2020 Lexus GX vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade had a striking design that could easily be mistaken for a luxury brand like Cadillac. Its bold styling featured a massive grille and thin headlights, with a unique headlight assembly that included larger fog lights. The Palisade's chrome accents and character lines added to its eye-catching appearance, though some might have found it a bit busy. Inside, the Palisade's cabin exuded elegance and simplicity, with a fully digital instrument panel, a large touchscreen, and a center console filled with controls. The top-of-the-line Limited trim offered ambient lighting, leather upholstery, and a host of other premium features.

In contrast, the 2020 Lexus GX had a more dated design, despite some updates. The GX adopted Lexus's hourglass grille, which looked better on this model than on others. However, the GX's age was evident in its cabin, which retained a decade-old design with large buttons and a recessed infotainment screen. The GX's interior was functional, with big dials and knobs that could be operated while wearing gloves. The GX was available in three trims: 460, 460 Premium, and 460 Luxury, each offering a range of features from leather upholstery to a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Palisade offered various drive modes, including Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, and Smart, which adjusted the vehicle's performance based on driving conditions. The Limited trim featured a self-leveling rear suspension, enhancing its handling and ride quality. Fuel economy for the Palisade was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined for the FWD model, and 19/24/21 for the AWD model.

The 2020 Lexus GX 460 was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with standard 4-wheel drive. The GX's V8 provided a robust driving experience, with direct and responsive steering. The self-leveling air suspension offered a smooth ride and the ability to adjust the suspension height. The GX excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its 4WD system and various chassis controls. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with ratings of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade offered impressive interior space, with 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The third row was spacious enough for adults on longer trips, and the second-row captain's chairs provided comfort and convenience. The Palisade's power-folding third-row seats were a handy feature, though they operated slowly. The cabin was well-equipped with multiple cup holders and storage spaces, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2020 Lexus GX, on the other hand, offered 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with all rear seats folded, which was less than some competitors. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, but getting into the third row could be challenging for adults. The GX's side-opening rear hatch was unique but not particularly advantageous. However, the separately opening rear window/hatch was a useful feature for quick access to the cargo area.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system was user-friendly, with tactile buttons and dials for easy navigation. The SEL trim offered an optional Driver Guidance package, which included a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and an in-car intercom system. The Limited trim featured a Harman Kardon premium audio system, a surround-view monitor, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Lexus GX's infotainment system showed its age, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it was a true touchscreen with large buttons for audio, navigation, and climate controls, making it simpler to use than some modern systems. The GX's infotainment setup was straightforward, but it missed out on some of the latest tech features found in newer models.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It came with a range of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and parking sensors. The Palisade's fully digital instrument panel allowed for innovative safety features like a blind-spot camera system, which projected live images on the instrument panel when the turn signal was activated.

The 2020 Lexus GX came standard with the Lexus Safety System+, which included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring and an available surround-view camera. The GX's high driving position and large windows provided excellent visibility, enhancing overall safety.