Land Rover Range Rover vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover was a testament to understated luxury, maintaining its classic design lineage while offering multiple configurations. Buyers had the choice between standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter available with a third row of seats. The trim levels—SE, Autobiography, and SV—were not universally available across all body styles, adding a layer of exclusivity. The exterior design, with its minimal detailing and subtle elegance, set it apart from flashier competitors like the Bentley Bentayga. Inside, the Range Rover emphasized simplicity, with a dashboard that was almost bare except for a touchscreen and a few controls. Despite some plastic elements in the long-wheelbase SE model, the interior materials generally reflected the vehicle's luxury status.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, sold in Canada in Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, integrated seamlessly into the existing Palisade lineup. The base Luxury trim featured 20-inch alloy wheels and a distinctive front grille with LED lighting. The Palisade's profile was marked by body-colour, heated side mirrors, and acoustic side glass, contributing to a refined appearance. The rear design was equally striking, with wide-spaced lettering and LED taillights. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The interior offered features like H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery and advanced seating adjustments, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasting Nappa leather. The Palisade's interior storage solutions were well-engineered, providing a richer feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The entry-level engine was a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six with a mild hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid version of this engine produced 543 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The V8 option, sourced from BMW, offered 523 hp and 553 lb-ft in SE and Autobiography models, and 606 hp in the SV trim, achieving 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Despite its size, the Range Rover excelled in comfort and refinement, with excellent ride quality and body control. Off-road capabilities were ensured by features like a two-speed transfer case and height-adjustable air suspension, providing 28 cm of ground clearance and the ability to wade through 90 cm of water.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of sluggish hybrids with its 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the combined output reached 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and hybrid system optimized power distribution, enhancing performance and fuel efficiency. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was notably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing materials and acoustic glass. The steering was responsive, though the pedal feel was softer, creating a slight disconnect in driver inputs. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a smooth and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover's three-row models accommodated seven passengers, while two-row versions seated five. The long-wheelbase model without a third row offered an impressive 1,220 mm of second-row legroom. Cargo space was limited with the third row in place, but folding the seats expanded it to 857 litres and 2,050 litres, respectively. The split tailgate and air suspension facilitated loading and unloading. The Range Rover could tow up to 3,720 kilograms, matching its body-on-frame competitors.

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 battery placement slightly reduced second-row legroom, but the third row remained competitive. The Palisade's cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control and multiple USB-C outlets. The standard second-row bench seat provided seating for eight, with captain's chairs available on higher trims. The Palisade also featured numerous storage cubbies, enhancing practicality.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover came with a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, while a 35-speaker Meridian audio system was available on higher trims. The Pivi Pro infotainment system had improved, but the lack of physical controls made it less user-friendly. The natural-language voice recognition system helped mitigate this issue, allowing for easier control of certain functions.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, along with a Driver Talk intercom system. A 14-speaker Bose stereo was included on all but the base model. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a built-in dashcam, a valuable feature for many drivers. The Palisade also introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the use of climate control and infotainment while the engine was off, provided the battery had sufficient charge.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover included standard driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. While it lacked advanced systems like Super Cruise, the standard surround-view camera system was useful, though not always intuitive to activate. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including blind-spot warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, enhancing safety. The Palisade's ADAS performed reliably during testing, and while crash-test ratings were not available, the 2025 model received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.