2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, gave the Palisade a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique glossy black and chrome grille. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs in higher trims and a bench option for lower trims, accommodating up to eight passengers.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, albeit outdated, design, reminiscent of its 2010 model year. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a rugged and stable appearance, ideal for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model featured underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities. Inside, the 4Runner's design showed its age, with an analog instrument panel and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. The interior had a mix of hard plastics and cushioned panels, with grained seat upholstery that resembled vinyl. Despite its dated appearance, the 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and practical features like a sliding glass rear window and a hitch receiver for towing.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, making it competitive in its class. It outperformed the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas and was slightly more powerful than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard paddle shifters, provided smooth power delivery. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The Palisade excelled in towing, with a capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, and offered a comfortable ride for everyday driving. Its fuel economy was respectable, with 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While its power figures were comparable to the Bronco and Wrangler, the 4Runner was hindered by its five-speed automatic transmission, which affected acceleration and fuel efficiency. The TRD Pro model came with standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, making it capable off-road. However, on-road performance was less impressive, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a noisy engine. The 4Runner's soft suspension, while beneficial for off-roading, resulted in body roll and floatiness on highways. Its towing capacity matched the Palisade at 5,000 pounds.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample interior space, comfortably seating seven or eight passengers. It provided 44.1 inches of front legroom, 42.4 inches in the second row, and 31.4 inches in the third row, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded. The interior featured convenient amenities like HVAC vents in all rows, multiple cupholders, and a hands-free smart liftgate.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior, though dated, offered practicality for off-road enthusiasts. The layout was straightforward, with large climate-control dials and sturdy handles for stability during off-road excursions. The 4Runner provided ample front legroom, but headroom was limited for taller passengers in the second row. Cargo space was impressive, with 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 89.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Runner lacked remote seat releases but featured a sliding glass rear window and a hitch receiver for towing.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its advanced technology features. It was the first Hyundai to offer WiFi hotspot capability, standard across all trims. The 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system in higher trims. The Palisade also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and an in-car intercom for communication between front and rear passengers. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system provided remote accessibility and management features, including remote start presets and Digital Key 2 Touch compatibility with Apple devices.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system offered basic functionality with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but its eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model included a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, but road noise often overshadowed its quality. The 4Runner featured additional terrain controls in the headliner console, with Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems for off-road adventures. However, the system's pictogram labels required consulting the owner's manual for full utilization.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for the 2022 model, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating. It came equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard across all trims. The Palisade also offered navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist for enhanced safety on the road.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four out of five stars from NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests but noted "Marginal" and "Poor" results in the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning as standard safety features. The TRD Pro and Limited trims offered a surround-view camera system, with the Limited also featuring front and rear parking sensors.