2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 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, 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.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a rugged appeal with its unique design across different models, including the Defender 90, 110, and 130. The Defender 110 was considered the sweet spot in terms of design, while the Defender 130 carried a more substantial visual mass. The Defender's base prices ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, the Defender 130 X, came with the Extended Black Exterior Pack and a range of off-roading technology as standard. Despite its rugged exterior, the Defender's interior featured premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, maintaining an industrial yet quality-focused theme.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 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, with the AWD system capable of locking 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 AWD system effectively distributing power on dirt and gravel roads. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg for the AWD model, though our testing loop averaged 18.8 mpg.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard AWD system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its prowess off-road, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement during our test, where it handled well but was less agile on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined, though our observed figure was 16.2 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of interior options, from cloth seats in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. Heated and ventilated front seats were available, with additional comfort features like memory settings and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade's interior was spacious, with configurable storage options and a generous cargo capacity of up to 86.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with heating and ventilation, while the third row provided ample space and comfort.

In comparison, the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 featured three rows of seating with 12-way power-adjustable front seats offering heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent visibility, though the rear view was limited. The interior felt open and airy, thanks to the panoramic sunroof and large windows. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row accessibility and comfort, with heated seats and ample space. However, the side-hinged cargo door was cumbersome, and the cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, though the latter required a USB-A cable. The Palisade also featured Bluelink+ connected services, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and additional technologies like a digital key function and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display provided useful information, though it was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen and a configurable digital driver display. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. While Pivi Pro had previously been criticized for its slow response and convoluted interface, it performed well during our test, with accurate voice command recognition and an intuitive user experience. The Defender also included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and ease of parking.

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. The Highway Driving Assist system provided a hands-on driving experience for highway travel, with lane-change assist available on higher trims. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The technology operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at the time of testing.