All-New Hyundai Palisade VS Toyota Grand Highlander-Comparison

Summary

In this comparison between the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade, Zach and Andrea delve into their key features, powertrains, and interiors. Both vehicles offer hybrid options, but Toyota stands out with a powerful Hybrid Max, while the Palisade boasts a luxury-like interior with advanced tech features. The Grand Highlander is slightly larger with more cargo and third-row space, but the Palisade excels in second-row legroom and luxury feel. Both vehicles match up in price, and while Toyota offers reliability, Hyundai pushes the envelope with innovative features. The video helps viewers decide which SUV would be the better fit for their needs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Hyundai Palisade: A comparison of two major players in the midsize three-row SUV segment.
• 🚗 Both vehicles are available with gas and hybrid powertrains, providing a variety of options for consumers.
• 💨 The Grand Highlander offers three powertrain options (gas and two hybrids), including a powerful hybrid Max with 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
• ⚡ The Palisade has two hybrid powertrains, with the more powerful 2.5 L hybrid offering 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque.
• ⛽ Both the Grand Highlander and Palisade hybrids offer impressive fuel economy, with EPA range estimates of 996 km (619 miles) per tank.
• 💡 The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max stands out with its blend of performance and fuel economy, whereas the base hybrid focuses on efficiency.
• 🛻 The Palisade offers a new off-road-ready trim, the XRT Pro, which includes additional ground clearance and a rear electronic limited-slip differential.
• 📏 In terms of size, the Grand Highlander is slightly larger than the Palisade in key areas like cargo space and third-row legroom.
• 🛋️ The Palisade's interior stands out with luxury features, including Napa leather upholstery and a high-tech dashboard, making it feel like a premium vehicle.
• 💲 Both vehicles are priced competitively, with similar price points on higher-end trims, but the Palisade offers more features at the same cost, making it a better value in many areas.
• 🎯 The Grand Highlander offers a more practical, straightforward interior design, while the Palisade pushes the envelope with luxurious details and high-tech features.
• 🚙 Towing capacity is similar for both, with the Grand Highlander and Palisade able to tow up to 5,000 lbs (gas models). However, the hybrid models have lower capacities (Grand Highlander at 3,500 lbs, Palisade at 4,000 lbs).

Q & A

What are the key differences between the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Hyundai Palisade in terms of powertrains?

The Toyota Grand Highlander offers three powertrain options: a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, a 2.5L hybrid, and a powerful 2.4L hybrid Max with 362 horsepower. The Hyundai Palisade, on the other hand, provides two powertrains for 2026: a 3.5L V6 and a 2.5L turbocharged hybrid. While both vehicles offer hybrid options, Toyota has a more diverse range of powertrain configurations, especially with the Hybrid Max for higher performance.

How do the powertrain options impact the fuel economy and performance of these SUVs?

The Toyota Grand Highlander’s 2.5L hybrid offers an impressive EPA range of 996 km (619 miles), while the more powerful Hybrid Max provides a range of 747 km (464 miles) but offers significantly more power (362 horsepower). The Hyundai Palisade’s hybrid also offers a range of 996 km (619 miles), but the performance is slightly less powerful compared to Toyota’s Hybrid Max. Toyota’s hybrid options focus on fuel economy, while the Palisade’s hybrid aims to balance performance and efficiency.

Which SUV offers more cargo space?

The Toyota Grand Highlander wins in terms of cargo space, offering more capacity behind the third, second, and overall cargo areas. It has an additional 1.6 cubic feet behind the third row and 11.6 cubic feet behind the second row, compared to the Hyundai Palisade, which has a larger interior volume overall but smaller cargo capacity.

What distinguishes the Hyundai Palisade in terms of interior luxury features?

The Hyundai Palisade stands out for its luxury-like interior, especially on higher trims. It features premium materials like Napa leather upholstery and advanced tech like dual 12.3-inch screens. The interior design feels more refined and upscale compared to the Toyota Grand Highlander, which has a more utilitarian design with fewer luxury touches.

How do the third-row seats compare in both SUVs?

In the Toyota Grand Highlander, the third-row seats offer slightly more legroom than the Hyundai Palisade, with an extra 1.4 inches. However, the Hyundai Palisade offers more advanced features like power-operated seats that can slide forward and back, making it more versatile for third-row access.

What off-road features does the Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro offer?

The Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro comes with off-road-oriented features such as increased ground clearance, a rear electronic limited-slip differential, an off-road mode, tow mode, an OEM tow hitch, and front and rear recovery hooks. This makes it a more capable option for those looking for an off-road appearance and functionality.

What are the notable differences in warranty offerings between Toyota and Hyundai?

Toyota offers a 3-year or 60,000 km warranty (36,000 miles) and complimentary scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles. Hyundai provides a more generous 5-year or 100,000 km warranty (60,000 miles), showcasing a stronger commitment to long-term reliability and coverage.

How do the pricing strategies of the Grand Highlander and Palisade compare?

Both the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade have very competitive pricing. Despite differences in powertrains and features, the two models are priced similarly in higher trims, making them attractive options for buyers who want a high-quality midsize SUV without a huge price difference.

Which SUV is better for families with a lot of cargo or gear?

For families needing significant cargo space, the Toyota Grand Highlander is the better option due to its larger cargo capacity in all three areas. The Palisade, while spacious, doesn’t offer as much overall storage space, particularly behind the third row.

What is the key differentiator between the interior ergonomics of the two SUVs?

The Toyota Grand Highlander emphasizes simplicity with a more industrial and practical design, featuring many buttons for easy access. The Hyundai Palisade, while also ergonomic, has a more luxurious feel with more advanced tech, such as touch-sensitive controls and a well-designed center armrest with convenient hot keys.