Head-to-head
2026 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade
Too close to call: Hyundai Palisade 91.9 vs Honda Pilot 91.8 with these weights. The Honda Pilot is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 3.1 and it flips.
A
2026 Honda Pilot
The 2026 Honda Pilot is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pilot FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg c…
vs
B2026 Hyundai Palisade
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Palisade Hybrid FWD…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Palisade
Toss-upToo close to call: Hyundai Palisade 91.9 vs Honda Pilot 91.8 with these weights. The Honda Pilot is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 3.1 and it flips.
Fuel & range 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 35.8
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 25.5
Safety 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 13.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Hyundai Palisadeoverall 91.9 | 2026 Honda Pilotoverall 91.8 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 93 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 64.2 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 83.8 | 97 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 97.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 99.5 | 99.7 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 74.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.8 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Palisade: base trim SE FWD · Honda Pilot: base trim Sport FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 3.1 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins
- It costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050).
- It is rated 34 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It starts $2,960 lower ($39,435 against $42,395 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Honda Pilot answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 136 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 38 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 37 standard driver-assist features.
- 8 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $39,435 | $42,395 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 3,470 cc | 3,471 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L MPI + GDI DOHC 24-Valve V-Type 6-cylinder | V6 |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Fuel Injection |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 287 hp | 285 hp |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 19 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 21 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 25 mpg | 27 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.510 | 4.167 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.4 in | 7.3 in |
| Overall height | 69.5 in | 71 in |
| Overall length | 199 in | 200 in |
| Overall width | 78 in | 78.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 117 in | 114 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 86.7 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 46.3 cu-ft | 48.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 19.1 cu-ft | 18.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 181 cu-ft | 158 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 40.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.7 in | 40.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 39.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.2 in | 41 in |
| Second-row legroom | 43 in | 40.8 in |
| Third-row legroom | 32.1 in | 32.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,575 lbs | 4,336 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,420 lbs | 4,336 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,327 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion, column-mounted | Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 39.2 ft | 37.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 345 mm | 351 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | 330 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 20 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/65 R18 106H | 255/50 R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19 gal | 18.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Bluelink | HondaLink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 61.4 in | 61.9 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 61 in | 61.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 55.6 in | 59.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
191 features · differences first, then sharedSafety38 differ · 56 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist 2 | std | — |
| Front center airbag (1) | std | — |
| Highway Driving Assist – HDA I | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go & Curve Control | std | — |
| 2x LATCH anchors & 3 tethers (for bench seat) in 2nd row; 2x LATCH & 3 tethers for 3rd row | std | — |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | std | — |
| Safe Exit Assist w/ rear door indicator | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (Outside mirrors) | std | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake | — | std |
| Electronic parking brake with Auto Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Forward Attention Warning | std | — |
| Front & Mid Row Outer 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System | — | std |
| Hill Descent Control | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row Passenger-Side), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row All) | — | std |
| Post-Collision Braking System | — | std |
| Rear child safety locks | std | — |
| Rearview Camera Washer | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners and Load Limiters for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd row outboard seats | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle stability management | std | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | std |
| Cross Traffic Monitor | std | std |
| Advanced Front Airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | std |
| SmartVent® Front Side Airbags | std | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Driver Attention Monitor | std | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Front Knee Airbags | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators | std | std |
Infotainment28 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| 10.2-Inch Digital Instrument Cluster | — | std |
| 12.3-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 12.3" color touchscreen with onboard Navigation | std | — |
| 245-Watt Audio System with 9 Speakers, including Subwoofer | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - 2nd Row (2 Ports) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Smartphone / Audio Interface - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| Alexa Built-in Voice Assistant | std | — |
| Bluelink® Connected Car System | std | — |
| CabinTalk® In-Car PA System | — | std |
| Dynamic Voice Recognition | std | — |
| Google built-in (includes 3-Years Unlimited Data Plan for In-Vehicle Apps) | — | std |
| HD Radio™ | — | std |
| High Power USB-Cs: Two 1st row (2x USB-C Power) + Two 2nd row + Two 3rd row | std | — |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| HondaLink® Subscription Services | — | std |
| In-Car Payment / Digital Features & Services | std | — |
| Multiple Device Connection (up to two devices) | std | — |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates | std | — |
| Panoramic curved dual 12.3-in displays | std | — |
| Passenger Talk In-car intercom | std | — |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | std | — |
| SiriusXM / HD Radio | std | — |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Wi-Fi® Hotspot Capability | std | std |
Convenience12 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door and Tailgate Locks | — | std |
| Power Lift Tailgate | — | std |
| Power window lock-out button | std | — |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up / Down All 4 Windows | — | std |
| Programmable Remote Entry | — | std |
| Remote release Hood | std | — |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® (Front Door and Tailgate) | — | std |
| 12-volt outlet – 2 total: 1 Fr, 1 cargo | std | — |
| Power windows with safety front auto-down/up | std | — |
| Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start | std | std |
| Push Button Start | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| PTC Heater | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | — | std |
| Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control, Air Filtration | std | std |
Seating14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row – 60/40 split fold-flat seats with recline & adjustable head restraints | std | — |
| Heated Front Seats | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| 40 / 20 / 40 Split, Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | std | — |
| Adjustable Seat-Belt Anchors (Front Row) | — | std |
| Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support | — | std |
| Front Passenger's Seat with 4-Way Power Adjustment | — | std |
| Head Restraints at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| On-Demand In-Trunk Seat Storage | — | std |
| One-touch 2nd row seat slide for 3rd row access | std | — |
| One-Touch Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
| Seating materials – Cloth | std | — |
| Tilting Walk-In Feature | std | — |
| 60/40 Split, Flat-Folding 3rd-Row Bench Seat | std | std |
Interior23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" Color multi-information display | std | — |
| Beverage Holders (Front Row-4 / 2nd-Row-6 / 3rd-Row-4) | — | std |
| Cargo Area Light (LED) | — | std |
| Dashboard – Slush-molding | std | — |
| Dashboard – Wrapped, artificial leather | std | — |
| Door handles – Metal Paint | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Seatback Pockets | — | std |
| Floor Mats | — | std |
| Front seat seatback pockets | std | — |
| Garment Hooks (2nd row, 2 total) | — | std |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Interior Ambient LED Lighting | — | std |
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | — | std |
| Multi-Functional Center Console Storage | — | std |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Sunglasses Holder | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Upper door panels / console armrest – Premium Soft Touch | std | — |
| Sunvisor – W/ illumination | std | — |
| Headliner/Pillar – Cloth | std | — |
| Sunvisor – W/ sliding function | std | — |
| Door storage pockets – Front and rear | std | — |
Exterior27 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights (Projector) | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminate Front Side Glass | std | — |
| Active Shutter Grille | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
| Door handle welcome lights | std | — |
| Dual Gloss Black Exhaust Finishers | — | std |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| Gloss Black Roof Rails | — | std |
| Heated Power Side Mirrors with Integrated LED Turn Signal and Reverese Gear Tilt-Down | std | — |
| Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer | — | std |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED center positioning light | std | — |
| LED Fog Lights | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On / Off | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps/taillights | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Rear Privacy Glass | — | std |
| Security System | — | std |
| Shark-fin roof antenna | std | — |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
| Privacy glass – Rear/quarter/back glass | std | — |
| Solar front glass – Front door, windshield | std | — |
| Compact Spare Tire / T155/90R18 | std | — |
| LED Roof-mounted center high-mount wide stop lamp | std | — |
| Rear spoiler – Wide Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminate Windshield | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | std |
Powertrain7 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM 4 ™) AWD System | — | opt |
| Integrated Drive Modes | — | std |
| Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) | — | std |
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive | std | std |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | std |
| Integrated Drive Modes | std | std |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Rear suspension – Self-Leveling suspension | std | — |
| Unit-Body Construction | — | std |
Cargo6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Trailer Hitch Receiver with Rear Recovery Point (without Connector or Ball) | opt | — |
| TOW mode – Dash-mounted button | std | — |
| Cargo – Underfloor storage compartment | std | — |
| Cargo Area Bag Hooks | — | std |
| Cargo Area Tie-Down Anchors (4 Total) | — | std |
| Trailering Package (trailer prewire, HD engine/trans coolers, sway control) | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Palisade
Safety Signal 83 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 136 · 4 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Seats (50), Electrical System (34), Forward Collision Avoidance (19)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V160000 · 61,307 vehicles
- moderate Seat Belts 26V169000 · 46,787 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Honda Pilot
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 29 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (15), Unspecified (7), Seat Belts (5)
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V424000 · 3,933 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,435 (base trim) | $42,395 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $39,435 – $58,780 21 trims | $42,395 – $55,195 8 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue | Pilot FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 34 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,950 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
Too close to call: Hyundai Palisade 91.9 vs Honda Pilot 91.8 with these weights. The Honda Pilot is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 3.1 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 91.9 and the 2026 Honda Pilot 91.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts lower — $39,435 against $42,395, a gap of $2,960 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
2026 Hyundai Palisade: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 2026 Honda Pilot: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and the 2026 Honda Pilot?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins: it costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050), is rated 34 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and starts $2,960 lower ($39,435 against $42,395 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Honda Pilot answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 136 filed with NHTSA) and lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 38 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, 37 standard driver-assist features, and 8 seats.