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We’ve compiled the facts on the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander. Find out what we think in our article here.
Sweet SUVs for Under $30,000
SUVs are here to stay! That’s apparent just by looking at how many you see on the road these days. There are good reasons for it, too. Families have a vehicle that can not only haul the kids to soccer practice but can also pick up their friends on the way there with a stop at the grocery store afterward.
Two top-ranking models are the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander. The Hyundai Palisade debuted in 2020 replacing the Santa Fe as Hyundai’s big SUV.
The Toyota Highlander began life in 2001 and is still in Toyota’s lineup. Both are designed for those who need lots of interior space to haul family and cargo. Neither of them disappoint in this area!
Let’s take a closer look at the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander to see which one we would pick if we were buying one. Here are the facts…
Specs
After a quick search on Carsforsale.com, we were able to find our examples for this article: a 2020 Hyundai Palisade SEL and a 2017 Toyota Highlander XLE. Both vehicles are under $30k and both have the optional AWD.
Looking under the hood, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade has a 3.8L V6 engine that produces 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission delivers the power to the wheels. It is rated at 19 MPG city/26 MPG highway which is not bad for a V6 engine.
The 2017 Toyota Highlander comes equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It cranks out 295 horsepower and 263 lb.-ft. of torque. The fuel economy is rated at 20 MPG city/26 MPG highway.
Driving and Performance
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is a joy to drive. The engine has enough power to get the large SUV from 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds. This means that high-speed passing on the highway is accomplished with just an additional push of the accelerator.
The Palisade handles very well for a large vehicle and rarely feels awkward around corners. It can handle daily driving effectively, and it is a great balance between power, comfort, and maneuverability.
The 2017 Toyota Highlander doesn’t disappoint either. The peppy 3.5L V6 engine and smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission work well to push the vehicle around traffic when necessary. Getting onto the highway via onramps is a breeze.
The Highlander feels just a bit large when you’re behind the wheel, but it doesn’t feel boxy around turns. It feels comfortable and balanced thanks to the stability control system that lets you know when you’re pushing it too far. This one also strikes a balance between power, comfort, and maneuverability.
One thing that is also apparent in both models is the braking. Although the pedal on the Toyota Highlander feels a bit soft, it still provided enough emergency braking to stop the monstrous SUV from barreling forward. The Palisade has a more solid-feeling pedal and provides adequate emergency braking. Drivers will get smooth stops while in city traffic as well.
Both the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander offer quiet, comfortable rides with plenty of isolation from road noise. They are some of the quietest SUVs on the market.
It is also important to note that both vehicles can tow up to 5,000 lbs. This is great for families who like to go camping or if they need to tow a trailer.
So far, this is one of the tightest competitions that we’ve had in a comparison article. We’ll have to start getting picky about things…
Comfort and Interior
We know that both offer a quiet ride, but what’s on the inside? The 2020 Hyundai Palisade rides the edge of non-luxury and luxury very well. The spacious cabin doesn’t feel cheap at all.
Drivers will enjoy quality materials from the contrasting cloth seats to the high-quality plastics. A few of the controls are a bit of a reach, but that isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.
The cabin of the Palisade is cavernous and allows all passengers to have their own space. It comes standard with third-row seating so fitting 5 people in the back is no problem.
When the seats are up, the Hyundai Palisade has 18 cubic feet behind the third row. Fold down the rear seats (including the second-row captain’s chairs) and you’ll get 87 cubic feet of storage. There’s also plenty of small item storage around the cabin.
There are plenty of tech goodies to be had in the Palisade as well. There is a wide infotainment screen up front and plenty of USB outlets placed throughout the cabin. Even the third-row passengers have access!
A ten-speaker audio system is available on some models of the Hyundai Palisade as is a rear-seat intercom. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fully supported.
When we look at the 2017 Toyota Highlander, we can see that it too has a very luxurious feel to it. Drivers will notice the heated leather seats and the sliding and reclining second-row seats. The third row is a little tight, but it is usable.
Audio system controls require a bit of a reach, but otherwise, things are where they should be in the vast interior.
With all three seats up, you’ll only get 13.8 cubic feet of trunk space. That is enough for some groceries. If you need more, fold down the second row as well and get 42.3 cubic feet. Fold down both back rows if you need access to the full 83.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
The tech features are not flashy, but they are certainly adequate. There is a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, and driver safety features such as blind spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert are available on the XLE trim.
Trims and Features
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade can be found in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited.
The SE is the base model and comes with features such as an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 5 total USB ports, push-button ignition, rear parking sensors, heated side mirrors, and remote keyless entry. You also get adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, and lane-keeping assistance.
The SEL is a step up and adds remote ignition, roof rails, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Dual-zone climate control, second-row captain’s chairs, and a blind spot monitoring system are also standard.
The Limited is the top-tier Palisade and adds all the standard and optional equipment listed for both trims plus leather seats, ventilated rear seats, interior ambient lighting, a dual sunroof, and a premium Hardon Kardon 12-speaker sound system. Other features include a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, built-in navigation, a power liftgate, front parking sensors, wireless device charging, additional rear USB ports, and auto-leveling rear suspension.
The 2017 Toyota Highlander can be found in the LE, LE Plus, XLE, SE, and Limited trims. The LE trim is the base model and comes with a smaller 2.7L four-cylinder engine, rearview camera, Entune infotainment system, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision system, and adaptable cruise control.
The LE Plus adds a tri-zone climate control system, SofTex leatherette upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and split folding rear seats. An upgraded audio system with satellite radio and the 3.5L V6 engine are also standard.
The XLE adds a power moonroof, a smart key system with a liftgate and a push-button start.
Step up to the SE trim and get sportier features such as sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, projector-beam halogen headlights, and leather upholstery for first and second-row passengers.
Grabbing the Limited trim gives you a premium JBL stereo system, second-row captain’s chairs, and heated and ventilated driver and front passenger seats.
The Verdict
After comparing the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander, it is hard to pick a clear winner based on features alone. They are both excellent SUVs and some great examples of amazing used cars.
However, there is one important factor that makes the Toyota Highlander stand out: reliability. It is one of the most reliable vehicles ever produced. You can pretty much guarantee that a used Toyota Highlander will take you well beyond the 200k-mile mark.
We’re certainly not discounting the Hyundai Palisade in any way. It is a wonderful SUV that caters to the entire cabin instead of just the driver and front passenger. It hasn’t been out long enough for us to find out about its reliability. It will be tough to beat Toyota in this department given their long history of making nearly bulletproof vehicles.
Either way, you can’t lose. We feel that the Toyota Highlander stands out just because of its proven reliability. Other than that, they are pretty much neck-and-neck.
If you’re looking to finance your next vehicle, be sure to read some car-buying tips that might save you some cash!
