Toyota Grand Highlander vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, available in Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, integrated seamlessly into the gas-only Palisade lineup. It featured a massive grille with LED projector headlights and a stack of LED daytime running lights. The Palisade's profile boasted body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities in the Luxury Hybrid trim. The rear view was equally impressive, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and stacks of LED taillights. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid offered a delightful interior design with organic shapes and thoughtful storage solutions. The base trims came with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, while higher trims offered Nappa leather. The Palisade's interior craftsmanship was superior to other non-luxury crossovers, providing a richer feeling of quality.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option developed 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was known for its size, which made it a bit challenging to maneuver in tight spaces. While it didn't exhibit significant body roll, the steering feel was somewhat numb. However, the brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid redefined the hybrid stereotype with its fun-to-drive nature. It featured a 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 Palisade Hybrid's advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and propulsion systems contributed to its impressive performance. The hybrid system eliminated the old platform's starter motor and auxiliary belts, optimizing power distribution. The Palisade offered a quiet and smooth ride, with noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass reducing road and engine noise. The steering was sharp, providing a responsive driving experience, although the pedal feel was a bit soft.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, offering a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. With seats in position, it provided 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander offered ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers, even in the third row.

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's position under the front passenger seat slightly reduced second-row legroom, but it remained competitive. The third row offered 815 millimetres of legroom, trailing some rivals. The Palisade Hybrid featured dual-zone climate control, seven USB-C power outlets, and a second-row bench seat with seating for eight. The cabin was comfortable, with thoughtful storage solutions and a range of seating options.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via a subscription. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. It supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows. Most trims included a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and a built-in dashcam was available on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The Palisade introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard. The Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of 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 higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert. The Palisade had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but the 2025 model received a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS.