When it comes to comparing the 2021 Hyundai Palisade to the 2021 Honda Pilot, it’s clear that the Palisade makes for the better pick. That’s why, if you’re in the midst of shopping for a new SUV, we suggest forgetting about the Honda Pilot and choosing the 2021 Hyundai Palisade instead. 

The Hyundai Palisade did better in road tests than the Honda Pilot  

Unfortunately for the 2021 Honda Pilot, it didn’t do so hot in road tests. According to Consumer Reports, “The Pilot’s cumbersome cornering makes it feel reluctant to turn, and the vague steering chips away at drivers’ confidence.” All in all, Consumer Reports says, driving the Honda Pilot is basically like driving a boat. Yes, you read that right. A boat. Car and Driver didn’t have many nice things to say about this year’s Pilot either, adding that its “lack of body control makes it seem disconnected from the road at times.”

As for the 2021 Palisade? It’s much more enjoyable to drive. Its engine packs a pretty decent punch, and, according to Consumer Reports, its eight-speed automatic transmission shifts both smoothly and responsively. Kelley Blue Book added that its “suspension mellows road harshness without sapping the Palisade’s cornering competence.”

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is a Top Safety Pick+

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade also has the edge when it comes to safety. Though both the Honda Pilot and the Palisade earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, it’s the 2021 Palisade that the IIHS recognized as a Top Safety Pick+. Unfortunately for the Pilot, it earned slightly lower safety ratings, which prevented it from being recognized as a Top Safety Pick+.

Though, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Hyundai Palisade was tapped as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. After all, this year’s model comes stocked to the brim with vital safety features. Opt for even the base model, and you can expect to find safety features like forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, smart cruise control with stop & go, lane following assist, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warnings. 

For complimentary maintenance, choose the 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Unlike the Honda Pilot, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade comes standard with Hyundai complimentary maintenance. This plan comes standard with all new Hyundai models and covers normal, factory scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000-miles, whichever comes first. So, whether it’s time for an oil change or a tire rotation, Hyundai has got you covered.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade also boasts a better standard warranty than the Honda Pilot. While the Honda Pilot comes standard with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, the Palisade is standard with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a seven-year/unlimited miles anti-perforation warranty.

Head to your local dealership to take this SUV out for a test drive

There are plenty of reasons to choose the 2021 Palisade over its Honda competition. But to find out if this year’s Palisade is the right fit for you? Well, that’s going to take a test drive.