Between Hyundai and its Kia sister brand, the South Koreans are doing fairly well on the sales front with three-row SUVs. Through July, the second-generation Hyundai Palisade was up 7% (to 75,626 units) in the US compared to the same period in 2025. But its platform mate, the redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride, did even better, finding 85,418 new driveways, up 19% from the same period in 2025.
Now, this is where determining segment leadership, through July, gets dicey. Statistical purists would likely argue that a sales crown should be bestowed only upon one vehicle from one brand. In that scenario, among mainstream brands, it appears the Ford Explorer would reign supreme among three-row crossover SUVs, having delivered 126,925 units in the US only through June – the Blue Oval only reports quarterly sales – up 21% from the same period in 2025.
2027 Kia TellurideKia
Is It Fair To Pit Explorer Against Platform Mates?
It’s important to note that Ford only reports US sales at the end of each quarter, which means the Explorer tally is a month old and we won’t get an updated number until after September. Likewise, General Motors also reports sales quarterly, and the Chevrolet Traverse was its best-selling three-row crossover through June, with 81,417 deliveries, up 26%.
But there’s something to be said for platform sharing, and the Traverse shares its underpinnings with the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave three-row crossovers, all coming from the same plant in Lansing, Michigan. Group those three together, and they would claim the first-half sales crown with 130,101 sales, combined, through June.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited rear 3/4 angle in blue while drivingHyundai
Surely you’ve noted similar contradictions when Ford claims 49 years of F-Series leadership, while General Motors claims the same crown by combining Chevrolet and GMC truck sales. The eternal debate rages on.
As both Hyundai and Kia have grown market share for the Palisade and Telluride, we find another platform tandem that is using the GM playbook to stir up the market. Through July, combining Telluride and Palisade brings a total of 161,044 deliveries. That would likely put the Korean 1-2 punch neck and neck with the Explorer and GM’s crossover triumvirate.
Tariffs Might Be Holding Back Palisade Sales
If this is too much geek-speak for you, then the simple truth is this: The Ford Explorer is the bestseller among singular nameplates, while the Traverse, Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander (86,926 units through July) are likely duking it out for second place in the segment. The Honda Pilot lags slightly behind, with 73,508 deliveries through July.
Seats shot of the 2027 Kia TellurideKia
And if you’re wondering how the Telluride outsold the Palisade by about 10,000 units through July, perhaps it’s tied to tariffs: Palisade comes to the US from a Korean plant, while the Telluride is built at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia. Kia says its US sales across the brand set a July monthly record, up 7% to 75,857 vehicles from July 2025, and up 4% to 506,584 deliveries for the year, through July.
Sizable sales increases through July were noted for the battery-electric EV9 (up 30% to 8,685 deliveries), Seltos crossover (up 38% to 41,311 units), the Carnival minivan (up 21% to 47,347 units), and the K5 (up 11.5% to 45,088). The best-selling Sportage crossover was up 9.2% to 110,990 deliveries through July.
Interior shot of the 2027 Kia TellurideKia
And how about the compact K4 sedan and hatchback? They combined for 85,673 deliveries through July, slightly down from 2025 but proving there’s still life in the compact car market.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Kia is definitely on a roll, as most of the brand’s 11 nameplates have grown sales through July. The 4% growth for the brand comes despite the Kia Soul leaving the US market in late 2025, resulting in a drop of 27,000 Souls in the US. Plus, Kia sold about 2,500 fewer EV6s through July (4,717 units) compared to the first seven months of 2025. If Kia can keep up this pace, the brand might set an annual sales record for the fourth year in a row.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L
Base Trim Transmission
8-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
274 HP
Base Trim Torque
311 lb.-ft.
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
Source: Kia
