row SUVs. With upgraded versions on the horizon, it’s a good time to remind you that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get the same style and substance.
The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are a great example of platform sharing. The overall dimensions and mechanicals are practically identical, yet both cars retain a different identity. The Hyundai tends to lean more “upscale” while the Telluride gets a more “rugged” look. That being said, both cars punch way above their respective price class in terms of fit and features to further blur the lines between a “luxury” car and a mainstream brand.
The upcoming Hyundai Palisade looks amazing, and word on the street is that Kia is updating the Telluride for 2026. These new models will be nice and likely be offered at a similar pricing structure that keeps them competitive with the Highlander, Pilot, and other popular three-row offerings. But now that new car inventory has finally caught up, and the used car market has cooled down, smart shoppers don’t have to drop close to $50,000 or more to get a quality example.
According to Autotrader.com, a nationwide search reveals approximately 4,800 Palisades and Tellurides under the $35,000 mark. Some of these cars have seen a lot of use, and if you filter for cars under 60,000 miles, that essentially cuts the inventory in half. If you want to be sure you retain the balance of the 10-year/100,000 powertrain warranty there are about 600 manufacturer-certified cars under thirty-five grand.
Here is a sampling of some values you can get without spending new car money.
If you don’t need something fancy and don’t mind a car with almost 60,000 miles, you can score a base model Telluride LX with a Kia Certifed warranty under $25,000.
In New Jersey there is a Hyundai-certified Palisade SEL w/Convience Package with about 21,000 miles for under $32,000. The original retail price on this car was over $45,000.
Here is a 2022 Telluride EX w/Premium package and only 17,000 miles for $35,000.
While the mid-level cars tend to be the sweet spot for the best balance of mileage, price, features, and warranty balance, there are also some fully loaded models available. One Florida dealer has a Hyundai Certified 2022 Caligraphy model with under 47,000 miles for less than $34,000.
The one caveat to some of these “deals” is that you need to wrangle with Hyundai and Kia dealers who don’t have the best reputation for honest and straightforward pricing. You will want to watch out for stores with “reconditioning” or “certification” fees and other expensive add-ons that neutralize the value score. But with some patience and smart shopping you can score a very nice family car without spending more than you have to.
Tom McParland is a contributing writer for Jalopnik and runs AutomatchConsulting.com. He takes the hassle out of buying or leasing a car. Got a car buying question? Send it to [email protected]
