When it comes to buying a new vehicle, it’s an easy decision for many drivers who are loyal to a specific brand. If you aren’t invested in one, however, you may not know where to look. One way to start is by comparing two automakers, like Hyundai and Kia.

Hyundai and Kia might have a lot in common, but if you’re on the fence about which brand to go with, we have some juicy details that might make your decision easier. For example, Hyundai had one best selling car in Car and Driver’s Best-Selling Cars, Trucks, and SUVs list. Kia didn’t have a single vehicle that made the list. But does this mean that Hyundai is the best brand? Let’s check out some more facts that U.S. News put together. 

Hyundai Palisade vs Kia Telluride

Hyundai and Kia are both South Korean brands, but there’s more than that the two companies have in common. For example, the Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride are often compared to each other in head-to-head battles. 

Car and Driver states, “As platform-mates, the DNA profiles of both the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and the 2020 Kia Telluride are so closely related that a 23andMe genetic test would struggle to tell the two apart.”

Both are mid-sized SUVs with three-rows. Both also have a transversely mounted, 291-hp V-6 engine that is paired up with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Telluride weighs only three pounds more than the Palisade, and the Palisade is 0.2 seconds faster than the Telluride. It’s obvious that these two SUVs are very similar. Still, the Telluride has a better interior, and that was enough for Car and Driver to pick it over the Palisade. 

Let’s check out some more facts before you decide that Kia is the all-around winner, however. 

Reliability goes to Kia

Both Kia and Hyundai have a good reputation, but there can only be one winner when it comes to reliability. In this case, it’s Kia. Like many of the comparisons between Hyundai and Kia, however, this was a close battle. Both have a reliability score of 3.5 out of 5, so this was an extremely close race. The Kia Rio was the tipping point, as it earned a reliability score of 4.5. 

Autotrader echoed what U.S. News had to say, by stating that Kia has become more reliable. Consumer Reports doesn’t quite agree with other critics, however. Hyundai was ranked sixth out of thirty automakers, and Kia ranked ninth. It’s not a big difference, but it might be enough to sway some drivers.

Performance is too close to call

Do you want a car that’s merely dependable, or do you want a car that can leave all the competitors sitting at the light while you peel away? If the answer has to do with speed, then you want a Hyundai.

According to U.S. News, Kias have a better score when it comes to performance. It was a close battle, however. Kia earns an 8.1 out of 10 while Hyundai earns an 8.0 out of 10. Clearly this isn’t enough to make a decision, so let’s check out some other facts.

Price is about the same

Both automakers tied. While this isn’t exactly a common occurrence in the auto world, it does happen on occasion. Both have great vehicles at a decent price.

In fact, these are some of the lowest-priced vehicles on the market. So you could say that both Hyundai and Kia have beat out all of the other automakers in the price division.

For many of the vehicles, the price difference is a few hundred dollars apart. So if you’re in the market for a reliable vehicle that doesn’t require you to bust open all those forgotten piggy banks, never fear. You can choose the brand that suits you most.

And the winner is….

In the end, Kia came out on top. Still, it was a close race. Hyundai really knows how to make a great vehicle, and you shouldn’t count the company out. Taking two companies and comparing the stats is a great way to help you narrow down you car search.