2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from the typical family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found much to admire in other aspects of the vehicle. In Canada, the Palisade was available in two trims: Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, with the latter offering a luxurious feel thanks to features like an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior design elements.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, which debuted its fifth generation in 2024, maintained a chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. Its pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design aesthetic, offering a modern look. The Santa Fe's rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions, particularly with the placement of the taillights. Despite this, the Santa Fe offered a range of vibrant colours, breaking away from the typical greyscale of many SUVs.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. The Palisade's towing capacity reached 2,268 kilograms, and it offered 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance. With multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, the Palisade provided versatility for various driving conditions. Despite its firm suspension, the Palisade offered a comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding city driving.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It also featured standard AWD and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for a total of 231 horsepower. While the Santa Fe felt stable in corners, it experienced noticeable turbo lag and occasional transmission delays. The XRT trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, though it wasn't designed for rugged terrain.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a luxurious interior with features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-panel sunroof. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade provided configurable storage options and ample space for passengers, with a comfortable third row and a hands-free power tailgate. Cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both rows could be folded with a button in the cargo area. Cargo capacity reached 2,267 litres with seats folded, and the rear opening was widened for easier loading. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, though the latter required a USB-A cable. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included wireless charging and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking, and a head-up display.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, with navigation available on higher trims. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad. The digital key feature allowed phone or watch access, and Bluelink app connectivity provided remote control and monitoring. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added a digital rearview mirror and head-up display.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) was standard, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received high marks in side-impact and rollover resistance tests from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe also offered a robust set of safety features, with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist as standard. Higher trims included additional features like rear parking collision avoidance and Highway Drive Assist. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with some areas marked as "Acceptable."