Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Palisade vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.2 to 87.6, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
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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
C2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Grand Highla…
More Hyundai Palisade head-to-heads More Toyota Grand Highlander head-to-heads Every Palisade vs Grand Highlander model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Palisade
Clear winThe Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.2 to 87.6, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 47.4
Price 2026 Hyundai Palisade leads by 5.3
Space & cargo 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander leads by 11.1
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanderoverall 87.6 | 2026 Hyundai Palisadeoverall 94.2 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 94.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 94.7 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 87.4 | 85.6 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 88.9 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 94.9 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 52.6 | 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 | 87.6 | 94.2 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Grand Highlander: base trim LE 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 37 standard driver-assist features against 23.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (38 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $2,225 lower ($39,435 against $41,660 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (49 against 136 filed with NHTSA).
- It holds 57.9 cu ft behind the second row against 46.3.
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.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,660 | $39,435 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,393 cc | 3,470 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Turbo | 3.5L MPI + GDI DOHC 24-Valve V-Type 6-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 265 hp | 287 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 21 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 28 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.329 | 3.510 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | Direct Shift 8AT | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 7.4 in |
| Overall height | 70.1 in | 69.5 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 117 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 97.5 cu-ft | 86.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 57.9 cu-ft | 46.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 20.6 cu-ft | 19.1 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 153 cu-ft | 181 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 41.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.2 in | 40.7 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.2 in | 37.8 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.7 in | 44.2 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.5 in | 43 in |
| Third-row legroom | 33.5 in | 32.1 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,575 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,420 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,040 lbs | 6,327 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar | MacPherson strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion, column-mounted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 39.2 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | 345 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 235/65 R18 106H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.8 gal | 19 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Bluelink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.2 in | 61.4 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.8 in | 61 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.5 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
130 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 44 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist 2 | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger airbag (2) | — | std |
| Front center airbag (1) | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist – HDA I | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go & Curve Control | — | std |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) — Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA) | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning | — | 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 seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (Outside mirrors) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist | std | — |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning | std | — |
| Electronic parking brake with Auto Vehicle Hold | — | std |
| Forward Attention Warning | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Rear child safety locks | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (door-logic system) | — | std |
| Rear-passenger seatbelt reminder | std | — |
| Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners and Load Limiters for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd row outboard seats | — | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | — | std |
| Vehicle stability management | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control 2 (w/ Emergency Stop) | std | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist | std | std |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist 2 | std | std |
| Rear view monitor with parking guidance | std | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | std |
| 2x LATCH anchors & 3 tethers (for bench seat) in 2nd row; 2x LATCH & 3 tethers for 3rd row | 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 |
| High Beam Assist | std | std |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with individual tire indicator | std | std |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wifi Hotspot | — | std |
| Seven USB-C ports (one media port and six charging ports) and two 12V outlets | std | — |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | std | — |
| 12.3" color touchscreen with onboard Navigation | — | std |
| 6-speaker audio system | std | — |
| Alexa Built-in Voice Assistant | — | 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 |
| 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 |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | — | std |
| SiriusXM / HD Radio | — | std |
Convenience8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Remote engine start (on key fob) | — | std |
| Height-adjustable power liftgate with jam protection | std | — |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Power window lock-out button | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | std | — |
| Remote release Hood | — | std |
| 12-volt outlet – 2 total: 1 Fr, 1 cargo | — | std |
| Power windows with safety front auto-down/up | — | std |
| Proximity key entry with push button start | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| PTC Heater | — | std |
| 3-Zone automatic climate control w/auto defog | std | std |
Seating9 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row – 60/40 split fold-flat seats with recline & adjustable head restraints | — | std |
| 8-way power driver's seat | std | — |
| 4-way lumbar | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| 3rd row 60/40 split-fold seats with ingress/egress handles | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-down second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-down third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | std | — |
| One-touch 2nd row seat slide for 3rd row access | — | std |
| Tilting Walk-In Feature | — | std |
| Seating materials – Cloth | std | std |
Interior14 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" Color multi-information display | — | std |
| 13 cup and bottle holders | std | — |
| Combination meter with analog gauges and 7-in. color Multi-Information Display (MID) with fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | std | — |
| Dashboard – Slush-molding | — | std |
| Dashboard – Wrapped, artificial leather | — | std |
| Door handles – Metal Paint | — | std |
| Front seat seatback pockets | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and matte gray metallic door trim | std | — |
| Soft-touch roll-top center console with removable utility tray | std | — |
| Upper door panels / console armrest – Premium Soft Touch | — | std |
| Manual Anti-Glare Rearview Mirror | std | — |
| Headliner/Pillar – Cloth | — | std |
| Overhead console with sunglasses storage and maplights | std | — |
| Door storage pockets – Front and rear | — | std |
| Sunvisor – W/ illumination | std | std |
| Sunvisor – W/ sliding function | std | std |
Exterior17 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-in. 5-spoke silver wheels | std | — |
| Black front lower bumper | std | — |
| Black rear lower bumper | std | — |
| Black-painted front grille | std | — |
| Color-keyed outside door handles | std | — |
| Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| Door handle welcome lights | — | std |
| LED center positioning light | — | std |
| LED daytime running lights | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | std | — |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | std | — |
| Shark-fin roof antenna | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | — | 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 |
| LED headlights (Projector) | std | std |
| Acoustic side glass – Front | std | std |
| Acoustic windshield | std | std |
| LED rear combination lamps/taillights | std | std |
| Outside mirrors – Heated | std | std |
| Privacy glass – Rear/quarter/back glass | std | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | std |
| Compact Spare Tire / T155/90R18 | std | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Mode Select (Eco, Sport, & My Drive) – Dash-mounted button + toggle switch | — | std |
| Shift-by-Wire w/paddle shifters | — | std |
| FWD | std | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear suspension – Self-Leveling suspension | — | std |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tow Hitch | — | opt |
| TOW mode – Dash-mounted button | — | std |
| Cargo – Underfloor storage compartment | — | 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, NCAPToyota Grand Highlander
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 49 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (15), Structure (10), Engine (8)
Top recalls
- high Steering 26V598000 · 617 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V437000 · 5,408 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V179000 · 8,230 vehicles
Hyundai 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
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,660 (base trim) | $39,435 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,660 – $59,575 14 trims | $39,435 – $58,780 21 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Grand Highlander Hybrid | Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $1,950 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.2 to 87.6, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 94.2 and the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander 87.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts lower — $39,435 against $41,660, a gap of $2,225 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 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 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins: it lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 23, lists more comfort and tech equipment (38 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $2,225 lower ($39,435 against $41,660 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (49 against 136 filed with NHTSA) and holds 57.9 cu ft behind the second row against 46.3. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 8 seats.