Honda Pilot vs. Hyundai Palisade
Honda and Hyundai are each leading carmakers that are depended on for safe and reliable family vehicles. Buying a family vehicle is a huge undertaking, and it can be difficult to come to a final decision. If you are hunting for a family SUV with a third row, the Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Palisade are most likely two vehicles that are on your radar.
They are strikingly similar vehicles, so a deeper look into various details will help us see what makes one stand apart from the other. The price, the performance, and the interior comfort are some primary areas of concern for a family vehicle like the Palisade or the Pilot. How do they differ?
Price
The Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Palisade are both third row SUVs that offer a wide range of options. The each have a long list of trim selections, and are very similar in price –– though the Honda SUV is actually a little more expensive.
The 2020 Honda Pilot has a starting price of $31,650. That’s for an LX 2WD Pilot. That is the first of a total of 14 trims for the Pilot. The highest level trim is called the Black Edition which comes in AWD. A 2020 Black Edition Honda Pilot starts at $49,720.
The Hyundai Palisade offers only 6 trim levels –– about half of the number of Honda Pilot trims. The first, starting at $31,775, is the SE FWD. The Limited trim is the Palisade’s highest trim level is also available in AWD. This is where the Palisade comes in a few grand below the Honda Pilot. A fully loaded Hyundai Palisade starts at $46,625.
Performance
These two family friendly SUVs offer similar performance specs. They are nearly identical in terms of gas mileage. According to CarBuzz, the Honda Pilot gets 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The Hyundai Palisade also gets 19mpg in the city, but advertises 26 mpg highway.
The engines are alike, too. The 2020 Pilot is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 that generates 280 horsepower for 262 pound-feet of torque. The 2020 Palisade uses a 3.8 liter V6 that creates a comparable 291 horsepower for the same pound-feet of torque as the Pilot.
The Honda SUV has a slightly larger turning diameter, giving the Hyundai SUV an edge in terms of steering agility. The two SUVs are neck and neck. Though the Honda still employs the Japanese engineering trusted for reliability that has inspired generations of brand loyalty.
Interior comfort
The Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Palisade are both around the same size and each of them sports a third row for a growing family or an extra friend or two. The Hyundai Palisade is actually a little nicer where a spacious cabin is concerned.
While each SUV has about the same head and shoulder room, the 2020 Palisade has a few extra inches on the 2020 Pilot in terms of leg room in both the front seats and in the second row. The leg rom in the third row, however is about the same for each of these SUVs.
Both cabins offer a range of quality from the base trim level to the upper trim levels with large infotainment and plush leather. The Honda‘s Black Edition has some cool details and interior badges. And, while the Palisade is updated due its being new to the market, the Honda interior boasts a simple feeling of quality.
The Pilot or the Palisade?
Similar price, similar performance, and similar levels of comfort make these two a bit difficult to compare. The Hyundai warranty may tip potential buyers toward the Palisade, but the trusted Honda engineering may encourage people to lean in the Pilot’s direction.
It will all come down to the nitty gritty of testing each vehicle and deciding which of the fine details are most important. Especially with two vehicles so similar.
