2025 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Palisade is Hyundai’s largest SUV, debuting in 2020 as a replacement for the Hyundai Santa Fe XL. Since then, the automaker has steadily improved the SUV’s styling, technology, and packaging, and that’s also true of the 2025 Palisade. A redesigned 2026 Palisade is on the way and will undoubtedly improve on this outgoing version.

Verdict: Though the 2025 Palisade marks the last year for the current-generation model, you should still consider one, especially if the deal is too good to pass up. This Hyundai has aged remarkably well and remains more appealing than many of its rivals in the midsize three-row SUV arena.

The all-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan corrects the last generation's user interface issues while making incremental improvements throughout the rest of the vehicle. The company’s best-selling model in North America easily meets expectations for a compact SUV, and it’s the only entrant with that German look and feel. Otherwise, it doesn't distinguish itself from the rest of the pack.

Verdict: The new Tiguan is a handsome crossover and the only sub-luxury German option. However, amid an incredibly competitive field, the redesigned Tiguan does too little to separate itself from the crowd.