2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Ford Explorer

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 new Calligraphy Night Edition, which featured a blacked-out appearance and luxurious interior touches, making it feel like a high-end SUV.

In contrast, the 2025 Ford Explorer continued its sleek design with a refreshed front end, giving it a wider and more rugged appearance. The rear featured new LED taillights and a strip of trim connecting them. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements in materials and design, making it competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the number of trim levels, focusing on enhancing the remaining options, including the sporty ST-Line and luxurious Platinum.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered several driving modes and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Palisade's AWD system provided excellent traction on various terrains, though it was best suited for less challenging paths. The SUV averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode during testing, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 21 mpg combined.

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engines: a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 400 horsepower. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD, with 4WD as an option. The Explorer's turbo four-cylinder engine provided quick acceleration and averaged 23.8 mpg during testing. The ST-Line trim focused on aesthetics, but the optional Street Package added performance enhancements like larger wheels and brakes.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, from cloth to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts. The Calligraphy Night Edition featured numerous comfort upgrades, including heated and ventilated seats and a massage function for the driver. The Palisade provided ample storage solutions and a spacious interior, with a maximum cargo capacity of 86.4 cubic feet.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional bench seat increasing capacity to seven. The ST-Line trim included features like a heated steering wheel and massage seats. While the front and second-row seats were comfortable, the third row was less accommodating for adults. The Explorer offered competitive cargo space, with a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, and connected services. It supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though a cable was required. The Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional tech features included a digital key and a semi-autonomous parking system.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and Google Built-in. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with streaming apps and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the Platinum and ST trims featuring a more powerful setup. The new infotainment system was user-friendly, with Google Assistant providing reliable voice recognition.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense suite, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and Highway Driving Assist. 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 Ford Explorer featured Ford CoPilot 360+ with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. The ST-Line trim and above included BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free highway driving system. While the NHTSA had not fully rated the 2025 Explorer, it received five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.