Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Palisade vs 2026 Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 wins clearly, 89.7 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety, tech & comfort. The Hyundai Palisade is ahead on price and performance.
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2026 Hyundai Palisade
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Palisade Hybrid FWD…
vs
B2026 Kia EV9
The 2026 Kia EV9 is sold in the U.S. as an electric large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the EV9 Long Range RWD, is EPA-rated a…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Kia EV9
Clear winThe Kia EV9 wins clearly, 89.7 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety, tech & comfort. The Hyundai Palisade is ahead on price and performance.
Fuel & range 2026 Kia EV9 leads by 58.2
Price 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 28.2
Safety 2026 Kia EV9 leads by 15.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Hyundai Palisadeoverall 83.5 | 2026 Kia EV9overall 89.7 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 71.8 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 41.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 80.7 | 95.9 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 93.1 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 78.5 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 84.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 83.5 | 89.7 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Palisade: base trim SE FWD · Kia EV9: base trim Light RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia EV9 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (26 against 122 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 89 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($850 against $1,950).
Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade answers
- It starts $15,465 lower ($39,435 against $54,900 base MSRP).
- It carries 130 hp per ton against 84.2.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $39,435 | $54,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 6 | — |
| Engine displacement | 3,470 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L MPI + GDI DOHC 24-Valve V-Type 6-cylinder | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), Single Rear Motor, RWD |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 287 hp | 215 hp |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 19 mpg | 101 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 21 mpg | 88 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 25 mpg | 76 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.510 | 13.16:1 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | Single-speed direct drive |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.4 in | 7 in |
| Overall height | 69.5 in | 68.9 in |
| Overall length | 199 in | 197 in |
| Overall width | 78 in | 77.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 117 in | 122 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 86.7 cu-ft | 81.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 46.3 cu-ft | 43.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 19.1 cu-ft | 20.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 181 cu-ft | 159 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.7 in | 39.8 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 39.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.2 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 43 in | 42.8 in |
| Third-row legroom | 32.1 in | 30.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,575 lbs | 5,106 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,420 lbs | 5,106 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,327 lbs | 6,415 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | MacPherson Strut + Dual Lower Arm Type |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks | 5-Link Multi-Link Rear Suspension |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion, column-mounted | Rack & Pinion - Rack Mounted Motor-Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 39.2 ft | 20.3 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 345 mm | 361 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | 345 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | ventilated disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 19 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/65 R18 106H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Bluelink | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 61.4 in | 61.6 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 61 in | 60 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 55.6 in | 55 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
181 features · differences first, then sharedSafety22 differ · 53 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Junction Crossing (FCA-JC) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Lane change Oncoming (FCA-LO) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Lane change Side (FCA-LS) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Evasive Steering Assist (FCA with ESA) | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist – HDA I | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) | — | std |
| Burglar Alarm | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | — | std |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist | std | — |
| Forward Attention Warning | std | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | — | std |
| Front seat-belt pretensioners | — | std |
| Haptic Feedback steering wheel | std | — |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belts | — | std |
| Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) | — | std |
| Side air curtains with rollover sensors | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control - Machine Learning (SCC-ML) | — | std |
| Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | std | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2 with Car, Cyclist and Pedestrian Detection (FCA 2) | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC with S&G) | std | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Junction Turning (FCA-JT) | std | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA 2) | std | std |
| Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Front center airbag | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve (N-SCC-C) | std | std |
| Rear-view camera | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | std |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | std | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Forward (PDW-F) | std | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Reverse (PDW-R) | std | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | std |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | std | std |
| Antilock Brakes System (ABS) | std | std |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Direct Oncoming (FCA-DO) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (Door Logic) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment13 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8 speaker sound system with amp and Passenger Talk | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free w/ wireless audio streaming | std | — |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | std | — |
| Auxiliary USB Terminal | — | std |
| Bluelink® Connected Car System | std | — |
| Dynamic Voice Recognition | std | — |
| High Power USB-Cs: Two 1st row (2x USB-C Power) + Two 2nd row + Two 3rd row | std | — |
| Kia Connect Store | — | std |
| Multiple Device Connection (up to two devices) | std | — |
| Panoramic curved dual 12.3-in displays (instrument cluster + infotainment as single curved unit) | std | — |
| Passenger Talk In-car intercom | std | — |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | std | — |
| Wireless Phone Charger | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | std |
| 12.3-inch color TFT display unit with navigation (integrated with IP), AM/FM/MP3, HD Radio, SiriusXM Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Voice Recognition and telematics (modem type) | std | std |
| Over the Air (OTA) updates | std | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (Controls regenerative braking) | std | std |
Convenience11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Power liftgate | — | std |
| Digital Key system 2.0 | — | std |
| Remote engine start (on key fob) | std | — |
| 12 Volt DC Outlet (1st row/Cargo Area, Driver Side) | — | std |
| Fast Charging USB (x6), 2 in each row | — | std |
| Finger Print Module (FPM), tied to Digital Key | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down and safety feature (All 4) | — | std |
| Remote release Hood | std | — |
| 12-volt outlet – 2 total: 1 Fr, 1 cargo | std | — |
| Central door lock | — | std |
| Power windows with safety front auto-down/up | std | — |
| Smart Key with push button start | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Roof mounted, Rear HVAC vents | — | std |
| Air filter (Cabin) | — | std |
| Automatic tri-zone temperature control with auto defog | std | std |
| Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Heater | std | std |
Seating17 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way Power adjustable Driver's seat | — | std |
| Full SynTex seating | — | std |
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| Ventilated front seats | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| 2nd row one-touch, fold and slide functions | — | std |
| 2nd row one-touch, tilt and slide functions (Passenger RH Side) | — | std |
| 3rd row 50/50 folding seats | — | std |
| 3rd row 60/40 split-fold seats with ingress/egress handles | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | std | — |
| 7-passenger configuration | — | std |
| 8-way Power adjustable Driver's seat with 2-way lumbar support | — | std |
| 8-way Power adjustable Passenger seat | — | std |
| Front passenger seat Walk-In switch | — | std |
| One-touch 2nd row seat slide for 3rd row access | std | — |
| Seating – Cloth | std | — |
| Tilting Walk-In Feature (manual) | std | — |
| 2nd row 60/40 folding bench seats | std | std |
Interior24 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" Color multi-information display | std | — |
| Electric Chromic rear-view mirror (ECM) | — | std |
| 12.3-inch color TFT IP cluster with 5-inch HVAC display | — | std |
| 1st row center console with cupholders | — | std |
| 2nd row fixed console | — | std |
| Conventional glove box | — | std |
| Dashboard – Slush-molding | std | — |
| Dashboard – Wrapped, artificial leather | std | — |
| Interior door handles – Metal Paint | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | std | — |
| LED Frunk light | — | std |
| LED Map light | — | std |
| LED Room light | — | std |
| Rear seat center armrest with cupholders | — | std |
| Syntex wrapped steering wheel | — | std |
| Upper door panels / console armrest – Premium Soft Touch | std | — |
| Sunvisor – w/ illumination | std | — |
| Tilt and telescoping steering column | — | std |
| Headliner/Pillar – Cloth | std | — |
| Hydrographic interior trim | std | — |
| LED Cargo light | — | std |
| Sunvisor – Dual vanity mirror with cover, w/ sliding function, w/ illumination | std | — |
| Door storage pockets – Front and rear | std | — |
| Plastic scuff plates | — | std |
| Front seatback pockets | std | std |
Exterior23 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated, power folding, power adjustable outside mirrors with LED repeater lamps (gloss black mirror base) | — | std |
| 19-inch Alloy wheels | — | std |
| Aero windshield wipers, front | — | std |
| Body-color outside mirrors | — | std |
| Body-color, auto/powered flush type outside door handles | — | std |
| Door handle welcome lights | std | — |
| Gloss black DLO upper beltline and A/B/C pillars | — | std |
| Hidden rear wipers | — | std |
| Hyper silver metal paint bumper garnish | — | std |
| Hyper silver metal paint front and rear skid plates | — | std |
| LED center positioning light | std | — |
| LED positioning headlamps | — | std |
| Matte black active aero flaps | — | std |
| Matte black air intake and bumper garnish | — | std |
| Matte black lower door garnish | — | std |
| Power hood latch/release with gas lift shocks | — | std |
| Rain sensors | — | std |
| Satin chrome DLO lower beltline | — | std |
| Standard front and rear fascia | — | std |
| Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Compact Spare Tire / T155/90R18 | std | — |
| Rear spoiler – Wide Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | std | — |
| Projection LED headlamps (Low & High beams) | std | std |
| Acoustic front door windows | std | std |
| Acoustic windshield | std | std |
| Heated, power folding, power adjustable outside mirrors with LED repeater lamps (gloss black mirror base) | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) | std | std |
| Rear LED combination lamps | std | std |
| Auto Light Control headlights | std | std |
| Privacy rear door windows and cargo area windows | std | std |
| Solar windshield and front door glass | std | std |
| Rear spoiler with LED High Mounted Stop Lamp | std | std |
Powertrain12 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Configuration – FWD | std | — |
| AC Adapter | — | std |
| Battery heating system | — | std |
| DC Adapter*** | — | opt |
| Dual-Level In-cable control box (ICCB) | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | std | — |
| NACS Charge port, illuminated with Powered Door | — | std |
| On-board charger (OBC) | — | std |
| Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | — | std |
| Regenerative Braking System | — | std |
| Single Electric Motor | — | std |
| Virtual Engine Sound | — | std |
| Drive modes (Eco/Normal/Sport/My Drive) | std | std |
| Shift-by-Wire gear selector | std | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Leveling rear suspension | std | — |
Cargo3 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD |
|---|---|---|
| TOW mode – Dash-mounted button | std | — |
| Trailering Package (trailer prewire, HD engine/trans coolers, sway control) | std | — |
| Underfloor storage compartment | std | — |
| Towing hitch | opt | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Palisade
Safety Signal 83 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 122 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Seats (50), Electrical System (30), Forward Collision Avoidance (17)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V160000 · 61,307 vehicles
- moderate Seat Belts 26V169000 · 46,787 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Kia EV9
Safety Signal 89 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 26 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (12), Unspecified (5), Visibility/Wiper (4)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V545000 · 21,290 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Kia EV9Light RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,435 (base trim) | $54,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $39,435 – $58,780 21 trims | $54,900 – $71,900 5 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue | EV9 Long Range RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 34 | 89 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,950 | $850 |
| EV range | — | 305 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9 wins clearly, 89.7 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety, tech & comfort. The Hyundai Palisade is ahead on price and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia EV9 scores 89.7 and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade 83.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Kia EV9?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts lower — $39,435 against $54,900, a gap of $15,465 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Kia EV9?
2026 Hyundai Palisade: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 2026 Kia EV9: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and the 2026 Kia EV9?
Where the 2026 Kia EV9 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (26 against 122 filed with NHTSA), is rated 89 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($850 against $1,950). Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade answers: it starts $15,465 lower ($39,435 against $54,900 base MSRP) and carries 130 hp per ton against 84.2. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.