Compare the2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2026 Hyundai Palisade

The Grand Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Palisade doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Grand Highlander and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Grand Highlander is safer than the Palisade:

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Hyundai doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Palisade.

There are over 45 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Grand Highlander’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

The Grand Highlander has more powerful engines than the Palisade:

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Palisade V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Highlander gets better mileage than the Palisade:

The Grand Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Palisade doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Grand Highlander stops shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the Grand Highlander has larger tires than the Palisade (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Grand Highlander Platinum handles at .80 G’s, while the Palisade XRT PRO pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Grand Highlander Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Palisade XRT PRO (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Palisade XRT PRO’s (38.1 feet vs. 39 feet). The Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Palisade’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (8 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Grand Highlander Platinum is quieter than the Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC:

The Grand Highlander has .3 inches more rear hip room, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, .4 inches more third row hip room and 1.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

The Grand Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Palisade.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Grand Highlander. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Grand Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Palisade’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Grand Highlander the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Palisade can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Grand Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Palisade doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Grand Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Palisade has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.