2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade

$46,820 · Crossover

$39,435 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the efficient 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the powerful, yet thirstier, 2026 Hyundai Palisade can be a real toss-up. The core dilemma often boils down to long-term running costs versus upfront savings and muscle. The Highlander Hybrid grabs the efficiency crown easily, delivering an excellent 35 MPG combined, which drastically undercuts the Palisade’s 21 MPG combined rating. This efficiency difference will save significant money over the ownership life, despite the Highlander’s higher starting MSRP of $46,820 compared to the Palisade's $39,435, meaning a $7,385 initial saving with Hyundai. However, if raw power is what you crave, the Palisade offers 287 hp versus the Highlander's 243 hp. While both are large crossovers, the Highlander is slightly smaller in every dimension, though the Palisade provides marginally more cargo space at 19.1 cu ft.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Highlander Hybrid is the clear winner for commuters due to its superior 35 MPG combined fuel economy.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Families prioritizing space will benefit from the Palisade's slightly larger dimensions and greater 19.1 cu ft cargo capacity.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Enthusiasts looking for immediate acceleration will prefer the Palisade's higher 287 horsepower output.

💰 Best Value

2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Despite a higher initial price, the Highlander Hybrid’s fuel savings make it the better long-term value proposition.

Choose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid if...

Your primary concern is minimizing fuel stops and maximizing efficiency, leveraging the 35 MPG combined rating.
You prefer the reliability associated with Toyota's hybrid powertrains, even with slightly less horsepower (243 hp).
You want to minimize the initial purchase price impact by selecting a more economical base AWD option, though its MSRP is $46,820.

Choose the Hyundai Palisade if...

You need more immediate power from a traditional engine, as the Palisade offers 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
Saving $7,385 on the initial purchase is critical, with an MSRP of $39,435.
You need slightly more usable interior space, benefiting from the Palisade's larger 19.1 cu ft cargo area.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Hyundai Palisade
Length	194.9"	199.2"
Width	76.0"	78.0"
Height	68.1"	69.5"
Wheelbase	112.2"	116.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	3.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	V6
Base Engine Type	hybrid	gas
Horsepower	243 hp @ 6000 rpm	287 hp @ 6400 rpm
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Torque	—	260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

Drive Train

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	35/35 MPG	19/25 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	35 MPG	21 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	598.5/598.5 mi.	361.0/475.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.1 gal.	19.0 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Moonroof Type	1st Row Power Glass	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Front Head Room	39.6 in.	41.5 in.
Front Leg Room	42.0 in.	44.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.0 in.	61.4 in.
Front Hip Room	57.2 in.	58.8 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	40.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.7 in.	43.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.4 in.	61.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	56.7 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/65R18	235/65R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	—	18 x 8.0 in

Suspension

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	8 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	2 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 25000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and 2026 Hyundai Palisade.

How much more fuel-efficient is the Highlander Hybrid compared to the Palisade?

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers a significant advantage here, achieving 35 MPG combined, whereas the standard 2026 Hyundai Palisade is rated for only 21 MPG combined. This 14 MPG difference will translate to hundreds of dollars saved annually on fuel.

Which crossover is better for highway cruising based on power and transmission?

The Palisade provides more traditional power with 287 hp and uses an 8-speed automatic transmission, which some drivers prefer over the Highlander Hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT). However, the Highlander's hybrid system might be smoother around town.

Is the upfront price difference between these two vehicles substantial?

Yes, there is a notable difference in the starting price; the 2026 Hyundai Palisade is listed at $39,435, making it $7,385 cheaper than the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which starts at $46,820.

Do these vehicles offer similar capabilities for hauling cargo?

They are relatively close, but the Palisade edges out the competition slightly with 19.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to the Highlander Hybrid's 16 cubic feet. Both are AWD-capable if equipped.

If I prioritize driving dynamics over efficiency, which should I pick?

If driving enjoyment is key, the Palisade's higher horsepower (287 hp vs. 243 hp) suggests a punchier feel off the line. The Highlander is engineered primarily for fuel savings rather than spirited driving.

Are both crossovers large vehicles?

Both are sizable crossovers, but the Palisade is physically larger overall, measuring 199.2 inches long and 78.0 inches wide, compared to the Highlander's 194.9-inch length and 76.0-inch width.