Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, available in Canada in Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, was a stylish addition to the Palisade lineup. The vehicle's exterior was marked by a massive grille, LED projector headlights, and distinctive LED daytime running lights. The Palisade's profile featured body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities on the Luxury Hybrid trim. The rear design was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and LED taillights wrapping around the corners. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The interior featured H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and optional Nappa leather on higher trims. The cabin was filled with organic shapes and well-considered storage solutions, offering a richer feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its distinctive, elegant appearance with a steeply angled windshield, a gently sloping roofline, and minimal creases. The vehicle's design included trendy elements like pop-out door handles and a wide taillight strip. The SV Carbon trim stood out with a two-tone hood featuring exposed carbon fibre and enormous 23-inch carbon wheels. The interior design evolved from the previous generation, featuring a minimalist aesthetic with black plastic dominating the centre stack and console. Despite the lack of physical controls, the interior offered top-notch materials and options like Ultrafabrics and faux suede headliners. The Range Rover Sport's interior was spacious, with heated and electrically reclining seats, but the minimalist design and reliance on touchscreen controls were less user-friendly.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was a testament to the evolution of hybrid technology, offering a fun-to-drive experience for a family car. It featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery, producing a combined 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and next-generation hybrid system contributed to its impressive performance. The Palisade Hybrid's powertrain was optimized for efficiency, with the ability to adjust power distribution for load leveling. Inside, the cabin was remarkably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, though the pedal feel was somewhat soft, creating a slight disconnect in driver inputs.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrains, each with impressive performance figures. The standard engine was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower, while the Dynamic SE trim added an electric supercharger for 395 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid variant delivered 454 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque, with an electric-only range of 85 kilometres. The top-tier SV trims featured a BMW-built 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, producing 626 horsepower. The Range Rover Sport's adaptive dampers and air springs provided exceptional handling, with the SV Carbon trim offering Porsche-level performance. Despite its size, the Range Rover Sport delivered a creamy, hushed ride, with brakes that offered excellent stopping power.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90. The second-row legroom was slightly compromised due to the battery's position, but it remained competitive. The third-row legroom and headroom were less generous compared to rivals. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, USB-C power outlets, and a second-row bench seat standard. The interior was filled with practical storage solutions, including a centre console with a rubberized cargo space and a small shelf for smaller items.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided ample space for passengers, with heated and electrically reclining seats offering various adjustments. The cargo space behind the rear seats was generous at 592 litres, but the total capacity with seats folded was smaller than many midsize SUVs. The narrow door openings were a drawback, but the vehicle's towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms was a standout feature. The lack of physical controls was a functional issue, with most functions hidden in the touchscreen, making basic operations cumbersome.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came well-equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. It supported wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a Driver Talk intercom system. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Bose stereo and a built-in dashcam. The "Stay Mode" allowed the use of climate control and infotainment while the engine was off, adding convenience for drivers.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.1-inch display with software adept at managing occasional features. The Wade Sensing app and 4x4i app provided useful off-road information. Everyday tech like Apple CarPlay and factory navigation worked well, and the instrument panel offered configurable layouts. The surround-view cameras were clear, and the Meridian Signature stereo provided good sound quality, though not as impressive as in the full-size Range Rover.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert. While crash-test ratings were not available, the 2025 model received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. However, it lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags. No crash-test ratings were available from North American organizations, but the Euro NCAP awarded it a five-star rating.