Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Pilot

Palisade

$35,900

Pictured: Palisade XRT AWD. MSRP as tested $43,960.

PILOT

$37,090

Pictured: TrailSport AWD. MSRP as tested $50,500.

Palisade

We are big fans of the Hyundai Palisade, the automaker's flagship SUV. The three-row family-friendly SUV has been one of the hottest sellers on the market since its 2020 model year launch and for good reason. The Palisade offers amazing luxury at a great value along with a terrific ride and drive and cutting edge safety technology. It also comes with Hyundai's great warranty.

One notable feature of the Palisade is its available third-row power seats and new for 2023 heated third-row seats. It also has a third row that fits adults.

While generally more suited for the pavement, the Palisade is capable of some light off-roading.

The Hyundai Palisade is an outstanding family hauler with a polished presence in the carpool lane.

Pilot 

Honda did a fantastic job with the all-new 2023 Pilot. We like its new more rugged looks and more modern interior (though we'd hoped for a larger available multimedia screen). The new for 2023 off-road oriented TrailSport model we tested featured notably comfortable seats. 

This three-row family hauler delivers a great ride and nice acceleration. It offers versatile, roomy seating with an available removable 2nd-row you can stow under the cargo floor and the third row fits adults.     

We also like the safety updates that include expanded Honda Sensing technology and a next-gen front passenger airbag.

The new Honda Pilot is an excellent choice for families who like a more rugged look and outdoor capability.

Palisade

The Palisade is significantly enhanced for 2023 with interior and exterior design updates, new infotainment and safety features, and advanced driver assistance systems.

The 2023 lineup offers a new dark-themed XRT model and Robust Emerald joins the lineup as a new color for 2023.

In the cabin, a new available Ergo driver’s seat is designed to provide comfort and help reduce fatigue during long drives. The 2023 Palisade also offers a brand-first 3rd-row heated seats.

The 2023 Palisade is also the first Hyundai vehicle with a WiFi hotspot. Enhanced USB-C ports replace standard USBs and there are also new Bluetooth-enabled features. Wireless charging speed improves too.

Hyundai's All-Wheel-Drive system includes a new Tow Mode.

Deciding between a new or used Palisade? Here's a list of every Palisade we've reviewed.

Pilot

Honda's largest SUV is all-new for 2023. The fourth-generation 2023 Pilot is the largest and most powerful in the SUV's history. It's built on a new platform, features a more rugged exterior design and has an all-new engine.

The interior's been upgraded as well with a more modern, premium look and updated technology. New features include an available panoramic roof.  An available removable 2nd row seat can be stowed under the rear cargo floor.

A new TrailSport model is geared towards off-the-pavement adventures. It adds ground clearance and new features like Trail Torque Logic and a TrailWatch Camera system for AWD. 

New and improved Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive tech includes a new wide-view camera and radar.

Deciding between a new or used Pilot? We've reviewed it several times since 2016. Here's a list of every Pilot we've reviewed.

Palisade

• Excellent, quiet, ride quality 
• More tech-forward with better display graphics  
• Upscale interior
• More 1st- and 2nd-row legroom
• Available with a power folding third-row
  
• Better warranty 

Pilot

• Great on-road driving dynamics
• Comfortable, front Body Stabilizing Seats
• More headroom throughout
• More cargo space
• Roomier 3rd-row
• TrailSport adds off-road capability 

Palisade

• Steering is on the looser side
• Small standard driver multi-information display
• XRT trim doesn't add capability 

Pilot

• No power third-row
• Multimedia system isn't a great
• Largest multimedia screen is 9-inches

22 mpg (FWD)

21 mpg (AWD)

22 mpg (FWD)

21 mpg (AWD)

20 mpg (TrailSport AWD)

19 mpg (FWD/AWD)

19 mpg (FWD/AWD)

18 mpg (TrailSport AWD)

27 mpg (FWD)

25 mpg (AWD)

27 mpg (FWD)

23 mpg (AWD TrailSport)

25 mpg (Elite, Touring AWD)

• Standard 4.2” Color multi-information display
• Available 12.3” Digital Instrument Cluster
• 12.3-inch color touchscreen with onboard navigation
• Dynamic Voice Recognition
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• HD Radio, SiriusXM
• Available 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio
• Rear Seat Quiet Mode
• Available Driver Talk In-Car Intercom
• Rear view monitor with parking guidance
• Available Surround View Monitor
• Available Head-Up Display  

• Standard 7-inch TFT driver meter display 
• Available 10.2-inch digital driver display 
• Standard 7-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  
• Available 9-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,, HD Radio, SiriusXM subscription, Cabin In-Talk PA system
• Standard Bluetooth
• Available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and Honda RealTime Traffic
• Standard 7-speaker audio
• Available 9-speaker audio
• Available 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound System
  
  
  

• Available wireless charging
• Three 1st row & Two 2nd row 2.1-amp USB outlets (1x USB-A 2.0 Power/Data & 4x USB-C Power)
• Available dual third row 2.1-amp USB-C outlets (Power)
• Four 12-volts
• Available 115-volt power outlet
• New standard WiFi hotspot
• Over-the-Air (OTA) map updates

• Available wireless charging
• 2.5-Amp USB Type-A  Front Console (1 Port)
• 3.0-Amp USB Type-C  Front Console (1 Port)
• 2.5-Amp USB Type-A - 2nd Row (2 Ports)
• Available 2.5-Amp USB Type-A Charging Port - 3rd Row (2 Ports)
• 1 12-volt (front)
  
• Available 12-volt (cargo)
• Available 110-Volt Power Outlet (2nd Row)
  
• Available WiFi Hotspot
  

RAV4

Highlander

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Parking Distance Warning – Reverse
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT
• Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist
• Rear View Monitor with parking guidance
• Driver Attention Warning
• Safe Exit Assist
• Trailer Sway Control
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)

• Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go & Curve Control

Standard/Available

• Rear Occupant Alert or Available Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert
• Highway Driving Assist I or available Highway Driving Assist II

Available

• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Surround View Monitor
• Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) 
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist - Reverse
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/JC/LO/LS/ESA

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS™)
• Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow
• Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR)
• Traffic Jam Assist

Available Safety Features:

• Low Speed Braking Control
• Blind Spot Information System (BSI)
• Cross Traffic Monitor
• Head-up Display
• Multi Camera View 

• 3-point Outboard Seats
• 3-points Inboard Seatbelt/Seatbelts Rear
• Adjustable front-seat shoulder belt anchors
• Front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters
• 2X LATCH anchors and 3 tethers in 2nd row, 1x Latch & 2 tethers for 3rd row
• Active head restraints
• Power window lock-out button
• Rear child safety locks
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes
• Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist
• Vehicle stability management
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with individual tire indicator
• Front crumple zone
• 2.5-MPH bumpers

• 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions
• Front & Mid Row Outer 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
• Advanced Front Airbags
• SmartVent® Front Side Airbags 
• Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row Passenger-Side), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row All)
• Seat Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions
• Rear Seat Reminder
• Child-Proof Rear Door Locks
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Brake Assist
• Hill Descent Control
• Hill Start Assist

196.7"

199.9" - LX, Sport, EX-L, EX-L (7P), Touring, Elite

200.2" - TrailSport

77.8"

78.5"

68.9” 

71.0" - LX, Sport, Elite, Touring

70.9" - EX-L

72" - TrailSport

291-horsepower 

285-horsepower

262 pound-feet

262 pound-feet

18.8

18.5

7 Passenger (FWD/AWD)

• 4,259 – 4,376 / 4,389 – 4,506

8 Passenger (FWD/AWD)

• 4,171 – 4,226 / 4,301 – 4,356

FWD/AWD

• 4,030 / 4,202 - LX
• 4,313 / 4,488 - Sport
• 4,306/ 4,497 - EX-L
• 4,262/ 4,464 EX-L 7
• 4,685 - TrailSport (AWD only)
• 4,418/ 4,625  - Touring
• 4,460 - Elite (AWD) only

Max 5,000 pounds.

3,500 pounds (FWD)

5,000 pounds (AWD)