Refreshing or Revolting: 2020 Kia Telluride vs. Hyundai Palisade

After years of focusing on sedans over SUVs, Hyundai and Kia are working to fill in gaps in their utility vehicle lineups. One big gap has been the large SUV segment. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride arrive in dealerships this year to do battle with the Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and other players. Although the two corporate cousins share the same basic architecture, each has its own style. So how do they compare? Let’s take a look below.

Up front, the Palisade flaunts an oversized grille with a thick frame to match. Like the Hyundai Kona, the Palisade gets a split front lighting setup. The upper light housings are mere slivers, while the lower lamps are stacked vertically. Daytime running lights run in a vertical fashion through the upper and lower housings. The Telluride’s front end is just as quirky. It has block-shaped headlights, and a longer, stretched out grille. Arguably, this grille design makes the Telluride appear wider and more planted than the Palisade. Prominent “Telluride” badging appears above the grille.

Both models have similar exterior dimensions. The Palisade measures 196.1 inches in length, compared to the Telluride’s 196.9 inches. It’s 77.8 inches wide, 68.9 inches tall, and with a 114.2-inch wheelbase, while the Telluride comes in at 78.3 inches wide, 69.3 inches tall, and with an identical wheelbase. The Telluride gets some more body cladding compared to the Palisade, which lends to a more rugged appearance. Whether it has the off-road chops to back up those looks, we’ll have to wait and see. Both models feature boxy back ends, while the Palisade gets a particularly bold C-pillar design.

You’ll notice the biggest similarities in the rear. The Palisade and Telluride feature vertical-oriented taillamps that frame the back end. They get “Palisade” and “Telluride” lettering spread out just above the license plate area. The models feature a similar exhaust arrangement as well.

 

Peek inside the cabin, and you’ll see additional similarities. Both models offer a 10.25-inch touchscreen, with air vents and then a row of buttons right below. The Palisade features an electronic shifter, while the Telluride gets a more traditional unit. Storage cubbies are placed differently in the two cabins, with the Palisade having a cutout compartment in the center console. Grab handles on the Telluride hint at the model’s capabilities off the beaten path. Quilted Nappa leather upholstery is available on both the Telluride and Palisade.

Which large Korean crossover is the style king: the 2020 Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride? Let us know on Facebook.

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Spied! Ford EcoSport Successor Goes Incognito on the Street

It will probably be a while before Ford officially reveals the EcoSport‘s successor, but according to our spy photographer, the car you see here is exactly that. It’s so heavily camouflaged, you can barely tell what it is. We have it on good authority, though, that this particular prototype is built on the Fiesta platform and will eventually become Ford’s replacement for the EcoSport.

Despite the heavy camouflage, the prototype gives us a pretty good idea of the next EcoSport’s overall shape. We see a lot of the new Focus in the fenders and roofline, even if the design has been stretched into a more crossover-like shape. Up front, the headlights look almost insect-like, but we highly doubt they’ll make it to production without changes. If you look closely, you can get a decent idea of how the headlight housing will be shaped. Around back, you can also see the taillights through the camouflage.

Will this vehicle still be called the EcoSport? We can’t say right now, nor do we have any idea what engines will make it to the U.S. It would make sense for Ford to only offer one or two options here, and we’d expect fuel economy to be a top priority. But considering how slow the current EcoSport is, we really hope its successor offers more power. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a hot rod, but we’d like to believe Ford plans to offer a better competitor for the Hyundai Kona.

Of course, as we found in a recent comparison test, the current EcoSport sets the bar pretty low. Hopefully, its successor feels like it was actually designed to be sold in the U.S. Fingers crossed?

Photo source: CarPix

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2020 Subaru Legacy Looks Pretty Sedate

Subaru has teased its next-generation Legacy again, and this time it’s showing off the exterior. Based on this shadowy image, we can tell the midsize sedan will stick to a conservative appearance.

The headlamps have changed slightly, and the daytime running lights now take on a “D” shape. The side mirrors have been moved from the door skins to the A-pillar, and the taillights have been updated. Subaru doesn’t take big design risks, so we’re not surprised the new Legacy looks business as usual. We’ll have to leave the emotional appeal to the Mazda6 and Toyota Camry.

Subaru recently previewed the Legacy’s new vertical-oriented touchscreen. Although many controls can be found on the touchscreen, buyers will appreciate that there are still physical knobs to control the volume, tune through radio stations, and adjust the temperature.

Expect the 2020 Legacy to sit on the new Subaru Global Platform. Subaru hasn’t announced engine options on the Legacy, but the automaker will likely get rid of the 3.6-liter boxer-six that currently serves as the upgraded engine. It could replace this unit with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four like the one in the Ascent SUV.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy will debut at the Chicago Auto Show on February 7.

Source: Subaru

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