2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Buick Enclave

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. Prices ranged from $36,650 to $53,850, excluding the $1,395 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. Inside, it boasted a luxurious feel with leather and artificial suede inserts, an artificial suede headliner, and sophisticated interior details, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

The 2025 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, presented a bold and modern look, reminiscent of a scaled-up version of the Envista. Its front design drew comparisons to Lamborghini models, with slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline. While its side profile was somewhat generic, the Enclave appeared bolder and more refined than its predecessor. Standard 20-inch wheels adorned the base Preferred trim and Sport Touring, with the Avenir trim featuring 22-inch wheels in a special finish. Inside, the Enclave offered a modern and premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, mimicking the airy, futuristic vibe of electric vehicles. The Sport Touring test car featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, adding a touch of elegance. However, the limited sunroof availability was a drawback, with the panoramic power sunroof only available on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an option for all-wheel drive (AWD). The Palisade had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and offered eight inches of ground clearance. It featured several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, and allowed for locking the AWD system for off-road travel. However, it was best suited for less challenging terrain. The V6 engine provided ample power and satisfying acceleration, with the transmission always in the right gear. The AWD system distributed power effectively on dirt and gravel roads. The EPA estimated 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model, though our testing averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade offered a quiet ride, especially in the Calligraphy Night Edition, with acoustic window glass and a firm yet comfortable suspension. It displayed some athleticism on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the front or all four wheels, with AWD available for an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by AWD, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the road noise-targeting iteration standard and the engine noise version available on higher trims. The turbo engine was powerful but not the most refined, and the Enclave's large size was noticeable, especially with loose steering at slower speeds. Despite this, the Enclave's driving dynamics were comparable to competitors like the Mazda CX-90.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, with cloth seats available only on the base SE trim. Other trims featured H-Tex artificial leather, real leather, or premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts. Heated, power-adjustable front seats were standard on all but the SE trim, with additional comfort features available on higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition test vehicle provided a comfortable experience, though it was limited to a black interior. The Palisade offered configurable storage between the front seats, with a large storage bin, cupholders, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs, with optional heating and ventilation, and the third row was more spacious than most rivals. The Palisade provided 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. Captain's chairs were standard in the second row, accommodating up to seven passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with heated second-row seats and ventilation available on the Avenir trim. Tri-zone climate control allowed middle-row passengers to manage their own temperature. The Enclave offered a one-touch power feature for folding and sliding the second-row seats, with power-folding third-row seats available on higher trims. The AutoSense liftgate opened to reveal 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

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, while wireless charging was standard from the SEL trim. The Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional technologies included a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display offered valuable information but was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen, integrating the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system available on the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for native apps. The Enclave also offered Wi-Fi hotspot capability and wired charging for all passengers, with two USB ports in each row.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and more. Highway Driving Assist paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, offering a hands-on driving system for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received high marks in side-impact and rollover resistance tests from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with multiple camera views was standard, and Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driving technology, was available on all trims. The Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable scores in most tests.