2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2021 Toyota Venza

The 2021 Toyota Venza, when it was revealed, was noted for its sleek design that many critics said resembled a Lexus. This was evident in person, where its grille and elongated profile blurred the lines between the two brands. The Venza's design was reminiscent of the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept shown at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, rather than any other Toyota SUV. Toyota offered the Venza in three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited, with a choice of seven paint colors, though not all colors were available on every trim. Standard features included dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The base LE model came with a wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch driver’s information display, leather-trimmed steering wheel, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, fabric-trimmed seats, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen, among other features. The XLE trim added black bumper garnishes, silver roof rails, 19-inch alloy wheels, and more, while the Limited trim included a digital rearview mirror, illuminated footwells, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, with the option to add the Star Gaze panoramic roof.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, which replaced the Santa Fe XL as Hyundai's flagship SUV, presented an elegant and striking exterior design. It featured distinctive lines and shapes, from its prominent grille to its crisp shoulder lines and tasteful tailgate. The Palisade's profile was highlighted by sculpted wheel arches and a continuous strip of glass surfaces running from the C-pillar around the tailgate to the opposite C-pillar, giving the impression of a floating rear roof. Pronounced taillights and expressive LED headlights added to its visual appeal. Inside, the Palisade was equally elegant, with a horizontally arrayed screen (8 inches in SE and SEL models; 10.25 inches in Limited and Calligraphy models) and high-quality materials throughout. The second row offered either a roomy bench or captain's chairs, and the third row was spacious enough for two adults or three children. The Palisade's fit and finish were near-luxury levels, making it a worthy flagship for Hyundai.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack, powering electric motors that assisted the gasoline engine. This hybrid system delivered a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. While this was less than some of its competitors, the Venza's acceleration was smooth and appropriate for its target driver. The Venza's handling was confident, and it drove like a typical Toyota, which was not a bad thing. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined, outperforming competitors like the Murano, Passport, and Blazer. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, with gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, offered a baritone rumble and no turbo lag. The Palisade's EPA estimates were 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for FWD models and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for AWD models. The Palisade's handling was enhanced by a four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, with a self-leveling suspension system on SEL Convenience trim levels and above. The Palisade could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes or up to 1,650 pounds without.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was practical and well-appointed for its price point. Inside, it featured a unique cabin design with premium appointments in the center stack, including piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The deep center console offered resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, drive mode buttons, and more. The Venza's seating was comfortable for both front and rear passengers, with more headroom than the RAV4 and nearly equal shoulder and hip room. The Venza had 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily driving needs.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, designed as a minivan replacement, offered comfortable seating throughout the cabin. The third row provided easy access and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs were very comfortable. The front row had ample storage, including two compartments in the center console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space measured 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both second and third rows folded. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space, and the roof rails could hold up to 220 pounds of cargo. The Palisade's gear selector was a compact shift-by-wire setup, and the Limited and Calligraphy trims included high-end features like a dual-panel sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim had a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system, though improved, was not the best in the industry. The Venza included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system as standard. A Wi-Fi hot spot was also standard, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system available on the XLE and standard on the Limited. Toyota connected services included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, and a 10-year trial of Service Connect. Dynamic navigation was available on models with the larger screen.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess. The standard display audio system on SE and SEL models had an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models featured a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade had multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet. A rear-view monitor with parking guidance was standard, with surround view on Limited and Calligraphy. The upper trims also included a head-up display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Additional features included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of safety features, including seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, a power window lock-out button, rear child-safety locks, a front crumple zone, and more. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, a tire pressure monitoring system, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-following assist, safe exit assist, and trailer sway control. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.