Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander

Palisade

$35,900

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

Highlander

$36,420

Pictured: Limited Turbo AWD. MSRP as tested $53,181. 

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.

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

Highlander

Toyota recently shared that the Highlander SUV is currently the No.1 selling midsize SUV in America for the 7th year running.  It's easy to see why. The Highlander is a practical SUV with a nice interior and plenty of available creature comforts. For 2023, the Highlander ups its game with a new, more efficient gas-only engine and new upgraded tech that include two available new 12.3-inch displays. 

The Highlander is a winner in the family-friendly SUV department if you don't need a huge third row that fits adults.  It's most suited for the pavement, with other Toyota models including the Sequoia more geared for off-roading.

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.

A WiFi hotspot is also a first application for Hyundai. Enhanced USB-C ports replace standard USBs and there are also new Bluetooth-enabled features.

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

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

Highlander

For 2023, Highlander gas models are now equipped with a new, higher-torque, high-efficiency turbocharged engine.  It replaces the V6.

Turbo models are equipped to tow up to 5,000-pounds.

Limited and Platinum grades now have two 12.3-inch screens as standard; one Multi-Information Display (MID) screen and one multimedia screen. The touchscreen  is optional for the XLE and sporty XSE grades, which have an 8-inch screen as standard. 

Limited and Platinum grades now come standard with power folding exterior mirrors.

New Cypress green exterior color.

Deciding between a new or used Highlander? We've reviewed it several times since 2019. Here's a list of every Highlander we've reviewed.

Palisade

• Great ride quality that's quiet
• More 1st and 2nd row passenger space
• Roomier 3rd row 
• Available power-folding third row 
• More cargo capacity
• Delivers more horsepower
  
• Better warranty and a great value

Highlander

• Smooth, comfortable and quiet ride
• Engine delivers more torque
• New gas-only turbo engine is more fuel efficient
• Also available as a hybrid
• More trims to choose from
• New Toyota multimedia system is really intuitive 
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Palisade

• Steering is on the looser side
• Wired (not wireless) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Highlander

• The third row isn't big enough for adults
• No available power third row.

22 mpg (FWD)

21 mpg (AWD)

24 mpg

19 mpg (FWD/AWD)

21 mpg

27 mpg (FWD)

25 mpg (AWD)

28 mpg

• Standard 4.2” Color multi-information display and 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 multi-information display and available 12.3-inch color LCD multi-information display
• Standard 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto with 6-speaker audio.
• Available 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system w/ wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connect trial or subscription that offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices.
  
• Available 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio.
• Available with a backup camera with projected path or a backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• 1 yr trial subcription to Drive Connect  — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist.  Subscription required after trial.  4G network dependent.

• 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)
• Available wireless Device Charging 15W
• Four 12-volts
• Available 115-volt power outlet

• Available wireless charging
• Five USB ports
• Two 12V outlets

RAV4

Highlander

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT
• Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Safe Exit Assist
• Parking Distance Warning – Reverse
• Available Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse
• Available Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist - Reverse
• Available Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/JC/LO/LS/ESA
• Rear Occupant Alert or Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert
• Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go & Curve Control
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
• Rear View Monitor with Parking Guidance
• Available Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Available Surround View Monitor
• Available Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) 
• Highway Driving Assist I or available Highway Driving Assist II

• Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+)  — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), * Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA),  Automatic High Beams (AHB),  Lane Tracing Assist (LTA),  Road Sign Assist (RSA)  and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) 
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) 
• Rear passenger seatbelt reminder
• Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning
• Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PA w/AB)
• Available with a backup camera with projected path or a backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Available Panoramic View Monitor  

• 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 seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts
• Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on middle of second- and third-row seats
• Star Safety System™—includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), * Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) * and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) *
• Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control
• Eight airbags —driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags

196.7"

194.9"

77.8"

76.0"

68.9” 

68.1"

291-horsepower 

265-horsepower

262 pound-feet

310 pound-feet

18.8

17.9

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)

• 4,155/4,332 - L
• 4,155/4,332  - LE
• 4,199/4,376 - XLE
•  4,221/4,420 -XSE
• 4,265/4,453 - Limited
• 4,265/4,453 - Platinum

Max 5,000 pounds.

Max 5,000 pounds.