2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out 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 aesthetics likely found other aspects of the vehicle to their liking. The Palisade was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $36,650 to $53,850, excluding the 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 design elements, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, presented a more premium appearance compared to its non-European rivals, despite not always matching them in feature comparisons. The Tiguan's design was more refined, with standard LED headlights and taillights, and an illuminated grille light line on the SEL R-Line trim. The base trim was limited to grayscale colors, while higher trims offered more color options, albeit with some restrictions. The Tiguan's interior featured firm seats, and while the FWD models could seat seven, the AWD models, including the SEL R-Line, seated five, offering more cargo space. The two-row Tiguan provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and 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. The Palisade delivered satisfying acceleration and power, with the transmission always in the right gear. The AWD system effectively distributed power on dirt and gravel roads, and the SUV averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode during testing. The Palisade's suspension provided a firm yet comfortable ride, and it displayed some athleticism on mountain and canyon roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan offered FWD as standard, with Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD available for an additional cost. The AWD system slightly impacted fuel economy, with the base Tiguan S achieving 25 mpg combined. The SEL R-Line trim provided a mixed driving experience, with inconsistent power delivery and a touchy gas pedal. The steering was light and rubbery, but visibility and handling were good, making the vehicle feel more maneuverable. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the seating surfaces drew some complaints.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, with the base SE trim featuring cloth seats and higher trims offering various leather options. Heated and ventilated front seats were available, with additional comfort features like memory settings and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Calligraphy Night Edition provided a comfortable interior with configurable storage options and a generous amount of cargo space. The Palisade's second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with options for heated and ventilated captain's chairs. The third row was more spacious than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate was a convenient feature, and the Palisade offered 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's top-trim test car featured firm seats, with the AWD models seating five and offering more cargo space. The two-row Tiguan provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The three-row configuration reduced cargo space but maintained passenger space in the first two rows. The Tiguan offered up to 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom for front passengers, with slightly reduced space in the second row. The third row, available only in FWD models, was tighter but still more spacious than some competitors.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported 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 USB-A cable, but wireless charging was standard starting with SEL trim. The Palisade offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display provided useful information, though it was not compatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's infotainment system featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. The system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Tiguan S had a 6.5-inch touchscreen and two USB-C ports, while higher trims offered more ports and wireless charging. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line featuring a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Highway Driving Assist system provided semi-autonomous highway driving, and the rear-seat reminder system offered additional safety features. The Palisade Limited, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Night Edition offered three layers of blind-spot safety. The 2024 Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though some crash test results from the NHTSA were incomplete.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and for 2024, Volkswagen's IQ.DRIVE suite of driver-assistance features became standard. This included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, and more. The Tiguan also offered standard rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning. Park Distance Control became standard at the SE R-Line Black trim level, though some features were found to be intrusive.