Lexus RX vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2024 Lexus RX, following its recent redesign, presented a polarizing exterior with its oversized trapezoidal grille and large air inlets, which seemed awkwardly integrated into the bodywork. The hood's prominent bump added to the bulky appearance, contrasting with the sleeker designs of previous RX models. The side profile featured bulging body panels and a swooping chrome accent strip, suggesting a floating-roof design that felt somewhat out of place. However, the rear end offered a more cohesive look with a tidy design and a single light strip connecting the taillights. Inside, the RX's cabin was more conventional, with faux suede inserts in higher trims lending a softer feel. The 14-inch infotainment touchscreen was well-placed, though the simulated woodgrain on the centre console felt less convincing compared to the genuine wood inlays on the steering wheel. Despite these inconsistencies, the cabin was covered in premium materials, providing a sturdy and luxurious feel.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, available in Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, integrated seamlessly into the existing Palisade lineup. The base Luxury trim featured 20-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille with horizontal slats, flanked by LED projector headlights and five large LED daytime running lights. The profile boasted body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities in the Luxury Hybrid. The rear view was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and stacks of LED taillights wrapping around the corners. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The base trims offered H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery and eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, while higher trims added features like Nappa leather upholstery and integrated driver's seat memory settings. The interior was filled with organic shapes and well-considered storage solutions, providing a richer feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2024 Lexus RX offered four distinct models, starting with the base RX 350, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all models came standard with all-wheel drive. The RX 350h hybrid version featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, routed through a continuously variable transmission. The RX 500h F Sport Performance combined a turbo 2.4-litre inline-four with a hybrid powertrain, delivering 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission. The plug-in hybrid RX 450h+ increased power output to 304 hp with an 18.1-kWh battery pack, offering up to 60 kilometres of electric range. While the RX 350 and RX 350h felt underpowered, the RX 450h+ was more responsive, reaching 96 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The RX prioritized comfort with its soft suspension, though it resulted in noticeable body roll when cornering.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of slow hybrids with its 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery, producing a total of 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 optimized power distribution, enhancing handling and fuel efficiency. Inside, the cabin was remarkably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, with minimal play off-centre, while the pedals felt slightly squishy. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a smooth and responsive driving experience, making it a standout in the three-row crossover segment.

The 2024 Lexus RX provided ample front seat space with standard heating and ventilation, though a massage function was absent. The interior featured a rubberized wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and well-sized storage options. The rear seats offered good legroom and visibility, with standard rear climate controls and USB ports. The RX's cargo space was 838 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,308 litres with the second-row seatbacks folded. However, the load floor was slightly taller than competitors, requiring more effort for loading.

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 reduced due to the battery's position, but the third row offered competitive space. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, seven USB-C power outlets, and available captain's chairs. The interior featured numerous storage cubbies, including a rubberized cargo space in the centre console and a small shelf ahead of the front passenger seat.

The 2024 Lexus RX featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen measuring 9.8 inches in lower trims and 14 inches in higher-end models. The system offered logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses, with natural speech commands for convenience. The steering wheel housed multi-function pads for easy control, though the buttons required initial activation. All RX trims included a cloud-based navigation system, though connectivity issues were noted. The available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system provided excellent audio quality.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The system supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows. Most trims featured a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and the Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a built-in dashcam. The Palisade Hybrid introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the use of climate control and infotainment while the engine was off, provided the hybrid battery had sufficient charge.

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick, despite a "Poor" rating in the moderate frontal overlap test. The RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and more. Some features were overly sensitive, but they could be adjusted or disabled.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid included a comprehensive suite of ADAS, such as 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. The Palisade's ADAS performed reliably during testing, with no false alerts. At the time of writing, crash test ratings for the 2026 model were unavailable, but the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.