2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. The Grand Highlander was notably large, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, was more conservative and blockier compared to the smaller Highlander, resembling models like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade distinguished itself with its unique styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. Available in two trims in Canada, Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, the Palisade offered a luxurious feel with features like an artificial suede headliner and quality upholstery. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded sophistication, making it feel like a luxury SUV. The interior was well-appointed, with metal speaker grilles and striped dashboard and door trim. The Palisade's design and features made it appealing to those who appreciated a touch of luxury in a midsize family SUV.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. At the top end, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain boasted 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and while not designed for sports car performance, the Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models. Despite its size, the Grand Highlander delivered adequate acceleration and solid braking, though its steering feel was somewhat numb.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard in Canada, and the Palisade offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. It provided several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine delivered satisfying acceleration, and the transmission was responsive. The Palisade's suspension was tuned for a firmer ride, offering excellent visibility and maneuverability in tight spaces. It displayed unexpected athleticism on winding roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes. The Palisade's real-world fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride. Its extended length translated to significant storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. Even with all seats in place, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers, including those in the third row.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a well-appointed interior with artificial leather upholstery in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. It featured heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Calligraphy trim included an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade provided configurable storage options, with 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 was more comfortable and roomy than many rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The Palisade's smart tailgate feature was convenient but could be turned off if not needed. It offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a significant improvement over previous models. It included features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a connected-services subscription. While Toyota's tech offerings had improved, careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable. The Palisade included Hyundai's Bluelink connected services with a three-year subscription, offering features like remote engine starting and SOS emergency assistance. The standard 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking, and a head-up display.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering adaptive cruise control with lane-change assist on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.