The Toyota Highlander and the Hyundai Palisade are two of the most popular options for three-row midsize SUVs. If you’re looking to compare the 2023 Toyota Highlander and 2023 Hyundai Palisade, check out this guide by Huffines Hyundai Plano. We compare their power, efficiency, safety, interior space, and more, so you can get an honest assessment of their advantages.
2023 Palisade vs. Highlander: Exterior
Both Hyundai and Toyota strive to make their cars as appealing as possible, but their approaches differ in several ways. Toyota offers six trim levels: the L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels, while the Palisade has five trims: the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Both the Hyundai and Toyota SUVs increase in luxury and comfort the higher you go with the trim levels.
Hyundai vehicles tend to have a sportier appearance, while Toyota cars frequently have more traditional designs. The Highlander’s dimensions are 194.9 inches in length, 76 inches in width, and 68.9 inches in height, and it has a 112.2-inch wheelbase. The Palisade is the same height but a bit longer and wider at 196.7 and 77.8 inches, respectively. The wheelbase is also longer at 114.2 inches. The difference in size helps the Palisade control a little better, on top of increased passenger and cargo volume.
2023 Palisade vs. Highlander: Powertrain
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade outperforms the 2023 Toyota Highlander in terms of performance, particularly horsepower output. The 3.8-liter V-6 engine in all Palisade versions produces 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the Highlander has two engine choices: a hybrid with 243 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque and a newly turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four that produces 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque over the 2022 year’s 243 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
The Palisade offers a comfortable and stable ride thanks to a wheelbase two inches longer than the Highlander. Toyota’s model has an estimated combined 24 mpg for the gas-powered vehicle and 36 mpg for the hybrid. In contrast, the Palisade gets 22 combined mpg from 19 city and 27 highway mpg ratings. While it’s not at quite the same efficiency as the Highlander, the Palisade offers a larger fuel tank of 18.8 gallons compared to 17.1 gallons on the Highlander.
An available Hyundai TRACtion All Wheel Drive system can enhance your traction on slick roads, and Toyota offers a similar electronic On-Demand all-wheel-drive add-on package. Regarding towing capacity, the Palisade and the gas-powered Highlander can both pull tow up to 5,000 lbs. However, the Highlander Hybrid has a 3,500-lb towing capacity.
2023 Palisade vs. Highlander: Safety Features
The Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Highlander enjoy nearly all of the same safety features, such as brake assist, electronic stability control, child safety locks, traction control, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Palisade alone offers side airbags in the rear and includes a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert standard. The latter two are not available on the Highlander unless you get the LE or a higher trim.
The Hyundai Palisade offers remote smart parking assist, which enables you to stand and watch as your car enters or exits a parking space. No equivalent feature is currently available from Toyota. Both have a hands-free liftgate and remote engine start, but the Palisade offers a HomeLink universal garage door opener, unlike the Highlander.
2023 Palisade vs. Highlander: Interior
The Palisade and Highlander share many benefits, such as the option of eight seats instead of seven. The Palisade offers optional ventilated seats for the second row, while the Highlander doesn’t. It also provides storage space behind the first and third seats and 18 cubic feet of cargo volume, a nice step up compared to the Highlander’s 16 cubic feet. Hyundai’s wagon comes standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and premium synthetic seats, while the Toyota Highlander comes equipped with cloth seats.
While the Highlander lacks a sunroof/moonroof as standard equipment until you pick the XLE trim or higher, the Palisade includes it from the base trim. What’s more, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade offers more space overall for the cabin. Who would say no to a little more head, leg, and shoulder room?
The two vehicles are also somewhat similar regarding infotainment and connectivity features. With wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can easily access the music and entertainment you love on the Palisade’s 12-inch touch screen. Every trim level is equally convenient, unlike the 2023 Highlander, which only includes wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trim levels.
2023 Palisade vs. Highlander: Which Is Better?
Before the verdict, one last worthwhile detail for comparison is warranty coverage. The Palisade benefits from Hyundai’s fantastic basic warranty lasting five years or 60,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles. The 2023 Toyota Highlander has only three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties.
In summary, although the 2023 Toyota Highlander can put out some good fuel economy ratings, we think most drivers will get more value for their money and a better experience out of the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. You’ll get an efficient engine with more horsepower, more technology developments, a better cargo capacity, and that suave, executive Hyundai style.
Finance 2023 Hyundai Models in Plano, TX
Are you ready to get a 2023 Hyundai Palisade or perhaps another new Hyundai? If so, where you choose to buy it is just as important as picking the right model. Be cautious of generic auto dealers and car sellers offering financing at low rates. They may include fees at the last minute or have stricter requirements than advertised. At Huffines Hyundai Plano, we respect every customer who calls or walks through our doors and put customer satisfaction as the top priority.
Huffines Hyundai Plano is here to help folks around Texas, from carrying a bigger inventory than competing dealers to staffing a more helpful and prepared financing center. We can assist drivers with no credit history or rebuilding from a bad credit position, all with fair, manageable interest rates and terms. Our experts are ready to help you get the full financial assistance you need for your new 2023 Palisade, with a low-interest rate that works with your lifestyle.