Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Palisade vs 2026 Nissan Pathfinder
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 96 to 87.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on safety.
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2026 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…
vs
A2026 Nissan Pathfinder
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pathfinder 2WD, is EPA-rated …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Palisade
Clear winThe Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 96 to 87.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on safety.
Tech & comfort 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 33.3
Fuel & range 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 32.7
Safety 2026 Nissan Pathfinder leads by 15.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Pathfinderoverall 87.5 | 2026 Hyundai Palisadeoverall 96 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 98.6 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 67.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 97.6 | 82.2 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 94.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 99.4 | 99.9 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 66.7 | 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 | 87.5 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Pathfinder: base trim SV FWD · Hyundai Palisade: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
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 lists more comfort and tech equipment (39 points against 26 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,900).
- It is rated 34 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (10 against 122 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 83).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 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.
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Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $39,990 | $39,435 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 3,498 cc | 3,470 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6 VQ35DD | 3.5L MPI + GDI DOHC 24-Valve V-Type 6-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 284 hp | 287 hp |
| Torque | 259 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 23 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 27 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.34 | 3.510 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in | 7.4 in |
| Overall height | 70.9 in | 69.5 in |
| Overall length | 198 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 77.9 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 114 in | 117 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 80.5 cu-ft | 86.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 45 cu-ft | 46.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 16.6 cu-ft | 19.1 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 165 cu-ft | 181 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 42.3 in | 41.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.6 in | 40.7 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 37.8 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.3 in | 44.2 in |
| Second-row legroom | 35.5 in | 43 in |
| Third-row legroom | 28 in | 32.1 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,348 lbs | 4,575 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,348 lbs | 4,420 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,063 lbs | 6,327 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut | MacPherson strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric power steering | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion, column-mounted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 37.4 ft | 39.2 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 350 mm | 345 mm |
| Front brake type | Vented Disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | Vented Disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/60R18 | 235/65 R18 106H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18.5 gal | 19 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM | Bluelink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.8 in | 61.4 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 59.6 in | 61 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 58.4 in | 55.6 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
139 features · differences first, then sharedSafety29 differ · 47 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control 2 (w/ Emergency Stop) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist 2 | — | std |
| Front center airbag (1) | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist – HDA I | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | 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 |
| Driver Attention Warning | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist w/ rear door indicator | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist | std | — |
| Forward Attention Warning | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | — | std |
| Front sonar system | std | — |
| Haptic Feedback steering wheel | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Junction Assist | std | — |
| ProPILOT Assist | std | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear sonar system | std | — |
| Vehicle stability management | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection | std | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist | std | std |
| Driver and front passenger airbag (2) | std | std |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist | std | std |
| Rear view monitor with parking guidance | std | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | std |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | std | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | std |
| ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Driver Knee Airbag (1) | std | std |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist | std | std |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist | std | std |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (door-logic system) | std | std |
| Side air curtains with rollover sensors | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with individual tire indicator | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth® hands-free w/ wireless audio streaming | — | std |
| 2 first-row illuminated USB-C charge ports | std | — |
| 2 second-row illuminated USB-C charge ports | std | — |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluelink® Connected Car System | — | std |
| Dynamic Voice Recognition | — | std |
| High Power USB-Cs: Two 1st row (2x USB-C Power) + Two 2nd row + Two 3rd row | — | std |
| Multiple Device Connection (up to two devices) | — | std |
| NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM® with automatic collision notification, emergency call and stolen vehicle locator, customizable alerts, dealer service scheduling and maintenance alerts; 5G Wi-Fi hotspot | std | — |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates | — | std |
| Panoramic curved dual 12.3-in displays (instrument cluster + infotainment as single curved unit) | — | std |
| Passenger Talk In-car intercom | — | std |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | — | std |
| SiriusXM® satellite radio with advanced audio features | std | — |
| Wireless Device Charging 15W (For Qi-supported devices) | opt | — |
| Wifi Hotspot | std | std |
| 12.3" color touchscreen with onboard Navigation; Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay; HD Radio; SIRIUS XM | std | std |
| Paddle Shifters | std | std |
Convenience6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | — | std |
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with programmable settings | std | — |
| Power liftgate | std | — |
| Remote release Hood | — | std |
| 12-volt outlet – 2 total: 1 Fr, 1 cargo | — | std |
| Power windows with safety front auto-down/up | — | std |
| Remote engine start (on key fob) | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| PTC Heater | — | std |
| 3-Zone automatic climate control w/ auto defog | std | std |
Seating10 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row Bench Seating – 60/40 split fold-flat seats with recline & adjustable head restraints | — | std |
| 8-way power driver's seat | std | — |
| Heated front seats (high/medium/low) | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| 2-way lumbar support (driver) | std | — |
| 3rd row 60/40 split-fold seats with ingress/egress handles | — | std |
| Nissan EZ Flex® Seating System featuring LATCH AND GLIDE® tip-up third-row access technology | std | — |
| One-touch 2nd row seat slide for 3rd row access | — | std |
| Tilting Walk-In Feature (manual) | — | std |
| 3-passenger, 60/40 split bench, center armrest with cupholders, flat folding | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | std | std |
| Seating – Cloth | std | std |
Interior16 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | opt | — |
| 4.2" Color multi-information display | — | std |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| Dashboard – Slush-molding | — | std |
| Dashboard – Wrapped, artificial leather | — | std |
| Fine Vision electroluminescent meter display | std | — |
| Interior door handles – Metal Paint | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | — | std |
| Piano Black interior trim | std | — |
| Upper door panels / console armrest – Premium Soft Touch | — | std |
| Manual day/night interior rearview mirror | std | — |
| Manual tilt/telescoping steering | std | — |
| Headliner/Pillar – Cloth | — | std |
| Hydrographic interior trim | — | std |
| Sunvisor – Dual vanity mirror with cover, w/ sliding function, w/ illumination | — | std |
| Door storage pockets – Front and rear | — | std |
| Sunvisor – w/ illumination | std | std |
| Front seat seatback pockets | std | std |
Exterior18 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof – Conventional | opt | — |
| 18-inch painted aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic side glass – Front | — | std |
| Acoustic windshield | — | std |
| Black grille with gray accents | std | — |
| Body-colored bumpers | std | — |
| Door handle welcome lights | — | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Heated outside mirrors | — | std |
| LED center positioning light | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps/taillights | — | std |
| Outside mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Premium Paint | opt | — |
| Semi-gloss satin badging | std | — |
| Solar front glass – Front door, windshield | — | std |
| LED Roof-mounted center high-mount wide stop lamp | — | std |
| Rear spoiler – Wide Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | — | std |
| Splash Guards, Black, 4-piece | opt | — |
| LED headlights (Projector) | std | std |
| LED daytime running lights | std | std |
| Automatic headlights | std | std |
| Privacy glass – Rear/quarter/back glass | std | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | std |
| Compact Spare Tire / T155/90R18 | std | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Configuration – FWD | — | std |
| 5-position Drive Mode Selector (2WD) | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (Eco, Sport, & My Drive) – Dash-mounted button + toggle switch | — | std |
| Shift-by-Wire w/ paddle shifters | — | std |
| Transmission oil cooler (for towing) | opt | — |
| Idle Stop & Go | std | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear – Self-Leveling suspension | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| TOW mode – Dash-mounted button | — | std |
| Trailering Package (trailer prewire, HD engine/trans coolers, sway control) | — | std |
| Tow Hitch | opt | opt |
| Underfloor storage compartment | std | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Pathfinder
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 10 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (2), Unspecified (2), Visibility/Wiper (2)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Palisade
Safety Signal 83 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 122 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Seats (50), Electrical System (30), Forward Collision Avoidance (17)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V160000 · 61,307 vehicles
- moderate Seat Belts 26V169000 · 46,787 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan PathfinderSV FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,990 (base trim) | $39,435 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $39,990 – $51,790 7 trims | $39,435 – $58,780 21 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Pathfinder 2WD | Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,900 | $1,950 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 96 to 87.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 96 and the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder 87.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts lower — $39,435 against $39,990, a gap of $555 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
2026 Nissan Pathfinder: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Hyundai Palisade: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 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 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (39 points against 26 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,900), and is rated 34 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (10 against 122 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 83). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 8 seats.