2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade distinguished itself with a bold and unmistakable design, setting it apart from other SUVs that often relied on rugged styling cues. The Palisade's angular and technical look, introduced in the 2023 refresh, replaced its previous chubby-cheeked appearance, offering a more upscale and balanced form. Inside, even the base trim level provided a clean and modern aesthetic, with higher trims featuring premium leather and luxury cues. Despite some hard-to-read metallic-surface control markings, the Palisade was loaded with thoughtful details like USB charging ports in the front seatbacks and second-row smartphone storage pockets. In Canada, the Palisade was available in four trim levels, with prices ranging from $53,284 to $63,584.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while attempting to break away from the typical minivan design, still retained its box-on-wheels appearance. Its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines gave it a unique look, but it remained unmistakably a minivan. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, with the Platinum package offering a new woodgrain finish, although not all passengers appreciated the design. The Sienna's practicality was evident with its seating for up to eight and easy loading and unloading, thanks to sliding side doors. The Canadian lineup included trims like LE, XLE, and XSE, with prices ranging from $51,219 to $73,753.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Palisade's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, and it averaged 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade offered a satisfying driving experience, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer ride on highways. The powertrain was smooth and refined, with the automatic transmission providing silky shifts. However, it wasn't the most fuel-efficient, recording 13.9 L/100 km in city driving and 11.9 L/100 km overall during testing.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. It offered 245 net horsepower, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive available. The Sienna's hybrid system aimed to maximize fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. However, during testing, it averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with a smooth and absorbent ride. The CVT could be noisy during hard acceleration, but the Sienna remained quiet on the highway.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered three rows of seats, with a seven-passenger configuration featuring second-row captain's chairs. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Nappa premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver's seat. Heated seats were standard in the first two rows, and the second-row captain's chairs provided good support and legroom. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, 1,297 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,447 litres. The Smart Liftgate added convenience, although it could open unexpectedly.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function, with power-adjustable and heated front seats. The Platinum trim featured long-slide, reclining captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests in the second row. The Sienna's third-row seat accommodated adults, and the sliding side doors made loading and unloading easy. Storage space was ample, with a wide tray under the centre console. The Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 2,129 litres with the third row stowed, and a maximum of 2,860 litres. However, the second-row seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum load space.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology, while functional, appeared dated compared to newer Hyundai models. It 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, but the system included Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Harman Kardon audio system delivered commendable sound. The Palisade also offered a digital rearview mirror, head-up display, and surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. The Limited trim included a four-zone climate control system, a head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered connected services with varying subscription periods, and the digital assistant responded well to commands. The Sienna's JBL premium audio system had excessive bass, but the four-zone climate control system was appreciated. The digital rearview camera and surround-view camera were helpful features.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with 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. The Palisade also offered an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and a camera-based blind-spot warning system. However, it received a Poor safety rating in a new frontal-impact test, preventing it from earning a Top Safety Pick in 2025. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna's safety systems generally performed well, although the lane-centring assist could waver in some situations. The Sienna added a new rear-seat reminder technology for 2025, alerting the owner if movement was detected in the cabin. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it received a four-star frontal crash-test result and a three-star rating for driver protection in a frontal impact.