Jeep Cherokee vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was available in Canada in two trim levels: Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy. These trims seamlessly integrated into the existing gas-only Palisade lineup, which included the Preferred Trend, the rugged XRT Pro, and the Ultimate Calligraphy. While the top trim was predictably more impressive, every Palisade trim exuded style and presence. The base Luxury trim came standard with 20-inch alloy wheels and featured a massive grille with horizontal slats, framed by LED projector headlights and a stack of five large LED daytime running lights. The Palisade's profile was enhanced by body-colour, heated side mirrors, with the Luxury Hybrid adding power-folding to the mix. Acoustic side glass on the front and rear windows was standard across all trims. The rear view was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name below a large Hyundai emblem, and stacks of five LED taillights wrapping around the rear corners. The exhaust was discreetly tucked away, hinting at the Palisade's focus on peaceful, efficient driving rather than outright performance.

Inside, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade was even more impressive. The base gas-only trim levels came standard with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat with two-way lumbar support, and three-stage heating elements for the driver and front-passenger seats. As one moved up the trim ladder, features like four-way lumbar adjustment, seat ventilation, integrated driver's seat memory settings, and beautiful Nappa leather upholstery on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim were added. The interior design was a delight, filled with organic and natural shapes, and everything felt meticulously crafted. The Palisade's storage solutions were thoughtfully considered and engineered, offering a richer feeling of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee, in contrast, adopted a less polarizing design compared to its predecessor, the KL model. Its boxy shape was reminiscent of the classic XJ Cherokee from the 1980s and 1990s, although it came across as somewhat generic amidst the trend of rugged-looking crossovers. The trademark seven-slot grille appeared more like a Jeep knockoff than the genuine article. The rear-end treatment was more successful, combining an XJ-like profile with aerodynamic surfacing and taillights featuring the distinctive "X" pattern of jerry cans. The proportions were fairly good for a compact SUV sharing the Stellantis STLA Large platform with the Dodge Charger, Jeep Wagoneer S, and the upcoming Jeep Recon. Buyers received a similar appearance across the base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland trim levels, with the high-end Cherokee Overland featuring 20-inch wheels instead of the 18-inch wheels on other trims. The interior was a different story, with the two lower trim levels offering cloth upholstery, while the Limited and Overland had leatherette seats. Jeep claimed the lack of genuine leather was an environmental move, noting the use of recycled materials in the carpets and interior trim. The interior trim was mostly plastic, but Jeep's use of muted finishes instead of smudge-prone, glare-inducing piano black was commendable. The Cherokee's interior exceeded expectations for style with its concave dashboard and rotary shifter reminiscent of the flagship Grand Wagoneer.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype that hybrids were slow, especially in the realm of large, three-row crossovers. Hyundai had turned this notion on its head since the launch of the first Palisade in 2020. The Palisade Hybrid continued its reputation as a fun-to-drive family car in 2026. The hybrid powertrain featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The turbo-four engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the Grand Highlander's base hybrid engine. Combined with the electric motors, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade delivered a total of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, ensuring it never lagged, whether in town or on the highway. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and propulsion systems contributed to the Palisade Hybrid's impressive performance. Hyundai's next-generation hybrid system eliminated the old platform's starter motor and auxiliary belts, relying on a more capable electric motor connected directly to the engine. This motor supported a second unit responsible for vehicle propulsion when needed. In low-speed situations or under light acceleration, the Palisade could disconnect the P1 and engine via a clutch, relying solely on the more powerful P2 motor. This optimized powertrain produced more power while consuming less fuel, and the advanced hybrid system aided in handling by adjusting power distribution for load leveling. Inside the cabin, noise and vibration were remarkably low, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering feel was sharper than expected for a three-row crossover, with virtually no play off-centre on the highway. However, the pedals felt a bit squishy, creating a slight disconnect between the responsive steering and soft pedal feel.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee's specs initially seemed uncharacteristic for a Jeep. It featured a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine connected to a two-motor hybrid system with a planetary gearset replacing a conventional transmission, similar to Subaru and Toyota. This setup delivered 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, positioning it between the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 hybrids in terms of power. The standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system was basic by Jeep standards, with a clutch-based rear-axle disconnect system allowing only the front wheels to receive power under light loads, improving fuel economy but lacking the capability of the 4WD systems with low range found in the Grand Cherokee or Wrangler. Jeep's Selec-Terrain drive modes (Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud) provided some assistance, as did the best-in-class approach and departure angles. However, the breakover angle and ground clearance were slightly less than some competitors. The hybrid system excelled in power application and smooth transitions between gasoline and electric power, comparable to Toyota and Honda. The Cherokee was quiet and comfortable, though not particularly fun in corners. The steering had significant play, requiring adjustments through the touchscreen, and the regenerative braking was lacking compared to other hybrids.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing the Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Honda Pilot, but surpassing the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Mazda CX-90. The Palisade Hybrid's second-row legroom was slightly compromised due to the battery's position under the front passenger seat, but it still provided more space than most competitors. The third-row legroom, measuring a maximum of 815 millimetres, trailed the Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Ford Explorer. The third-row headroom was 957 mm, shorter than the Pilot and Explorer but more than a centimetre higher than the Grand Highlander's. Despite these measurements, the Palisade offered a more comfortable cabin with standard dual-zone climate control, second-row HVAC controls, and seven 100-watt USB-C power outlets. The second row was spacious enough for adults, and the Palisade Hybrid came standard with a second-row bench seat and seating for eight, with captain's chairs available on higher trims. The Palisade was also equipped with numerous cubbies for smaller items, including a rubberized cargo space in the centre console and a small shelf ahead of the front passenger seat.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee provided comparable headroom and legroom to competitors like the Subaru Forester and Kia Sportage hybrids, with slightly more headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids. However, a deep dashboard and steeply raked windshield hindered forward visibility for shorter drivers. The seats were comfortable but wedged between a wide centre console and door pockets. Buyers had to upgrade to the Cherokee Laredo for a power driver's seat and to the Cherokee Limited for a power front passenger seat. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with a heated steering wheel available from the Laredo grade. Rear-seat passengers had similar headroom to rival crossovers, but the CR-V, Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson hybrids offered more legroom. The Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with 951 litres behind the rear seats and 1,934 litres with the rear seats folded. However, its 1,587-kilogram towing capacity was impressive, matching certain versions of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The dashboard was relatively uncluttered, with important analog controls, but some buttons were hard to find at a glance, and the touch sensors for climate controls and seat heaters lacked feedback.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was well-equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. While not oversized, the touchscreen was a bit far from the passenger's seat. The infotainment system supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The standard Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between the first and third rows. All trims except the base model featured a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and a 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard, though it tended to overheat phones. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a built-in dashcam covering front and rear views, recording to a 64GB SD card. The 2026 Palisade Hybrid introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off, provided the hybrid battery had more than 35% charge.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with USB-C ports for both front and rear rows on all but the base model. Wireless device charging was standard on Limited and Overland models. Uconnect 5 was stable and upgradable via over-the-air updates, with 10 years of support guaranteed. However, the digital instrument cluster's graphics were plain, and vehicle settings were split between the touchscreen and dashboard buttons, causing some confusion. The native navigation system in the Overland model was laggy compared to Android Auto, and there was little difference between the six-speaker audio system in lower trims and the 10-speaker system in the Overland model.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Hyundai's blind-view monitor, typically reserved for the most expensive trims, was standard on the XRT Pro and up, including both hybrid trims. The rear doors featured a standard safe-exit alert indicator. During testing, the Palisade's ADAS tech performed flawlessly. At the time of writing, crash test ratings from the U.S. National Highway Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were unavailable, but the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee offered standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. Active Driving Assist, combining automated lane centring with adaptive cruise control, was also standard. Traffic sign recognition was standard on the Overland model, and a surround-view camera system was available. Crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.