2025 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, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. 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 2025 Hyundai Palisade, on the other hand, leveraged bold design as a differentiator, especially after the 2023 refresh that introduced a more angular and technical look. Its upscale appearance made it seem like a bargain at its sticker price. Inside, even the base Preferred trim offered a modern and upscale feel, with premium leather and metal speaker grilles in higher trims. The Palisade was loaded with thoughtful details, such as USB charging ports in the front seatbacks and second-row smartphone storage pockets. In Canada, it was available in four trims: Preferred, Urban, Ultimate Calligraphy, and Ultimate Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $53,284 to $63,584. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, with its Robust Emerald paint, showcased the Palisade's premium features, making it a mainstream SUV in name only.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base model featured 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, the Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors, generating 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive. The Grand Highlander was not a sports car, but the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The vehicle's size made it less maneuverable than smaller models, and while it didn't exhibit excessive body roll, the steering felt somewhat numb. However, the brakes were solid, and the acceleration was adequate, especially with the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. It had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and averaged 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade's ride and handling were commendable, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer feel on highways. The Smart driving mode adjusted calibration automatically, and the powertrain was smooth and refined, with the V6 engine providing ample power and a pleasant sound. However, it was not very fuel-efficient, recording 13.9 L/100 km in city driving. The steering and suspension offered a reasonable feel for the road, and the brakes were well-calibrated. Overall, the Palisade's driving experience was satisfying, especially for those who appreciated its suspension tuning.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride. With a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase, it offered substantial interior space. The cargo capacity was impressive, with 2,761 litres available, surpassing the Telluride by over 300 litres. Even with all seats in place, it provided 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander was not only spacious but also comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in all rows. Its design ensured good outward visibility, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade also offered three rows of seats, accommodating adults comfortably. Our test vehicle featured a seven-passenger configuration with second-row captain’s chairs, while the base Preferred trim offered eight-passenger seating. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Nappa premium leather, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver’s seat. Heated and ventilated seats were available in the first two rows, and the second-row captain’s chairs provided excellent comfort. The third row, while slightly snug in headroom, offered USB-C charging ports and air vents. Storage solutions were thoughtful, with adjustable cupholders and dedicated sleeves for devices. The Smart Liftgate feature provided hands-free access to the cargo area, which offered 509 litres behind the third row and a maximum of 2,447 litres with seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available through a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for tasks like adjusting the temperature. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 11-speaker JBL stereo, standard on Limited and Platinum trims, provided excellent sound quality. While Toyota's tech offerings had improved, potential buyers were advised to review subscription options carefully.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology, while starting to show its age, remained functional and feature-rich. It included a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. Other features included two-device Bluetooth support, wireless smartphone charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluelink+ connected services. The voice recognition system performed well, and the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system delivered commendable sound. The Palisade also offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display, enhancing the driving experience with additional data and blind spot warnings.

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 automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control was standard, with four following-distance settings.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Highway Driving Assist system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist for highway driving. The Palisade Urban trim added front parking sensors and a surround-view camera. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included evasive steering assist and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024, but a Poor rating in a new frontal-impact test affected its 2025 accolade. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.