2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this connection was evident in its design. It featured hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Celestial Silver on the Capstone model giving it a somewhat dated look reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard layout, complete with physical dials and buttons for volume and climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The seating was power-adjustable, and a moonroof was standard across all trims, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its bold design, especially after the 2023 refresh that introduced a more angular and technical look. Its balanced forms and upscale appearance made it seem like a bargain at its sticker price. Inside, even the base trim offered a clean, modern look, with premium leather and metal speaker grilles in higher trims. The Palisade was packed with thoughtful details, such as USB ports in the front seatbacks, smartphone storage pockets, and accessible drink holders. In Canada, it was available in four trims, with prices ranging from $53,284 to $63,584. Our test vehicle, in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured Robust Emerald paint and an MSRP of $62,460.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available as a hybrid, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked an increase of 46 hp and 182 lb-ft over the previous model. Fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia came standard with 4WD, featuring a part-time system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the TRD Pro models included a skid plate. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with several towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the standard AWD system in Canada. The Palisade's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, and it averaged 11.1 L/100 km in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade drove well, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer ride on highways. The powertrain was smooth and refined, with the automatic transmission delivering silky shifts. However, it wasn't very fuel-efficient, recording 13.9 L/100 km in city driving and 11.9 L/100 km overall. The Palisade's steering and suspension offered a reasonable feel for the road, and the brakes were well-calibrated.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, making it easier for shorter individuals to enter the vehicle. Inside, it offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, there were 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The second-row seats didn't slide fore and aft, but they were easy to move for access to the back row. The third-row seats folded at the push of a button but didn't create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom was reduced by 7.5 centimetres, and legroom varied across rows. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, but they lacked bolstering.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade accommodated three rows of seats, with our test vehicle featuring a seven-passenger arrangement with second-row captain's chairs. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Nappa premium leather, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver's seat. Heated outboard seats were standard in the first two rows, and the second-row captain's chairs offered heating and ventilation. The Palisade provided good thigh support and legroom, with triple-zone climate control and overhead air vents. Third-row passengers had USB-C charging ports, drink holders, and air vents. Cargo space behind the third row measured 509 litres, with a large compartment under the load floor. Folding the third row increased cargo capacity to 1,297 litres, and maximum capacity was 2,447 litres.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch screen, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and the 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology was starting to look dated compared to Hyundai's newer models, but it remained fully functional. Our test vehicle featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. Other features included two-device Bluetooth support, wireless smartphone charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, 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 with blind spot warnings.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on Platinum and Capstone trims. The Sequoia hadn't been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The HDA system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist. An ultrasonic rear occupant alert system was standard, and the Palisade Urban trim added front parking sensors and a surround-view camera. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included evasive steering assist, lane-change assist functions, and Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA). The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024 but received a Poor rating in a new frontal-impact test for 2025. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.