2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not appeal to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found the rest of the vehicle equally appealing. In Canada, the Palisade was available in two trims: Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, priced at $57,431 and $61,031, respectively. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which was tested, featured luxurious touches like an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior elements, giving it a luxury SUV feel.

In contrast, the 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, linking it visually to other Land Rover models. However, its interior leaned more towards durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, was tested and featured a rugged yet refined interior.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Palisade could tow up to 2,268 kilograms and offered 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance. It included several driving modes, such as Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, and allowed for off-road capability with an AWD lock. Despite its power, the Palisade was best suited for less challenging terrains. It delivered satisfying acceleration and smooth gear transitions, with an average fuel consumption of 15.0 L/100 km during testing.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower. The P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 horsepower. Two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 options, P500 and P525, offered even more power. The Defender's engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. It could tow up to 3,500 kilograms with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, especially with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2. The P400 model provided ample power for highway driving, though it exhibited slight lurching at low speeds.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a comfortable and well-equipped interior. The Urban trim featured artificial leather, while the Ultimate Calligraphy boasted premium Nappa leather. Standard features included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-panel sunroof. The Palisade provided configurable storage options and excellent second-row comfort, with captain’s chairs available. The third row was more spacious than many competitors, and the hands-free power tailgate added convenience. Cargo space ranged from 509 litres behind the third row to 2,447 litres with seats folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and practicality with soft-touch materials and functional features like grip handles and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row and the Defender 130 accommodating up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 2,155 litres with seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 962 litres behind the second row in the two-row version. The Defender 90 provided 441 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,650 litres with seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and required a USB-A cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included wireless charging. Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services offered remote engine starting and emergency assistance. The Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror and a semi-autonomous parking system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons enhanced usability, making it a blend of refinement and utility.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist provided a hands-on driving system for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured standard safety technologies like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.