The Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride have different names — and are sold under different labels. But they're made by the same company, Kia being part of Hyundai in the same way that GMC is part of GM and Lexus is a division of Toyota.

And they're (SETI ITAL)mostly the same vehicle.

This is a common practice.

The question is, why practice it?

The reasons are twofold.

First, there usually are differences — ideally, enough to make a difference. These differences might not be mechanical — but appearances (and available equipment) as well as price can make a big difference.

And those differences make it possible to differentiate a Kia from a Hyundai — and market them each to different buyer demographics — without Hyundai, the parent company, having to design and build two entirely different models. Which saves them — and, ultimately, the customer — money.

What It Is

The Palisade is the Hyundai-badged (and styled) version of the Kia Telluride. Or vice versa.

Both are full-sized, three-row crossover SUVs and mechanically identical but visually very different — and not just grillewise. The Kia is slightly longer and wider overall and has a little more ground clearance (when ordered with its optional all-wheel-drive system). It also has more side-glass area and a little less cargo room.

There are also price and trim differences.

The Kia comes four ways — LX, S, EX and SX — while the Hyundai comes three ways — SE, SEL and Limited.

The Kia starts out a little less: $31,890 for the base LX with front-wheel drive versus $31,975 for the base trim Palisade SE with the same mechanicals.

A loaded Telluride SX with all-wheel drive stickers for $43,790; a Palisade Limited with all-wheel drive stickers for $46,825.

What's New

The Palisade and the Telluride are both new models and the largest models offered so far by their parent companies.

What's Good

It has the same standard V-6 engine as the Telluride.

It also has the same standard 5,000-pound tow rating.

It offers different looks — and amenities.

What's Not So Good

It has a little less cargo space than its brother.

It is higher-priced than its brother.

It offers fewer trims to pick from.

Under the Hood

One area where there's no difference between the Palisade and the Telluride is the engine compartment.

Both come standard with the same 3.8-liter V-6 engine that makes 291 horsepower and 262 foot-pounds of torque. The V-6 is paired with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and your choice of either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Both also boast the same 5,000-pound standard tow rating.

There is, however, a difference in gas mileage — which is interesting, given that the mechanicals are 100% identical.

Yet, the Hyundai version of this full-sized crossover carries an Environmental Protection Agency rating of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models and 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive version. The same-engine, same-transmission Telluride carries a rating of 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive version.

It's not a big difference — but it goes to show that even when things are the same, they're sometimes a little different.

On the Road

Even though it has three rows of seats and room for up to eight people, the Hyundai's overall length (196.1 inches) is about the same as that of the Toyota Avalon, a midsize sedan (195.9 inches).

Other differences — when compared with other crossovers — include larger-than-usual digital displays for the cabin temperature settings, which make them easier to read at a glance, diminishing the need to glance away from the road.

This is a small thing that's a big thing.

It also has larger-than-usual push-buttons on the center stack and center console, which are easier to accurately depress when the vehicle is moving.

This is a design that should be the same in every vehicle, regardless of brand.

At the Curb

You have to look beneath the skin to find the commonality between the Palisade and the Telluride.

They're very different on the outside — and the inside.

Each has its own dashboard and gauge layout, as well as entirely different center consoles. In the Palisade, the console curves upward to meet the dash; in the Telluride, you grab the handles on either side of its more rugged rectangular shape.

Neither layout is necessarily better — just different.

You get a choice of the same thing.

There's also a difference in terms of cargo space — and not just versus each other. Both have more total cargo space — 18 cubic feet behind the second row; 86.4 cubic feet total for the Palisade — than others in the class, including the previously class-leading Honda Pilot (83.8 cubic feet).

The Rest

The Palisade comes standard with the same class-best warranty coverage as its Kia brother from the same mother: five years/60,000 miles on the whole thing, 10 years/100,000 miles on the things that make it go (engine and transmission).

The Bottom Line

The same thing served two ways isn't a bad thing — if it's a good thing!

View the Hyundai Palisade this week.

Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.