Nissan Pathfinder 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, contributing to a quieter ride.

The rear view of the Palisade 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 Palisade impressed with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and three-stage heating elements for the front seats. Higher trims offered features like four-way lumbar adjustment, seat ventilation, and Nappa leather upholstery. The interior design was a delight, with organic shapes and thoughtfully engineered storage solutions, providing a richer feeling of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder combined smooth and chunky design elements, from the contours of its front and rear fenders with wraparound lights to the upright, truck-like dashboard design. The 2026 model featured a restyled front bumper with faux vertical air intakes below the headlights, adding depth to the lower fascia. The grille lost its thick chrome outline, replaced by a single thin chrome line intersecting the Nissan badge. Additional short chrome bars below the headlights appeared as extra lights, though they weren't functional grille lights like those on the smaller Murano. At the rear, vertical creases below the outer taillights were removed, and new wheel designs, a Baltic Teal paint colour, and satin-coloured badges were introduced.

Interior changes were more noticeable, with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen replacing the previous 9-inch unit. The start/stop button was repositioned, and a wider silver strip above the climate controls spelled out "Pathfinder." The steering wheel adopted a polygonal shape, and the centre console armrest no longer featured "Pathfinder" as a black plastic accent. The interior was simple, made with good materials for the price, and offered a balance of modern and classic design. The semi-aniline leather on the Platinum trim with diamond stitching added a touch of luxury, bringing the Pathfinder closer to Infiniti levels of refinement.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid redefined the notion of hybrid performance in a three-row crossover. It 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 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 next-generation hybrid system contributed to its impressive performance, eliminating the old platform's starter motor and auxiliary belts.

The Palisade Hybrid's powertrain was optimized for more power and less fuel consumption, with dynamic load leveling enhancing handling. Inside, noise and vibration were minimized, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, with virtually no play off-centre, while the pedals felt a bit squishy. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a peaceful and enjoyable driving experience, with a quick, responsive steering wheel.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder retained its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, or 295 hp and 270 lb-ft in the Rock Creek with premium fuel. All-wheel drive was standard, and both trims available in Canada, Rock Creek and Platinum, could tow up to 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds). The nine-speed automatic transmission resulted in lazy acceleration, and the engine sounded laboured. Compared to competitors, the Pathfinder's power and efficiency were lacking, with fuel economy estimates of 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.6 highway, and 10.8 combined for Platinum models.

The Rock Creek trim, tested during a media evaluation, was not recommended due to its loud Toyo Open Country A/T III tires, which negatively impacted grip, noise, and fuel economy. The suspension was soft, allowing more lean and mid-corner wheel motions, detracting from the Pathfinder's steering. It performed best in a straight line, where the soft ride was more comfortable. Overall, the Pathfinder needed a better balance of ride and handling, similar to Nissan's smaller Rogue and Altima models.

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 battery's position under the front passenger seat slightly reduced second-row legroom, but it still provided more space than most competitors. The third row, however, had less legroom and headroom compared to the Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Ford Explorer. Despite this, the Palisade's cabin was more comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, seven USB-C power outlets, and a second-row bench seat for eight passengers. Captain's chairs were available on higher trims, and the Palisade featured numerous storage cubbies for smaller items.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured Nissan's "Latch and Glide" second-row seats, designed to fold and slide forward with an installed car seat, making it family-friendly. Headroom and legroom were generous in the first and second rows, but the third row was tight for taller passengers. The Pathfinder seated eight passengers by default or seven in the Platinum trim with captain's chairs. The Platinum trim also included a removable console, heated outboard rear seats, and a 10-way power driver's seat. Cargo space measured 470 litres behind the third row, 1,274 litres behind the second row, and 2,279 litres with the second and third rows folded. Both trims featured a power liftgate with motion activation and position memory, and the Rock Creek had a tubular roof rack supporting up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds).

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came well-equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were supported, along with HD and Sirius XM satellite radio. The Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows, and a 14-speaker Bose stereo was available on higher trims. A 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard, though it tended to overheat phones. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured a built-in dashcam, and the Palisade introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured Nissan's latest infotainment software on a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Factory navigation was no longer offered, but the system was easier to use and faster to respond. SiriusXM satellite radio and NissanConnect subscription-based remote services were standard. The Pathfinder debuted Qi2, a next-generation wireless device charger with a magnetic lock for cooling. The Invisible Hood View and Front Wide View cameras were standard in Canada, and the Platinum trim included a head-up display and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

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. The blind-view monitor was standard on the XRT Pro and higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. The 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but the 2026 model had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder included second-row side-impact airbags, curtain airbags for all three rows, and front knee airbags. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, lane-departure warning, and active assists for lane keeping and blind spot systems. Traffic-sign recognition was included on the Platinum trim, and the ProPilot Assist highway driving aid was standard. The Pathfinder earned five stars from the NHTSA but only four stars in the frontal crash test. The IIHS rated it "Good" in side impact and small overlap front tests.