2025 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims like LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, offered a distinctive look. Despite the absence of "swagger wagon" commercials, its vibe persisted. Competing with the Kia Carnival for style points, the Sienna featured sleek front and rear fascias and came in vibrant colors such as deep blue, red, or green. Standard LED lighting was a highlight, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, with exclusive colors like Cement or Midnight Black Metallic, was designed for mild off-road adventures, featuring roof rails, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

Inside, the Sienna provided standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and seating for eight. The XSE trim with the Premium package replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs and added heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats. The interior design emphasized spaciousness with horizontal lines and satin accents. While not luxurious, it was practical for families, with features like a built-in vacuum cleaner in upper trims. The fixed center console offered easy access to cup holders and the shifter, making it a functional kid-friendly vehicle.

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 price point. Inside, even the base SE trim offered a modern and upscale feel. Higher trims featured premium leather, artificial suede, and luxury touches like metal speaker grilles. However, some metallic-surface control markings were hard to read in daylight.

The Palisade was packed with thoughtful details, including USB ports in the front seatbacks, smartphone storage pockets, and accessible drink holders. It came in seven trims, from SE to Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $37,200 to $54,500. Our Calligraphy test vehicle, with AWD and Robust Emerald paint, had an MSRP of $55,205. The Palisade’s design and features made it a standout choice for those seeking a stylish and well-equipped SUV.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models had an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna felt sluggish, especially with its CVT, which made acceleration smooth but slow. Around town, it offered a pleasant driving experience, with light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. However, the brakes were a bit grabby, and the minivan lacked the driving pleasure found in competitors like the Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and averaged 22 mpg in combined driving. The Palisade’s ride was firm at lower speeds but smoother on highways. It handled speed bumps impressively and performed well in various conditions. The powertrain was satisfying, with smooth and refined operation, though it wasn’t very fuel-efficient. The Palisade’s steering and suspension provided a reasonable feel for the road, and the brakes were well-calibrated.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered up to 40 inches of legroom and included an ottoman in upper trims. However, the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn’t be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control and a rear liftgate with 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubes with seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered three rows of seats, with our test vehicle featuring a seven-passenger arrangement. The Calligraphy trim included Nappa leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver’s seat. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, with good thigh support and legroom. The third row, also heated, provided USB-C ports and drink holders. Storage was generous, with adjustable cupholders and dedicated device sleeves. The Smart Liftgate offered hands-free access, and cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It included physical buttons for common menus and a grainy backup camera. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM radio, and an optional JBL stereo system. USB ports were scattered throughout, and a 1500-watt inverter was available. Optional features included a rear-seat entertainment system and a head-up display.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade’s technology was functional, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and touchscreen infotainment system. It required a cable for smartphone connectivity but included Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and Bluelink+ services. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Harman Kardon audio system provided commendable sound. The Palisade featured a digital rearview mirror, head-up display, and surround-view camera system, enhancing its tech offerings.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It had side curtain airbags for all rows and reminders for rear passengers. The Sienna received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. IIHS rated it “Good” in crashworthiness but “Average” in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured Hyundai SmartSense, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Highway Driving Assist. Higher trims added features like a surround-view camera and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from IIHS through 2024 but received a Poor rating in a new frontal-impact test for 2025. NHTSA gave it five stars for frontal impact and four stars for rollover resistance.