What is the best year for a Hyundai Palisade?

The Palisade's complaint counts have remained elevated across all model years. 2020 (504 complaints) was the worst, with gradual improvement since. The 2025 model (213 complaints, 10/10 safety, 9 severe) is the strongest year currently available as a used buy. Avoid early 2020-2021 production when possible — the trend is improving, but complaint levels across all years remain higher than most three-row rivals.

How much does Hyundai Palisade insurance cost?

Palisade insurance averages around $3,049/year — roughly $254/month. The highest insurance rate of any model in this dataset, well above the three-row class norm.

Is the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride cheaper to maintain?

Maintenance cost data isn't available for the Kia Telluride, so a direct comparison isn't possible. Within the three-row class, the Palisade's $573/year sits exactly at the segment average.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Hyundai Palisade?

Maintenance metrics are all at the segment average, which doesn't create a strong case for or against warranty on cost grounds alone. However, the Palisade's consistently elevated complaint counts — particularly around electronics and infotainment — make coverage worth considering for used buyers, as those systems carry significant repair costs outside of warranty.

Is the Kia Sportage expensive to maintain?

The Sportage averages $462/year in maintenance — $59 below the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 19% is well below the class average of 30% — owners visit for unscheduled repairs far less often than most rivals. Major repair probability of 11% is at the class average. Low cost and low visit frequency make it a strong ownership value.

What is the best year for a Kia Sportage?

The 2022 Sportage (42 complaints, 10/10 NHTSA safety, 6 severe) is the standout used pick — the mature end of the fourth generation before the 2023 redesign. The new fifth-generation launch in 2023 had 177 complaints but settled quickly to 62 in 2024 and 46 in 2025. Avoid 2012-2013 and 2017, which saw complaint spikes tied to the Theta II engine recall era.

How much does Kia Sportage insurance cost?

Sportage insurance averages around $1,997/year, or about $166/month.

Is the Kia Sportage or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $33/year cheaper — $429 versus $462 for the Sportage. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability. The Sportage's repair frequency of 19% is significantly lower than the RAV4's 26%, meaning fewer unscheduled shop visits despite the slightly higher annual maintenance figure.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Kia Sportage?

Major repair probability of 11% at the class average, repair frequency well below it. Low-risk ownership. Extended warranty isn't strongly warranted for 2021+ models. For 2012-2013 and 2017 used models with documented engine recall history, coverage is worth taking seriously.

Hyundai Palisade vs Kia Sportage

Two three-row SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Hyundai Palisade if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

Buy the Kia Sportage — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Sportage
Annual maintenance	$573	$462winner
5-year total cost	$2,865	$2,310winner
Reliability score	7 / 10	8 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	13%	11%winner
Cargo space	—	73.7 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$41,035	$30,900winner
Best years to buy	2022	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Sportage
RepairPal score	7 / 10	8 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	355.3	176.6winner
Years to avoid	2024, 2025, 2026	2010, 2012, 2013
Value retained · 3 yr	73.3%	75.7%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	54.7%	56.8%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	43.2%	45%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Sportage
Engine	11.2%winner	55.6%
Electrical	4.7%winner	6.1%
ADAS	9.4%	5.8%winner
Brakes	14.6%	8.5%winner
Suspension	5.7%	—winner
Steering	2.0%	1.5%winner
Fuel system	—winner	1.1%
Tires/Wheels	0.7%	0.5%winner
Glass/Windows	14.1%	2.7%winner
Airbags	4.6%	2.5%winner
Lighting	—winner	1.0%
Seatbelt	14.0%	—winner

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Sportage
Avg annual premium	$3,049	$1,997winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Hyundai Palisade

$573/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Kia Sportage

$462/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Palisade costs $573/year to maintain — exactly at the three-row segment average. Repair frequency of 37% is slightly below the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 7 and major repair probability of 13% both match segment averages. Precisely average across all maintenance metrics — though its insurance cost stands well apart from the class.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →