2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from the typical family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found other aspects of the vehicle equally appealing. The Palisade was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new Calligraphy Night Edition. Prices ranged from $36,650 to $53,850, excluding the $1,395 destination charge. The Calligraphy Night Edition, which we tested, featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black exterior trim, badges, and wheels, available only in Abyss Black or Hyper White paint colors. The interior boasted a luxurious feel with leather and artificial suede inserts, an artificial suede headliner, and sophisticated upholstery, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2024 Land Rover Defender combined an old-school, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, connecting it visually to other Land Rover models. However, its interior leaned more towards durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was offered in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, with trims including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with the County visual package, featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. The interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with features like power-adjustable front seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a 10-speaker Meridian sound system. The Defender's rugged charm was complemented by its practical design, making it suitable for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive available. The Palisade had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and offered eight inches of ground clearance. Various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, were available, and the AWD system could be locked for off-road conditions. However, the Palisade was best suited for less challenging terrains. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, with the transmission always in the right gear. The AWD system distributed power effectively on dirt and gravel roads. The EPA estimated 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model, but our test averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding in city driving. It displayed surprising agility on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, offered 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. The P400 model provided ample power for highway speeds, though it exhibited a slight lurch at low speeds. Overall, the Defender offered a pleasant on-road ride with minimal body roll, considering its off-road prowess.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, with the base SE trim featuring cloth seats, while higher trims included H-Tex artificial leather, real leather, premium Nappa leather, or Nappa leather with microfiber inserts. Heated, power-adjustable front seats were standard on all but the SE trim, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available on higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition provided a luxurious experience with its simulated suede seat inserts and black interior. The Palisade's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with configurable storage options and ample space for passengers. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered more room than most competitors. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row best suited for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 76.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row in the two-row version, while the three-row configuration had 10.7 cubic feet behind the third row. The two-door Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 58.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Defender's interior was practical and easy to clean, with hard plastic surfaces in the cargo area.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, available with the SEL Premium package or higher trims. All Palisades came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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 were standard but required a USB-A cable. The Palisade offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, standard on higher trims. Additional technologies included a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display provided navigation instructions and safety feature status but was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While smaller than some competitors, the touchscreen was simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian nature. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup offered a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and more. Highway Driving Assist paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured standard driver assistance technologies, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety features included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted for being overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.