2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was a standout in the Land Rover lineup, outselling the Discovery by a significant margin. Its boxy design, reminiscent of the old LR4, appealed to customers who preferred a classic Land Rover look over the Discovery's more Ford-like appearance. The Defender's design was characterized by its square-jawed face, rectangular hood, and doors set parallel to the ground, with steeply angled fittings like the windshield and lower front bumper. Tasteful accents paid homage to the original 1980s Defender, including dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and a body-color square separating the side glass. The Defender was available in three body styles: the short two-door 90, the medium-length four-door 110, and the extended-length four-door 130, offering unmatched choice in the SUV market.

Inside, the Defender prioritized function and durability over luxury, with an interior coated in rubbers and plastics designed to resist moisture and stains. Despite its high price, the interior was basic, with exposed screws and plain-looking air vents, maintaining the Defender's hardcore character. While the build quality and fit were excellent, the Defender's interior lacked the opulence of a Range Rover. The Defender's price, especially for the 110 V8 Carpathian Edition, was considered excessive by some, but its popularity indicated that many buyers appreciated its unique appeal.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade distinguished itself with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its looks likely found other aspects of the Palisade equally appealing. Hyundai offered the Palisade in various trims, including the new Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $36,650 to $53,850. The Calligraphy Night Edition featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black exterior trim, available in Abyss Black or Hyper White paint colors paired with a black interior.

The Palisade's interior exuded luxury, especially in the Calligraphy Night Edition, with an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, metal speaker grilles, and sophisticated design elements. The Palisade's interior was comparable to a luxury SUV, offering a premium experience in a mass-market midsize family SUV. The combination of high-quality materials and thoughtful design made the Palisade a standout choice for those seeking a luxurious yet practical vehicle.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled in off-road performance, showcasing its uncanny grip, wheel articulation, and generous clearance. With the air suspension raised, it could tackle almost any path, although most owners would not fully utilize its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Defender's performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided ample power, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine was less powerful at 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. Fuel economy varied, with the V8 returning 14/19/16 mpg, the six-cylinder 18/23/20, and the four-cylinder 17/20/18.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the AWD system providing excellent traction on dirt and gravel roads. The Palisade's V6 engine delivered satisfying acceleration, and the transmission was always in the right gear. The Palisade's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, with our testing loop averaging 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade displayed unexpected athleticism on mountain and canyon roads, with predictable handling and excellent brakes. Overall, the Palisade offered a simple and enjoyable driving experience, with the real-world fuel economy being its least appealing aspect.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered exceptional versatility as an everyday SUV, with unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with a jump seat, while the 110 offered an optional third row, and the 130 had a standard third row for up to eight seats. The Defender's large glass areas, including alpine lights, provided excellent visibility, and the 130 featured a panoramic moonroof. Cargo space varied, with the 130 offering 77 cubic feet with seats folded, the 90 providing 16 cubic feet, and the 110 offering up to 79 cubic feet. The Defender's off-road capabilities were complemented by features like a metal roof rack, console refrigerator, heated windshield, and more.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, with the base SE trim featuring cloth seats and higher trims offering H-Tex artificial leather, real leather, or premium Nappa leather. The Palisade's interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and memory settings available on higher trims. The Palisade's configurable storage included a console-top tray, a large storage bin, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with heated and ventilated captain's chairs available on higher trims. The Palisade's third row was more comfortable and roomy than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch screen. Both screens were quick and easy to operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation as standard. The Defender S offered heated 12-way power seats with leather and a Meridian stereo, while the X trim added air suspension, a locking rear differential, and more advanced features. The Defender's technology package included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, supporting Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable, but the voice recognition system worked well. Bluelink+ offered remote engine starting, automatic collision warning, and more. The Palisade's 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent sound quality, and additional technologies included a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking as standard. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Highway Driving Assist provided a hands-on driving system for highway travel, with lane-change assist available on higher trims. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings from the NHTSA.