2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Hyundai Palisade

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade had a striking and elegant exterior design that set it apart from earlier Hyundai models. It featured distinctive lines and shapes, a prominent grille, and expressive LED headlights and taillights. The SUV's profile was visually interesting, with sculpted wheel arches and a continuous strip of glass surfaces creating a floating rear roof effect. Inside, the Palisade was equally polished, with high-quality materials and finishes. The horizontally arrayed screen and beefy center console anchored the dash, while the second and third rows offered ample space and comfort. The fit and finish were near-luxury levels, making the Palisade a worthy flagship for Hyundai.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Inside, it offered tons of cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim featured a bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander came in various trims, each adding more features and comfort. The base L trim included essentials like an 8-inch touchscreen, three-zone climate control, and multiple USB ports. Higher trims added luxury features like heated and ventilated seats, a power moonroof, and a premium audio system. The Highlander was spacious and well-equipped, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine featured gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, enhancing power and efficiency. The Palisade's fuel economy was estimated at 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. Despite its middling efficiency, the Palisade offered a smooth and powerful driving experience with no turbo lag. It handled well, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars. The Palisade could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes, making it a capable family SUV.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either standard FWD or available AWD. The Highlander featured a drive-mode button with Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, as well as an AWD system with Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. The V6 engine provided good pickup and a throaty exhaust note, especially when cruising or getting up to highway speeds. The Highlander handled well in various driving scenarios, with the XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and versatile interior, starting with comfortable third-row seating and easy access. The second-row captain's chairs were particularly comfortable, and the front row featured ample storage, including two compartments in the center console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space was generous, with 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both rows folded flat. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space. The Palisade's gear selector was a compact shift-by-wire setup, and the controls were logically arranged. Higher trims included luxury features like a dual-panel sunroof, premium Nappa leather upholstery, and a hands-free liftgate.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The seats were easy to lower and lift, and higher trims included a power liftgate. The base L trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and deep cargo pockets in the front doors. The XSE trim had second-row captain's chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row. While the second-row seats were spacious for adults, the third row was best suited for short trips. The Highlander offered a practical and well-thought-out interior.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess. The standard display audio system on SE and SEL models featured an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models had a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system. 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. Higher trims featured a rear-view monitor with parking guidance, a head-up display, and Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system. The digital instrument cluster on Limited and Calligraphy models integrated with turn signals and blind-spot monitor cameras.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons on either side of the screen. Higher trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument panel screen, and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. The Highlander's technology was user-friendly and well-integrated, providing a seamless experience for drivers and passengers.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features. Passive safety included seven airbags, three-point seat belts for all seating positions, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and more. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Higher trims added features like forward-looking parking sensors, ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and Highway Driving Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling overly sensitive. The Highlander offered a robust set of safety features, ensuring peace of mind for drivers and passengers.