2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Hyundai Palisade

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 to their liking. 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, with its exclusive Hyper White paint and carpeted floor mats, had an MSRP of $55,930. This trim came with all-wheel drive and a blacked-out appearance, featuring dark chrome and gloss black exterior elements. Inside, the Palisade offered a luxurious feel with its artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior design, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, was priced at $75,000. Despite its high price, the RX Hybrid's design was somewhat unremarkable, with only a few standout features like the orange brake calipers and a large front grille. The RX Hybrid lineup included the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+ models, each offering different power outputs and fuel efficiencies. The RX 350h was the base model with 246 horsepower, while the RX 500h delivered 366 horsepower. The RX 450h+ was a plug-in hybrid with an electric-only range of 37 miles. All models came with standard all-wheel drive, and the RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension and performance brakes. The interior of the RX Hybrid was contemporary, with quality materials and ambient lighting, but some ergonomic issues with the controls detracted from the overall experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with 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. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, with the transmission always seeming to be in the right gear. The AWD system effectively distributed power on dirt and gravel roads. The EPA estimated 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model, but real-world testing showed an average of 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade's suspension was tuned for a firmer ride, offering excellent visibility and maneuverability in urban settings. It also displayed surprising agility on winding roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three models with varying performance levels. The RX 350h, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid powertrain, produced 246 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. It was the most efficient model, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 304 horsepower and a 6.2-second 0-60 mph time, with an electric-only range of 37 miles. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission, generated 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It offered quick acceleration but lower fuel efficiency, averaging 20.9 mpg in testing. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes, and a dynamic rear-wheel steering system. While it was capable on twisty roads, the RX 500h's communication with the driver was limited, making it less rewarding to drive. The RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked overall dynamic capability and satisfaction.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating 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 well-equipped with configurable storage, including a large bin between the front seats and a floor tray under the center console. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row provided more comfort and space than many competitors. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model featured heated and ventilated front seats with enhanced bolstering, though the bottom cushions were less comfortable on long drives. The rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with optional power-reclining, heating, and ventilation. The RX Hybrid offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, with hooks for grocery bags and a small storage area under the load floor. Folding down the second row increased cargo volume to 46.2 cubic feet, which was modest for a midsize SUV. Interior storage was practical, though the rear center armrest compartment lacked lining, potentially causing noise and vibration.

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 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 USB-A cable for connectivity. The Palisade's voice recognition system worked well, though it struggled with specific music requests on SiriusXM. Bluelink+ offered remote engine starting, automatic collision warning, and other connected services at no cost for original owners. The Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional technologies included a digital key function, digital rearview mirror, and semi-autonomous remote parking system.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen display for the infotainment system. The Lexus Interface system featured a volume knob and large dials for climate control, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RX Hybrid offered generous subscriptions to connected services, including a three-year Drive Connect plan with a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system supported SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple Music, and Amazon Music streaming. The head-up display was helpful but not as comprehensive as some competitors. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system delivered excellent sound quality. However, the steering wheel controls were distracting and difficult to use while driving, detracting from the overall experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with the 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 (HDA) 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, with a five-star rating for side-impact collisions and a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, and roadside assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Predictive Driving Assist monitored forward progress and used braking or steering input to maintain safe distances. The RX Hybrid earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS gave it a Poor rating for occupant protection in a moderate overlap frontal-impact test.