2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting, and additional lower body trim. It featured unique 20-inch wheels and upgraded interior detailing, including a simulated suede interior headliner. In 2020, some of these features were standard with the Limited trim level, which in 2021 adopted an exterior look similar to the Palisade SEL with the Convenience or Premium option packages. The Calligraphy trim made the Palisade appear more luxurious, drawing attention with its unconventional styling. Inside, the Calligraphy’s cabin was luxurious, with quilted and stitched premium Nappa leather and a Beige over Navy Blue color scheme, making it seem like a genuine bargain at its sticker price.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, was a bit dated, having been introduced in 2007 and receiving a facelift in 2018. For 2021, it gained a new Nightshade Special Edition. The Sequoia's massive, multi-tiered center dash design and standard 7-inch touchscreen felt outdated. Despite its large size, the front seats were bulky, limiting headroom for tall drivers, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats offered ample headroom and legroom. The Sequoia's trims ranged from the entry-level SR5 to the range-topping Platinum, with the new Nightshade edition featuring black 20-inch wheels and black leather upholstery. The TRD Pro was designed for off-road use, while the Platinum trim added luxury features like heated-and-ventilated front seats and a larger 9-inch touchscreen.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. It offered Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding a Snow mode and a Lock function for improved traction. The Palisade AWD had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg. The Palisade's firmer suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive, though not outright fun. It was undemanding to drive, with plenty of power and easy handling, and it had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with available four-wheel drive. The Sequoia's engine provided stout acceleration, even in an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. It drove like a truck, with a soft suspension and overpowered brakes, instilling confidence with its pickup-like driving dynamics. The Sequoia had a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds, falling behind competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. Despite some body-roll in cornering, the Sequoia's wide stance helped it settle in corners.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and accessible interior, with eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom and support, and they slid forward for easy access to the third-row seat. The Palisade offered 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. It featured a hands-free Smart Liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a large cabin with almost 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. It featured a power-retractable rear window for easy access to the cargo area. The Sequoia had deep in-door pockets and a massive center console, with plenty of storage space, though newer SUVs were better at maximizing space. Despite its large size, the front-row space could have been better utilized.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems: an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen requiring a wired connection. The Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, navigation, and Blue Link connected services. It featured wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, and a Quiet Mode. A head-up display and surround-view camera system were also available.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model featured a larger 9-inch screen, though it felt small on the large dash. The Sequoia's infotainment system was easy to use, with simple menu navigation and hefty hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but functional, offering a refreshing simplicity.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and multiple lane-keeping systems. It featured a rear occupant alert system, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, and a Safe Exit Assist system. The Palisade's Highway Drive Assist provided smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. It earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, it lacked more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test and had not been rated in further crash tests.