Compared: 2024 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2024 Honda Pilot
A battle of the three-row SUVs: How does the more frugal Hyundai stack up against the extra-capable Honda?
Hyundai | Honda
QuickTakes:
Three-row SUVs are an increasingly important market within the automotive industry, and it's easy to see why. Between their style, capability, and comfort, they're an attractive option to consumers looking for just a bit more room than your standard crossover. The 2024 Hyundai Palisade and 2024 Honda Pilot are two prime examples of this. They both offer sublime versatility, available all-wheel drive, and relatively large towing capacities — without breaking the bank.
Hyundai
The Palisade Is Cheaper to Start Than the Pilot
Although Hyundai's ongoing upmarket evolution has all the touches of its higher-end competitors, the Palisade is actually the cheaper option of this pair: It starts just under $38,000, while the 2024 Pilot starts just over $38,000. Both base models come equipped with front-wheel drive, but Hyundai's available $2,000 all-wheel-drive (AWD) package also comes in slightly cheaper when compared with Honda's $2,100 AWD upgrade.
Honda
Both vehicles are propelled by similar V6 engines, with the Hyundai boasting an ever-so-slightly larger displacement and power output. The Palisade's 3.8-liter V6 engine produces 291 horsepower, just a few horses more than the 285 horsepower harnessed by the Pilot's 3.5-liter V6.
Hyundai
The More Expensive Pilot Comes with More Standard Features
From there, the two midsize family haulers begin to trade blows: The Palisade offers options like roof rails and a smart power liftgate on lower (and therefore cheaper) trims than the corresponding Pilot. Additionally, the 12.3-inch center infotainment system that comes standard on the Palisade outclasses not just the base Pilot's 7.0-inch screen, but also its available 9.0-inch upgrade.
Honda
To the Pilot's credit, however, it also boasts some nice standard equipment. Leather upholstery comes standard on the sub-$44,000 Pilot EX-L, an upgrade not found on the Palisade until the hefty $49,000 Limited trim. And although both vehicles have the same maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, the Pilot offers a smidge more interior cargo space — a maximum 87.0 cubic-feet depending on trim, versus the Palisade's 86.4 cubes.
Hyundai
The Pilot and the Palisade Are in a Fuel-Economy Dead Heat
Despite those differences in price, power, and features, this pair finds itself in a stalemate when it comes to fuel-efficiency estimates using the EPA test. The base Palisade is estimated to get 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined and the entry-level Pilot achieved 19/27/22 mpg.
Honda
The available AWD system drops the Hyundai to 19/24/21 mpg and the Honda to 19/25/21 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
