2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Toyota Sequoia

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 other aspects 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, including destination charges. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which was tested, featured luxurious touches such as an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior elements, making it feel like a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sequoia, particularly in the U.S.-only 1794 Edition trim, offered a different aesthetic appeal. This trim was equivalent to the Canadian Sequoia Platinum trim but featured unique elements like dark grey painted 20-inch wheels and less exterior chrome. The Sequoia lineup in Canada included various trims, with prices ranging from $87,174 to $106,175. Despite being on the market for a few years, the Sequoia's rarity on the road and its Lunar Rock paint garnered attention. However, the interior, apart from the leather upholstery, was criticized for its typical Toyota-grade plastic, which detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with 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 offered a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance. Various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, were available, with the option to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine provided ample power and satisfying acceleration, while the transmission was responsive. The Palisade's suspension was tuned for a firmer ride, offering excellent handling on mountain and canyon roads. However, its real-world fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia featured an i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 engine, an electric motor, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. It delivered 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The Sequoia's part-time four-wheel-drive system offered 2-Hi, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo settings, along with driving modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, and Tow/Haul. Despite its muscular performance, the Sequoia's fuel economy fell short, averaging 14.5 L/100 km in Normal mode. It boasted a maximum towing capacity of 4,137 kilograms and a peak payload of 640 kilograms. However, the Sequoia's driving dynamics were compromised by its packaging, with a solid rear axle affecting rear-seat room and cargo space. The ride was jittery, and the steering lacked feel, while the brakes were criticized for poor initial bite and modulation.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a comfortable and well-appointed interior. In Canada, the Urban trim featured artificial leather upholstery, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted premium Nappa leather. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with memory settings and an adjustable thigh support cushion for the driver. The Calligraphy trim included an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade provided configurable storage options, including a large storage bin and wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with a rear climate control panel and USB charging ports. The third-row seat was more spacious than most rivals, and the hands-free power tailgate added convenience. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the seats folded.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia accommodated up to eight passengers, with seven being more comfortable. The Platinum and Capstone trims featured 10-way power adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The Sequoia's long rear doors facilitated access to the second and third rows, but they were cumbersome in tight spaces. The third-row seating was cramped, with limited headroom and a high floor. Cargo space was limited, with only 325 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,460 litres with the seats folded. The Sequoia's cargo capacity was less than rival full-size SUVs, and even Toyota's own Grand Highlander offered more room.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable, while wireless charging was available in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services included remote engine starting and emergency assistance. The Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking system, and a head-up display.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the Limited trim. Four connected services plans were available, with trial subscriptions. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The system's natural voice recognition, Intelligent Assistant, responded to a "Hey Toyota" wake command but had limitations. The Sequoia also included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist paired adaptive cruise control with 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 Toyota Sequoia featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. However, the lane assist features were criticized for causing false warnings. At the time of publication, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable for the Sequoia.