2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 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 much to enjoy about the vehicle overall. The Palisade was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new-for-2024 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 featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black exterior elements, available only in Abyss Black or Hyper White, paired with a luxurious black interior.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta, especially in the high-performance Ioniq 5 N variant. The mid-cycle refresh brought subtle changes to the lower front fascia while retaining the iconic "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and high rear spoiler. The new XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern. Exclusive colors for the XRT included Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl, while the overall color palette expanded with Atlas White Matte and Ecotronic Gray Matte. The Ioniq 5's interior remained minimalistic and modern, with minor changes enhancing functionality, such as the revised center console.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 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 boasted 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, with the AWD system lockable for off-road conditions. Despite its power, the Palisade was best suited for less challenging terrains. The V6 engine provided satisfying acceleration, and the transmission was responsive. The AWD system adeptly managed power distribution on dirt and gravel roads. The EPA estimated 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model, though real-world testing averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding city driving. On mountain roads, the Palisade displayed surprising agility, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT featured a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand options that adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT excelled on loose sand, allowing controlled slippage for an enjoyable off-road experience. The Ioniq 5's AWD system was standard on the XRT, while other trims offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) with optional AWD. The 2025 model saw increased battery capacity, extending the range to 318 miles for RWD configurations, with the base trim rated at 245 miles. AWD reduced the range to 290 miles for SE and SEL trims, 269 miles for the Limited, and 259 miles for the XRT. Power output varied, with RWD models producing 168 to 225 horsepower, while AWD models delivered 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. Despite its weight, the Ioniq 5 offered an engaging driving experience, thanks to the instant torque of its electric powertrain.

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, power-adjustable front seats were standard on all but the SE trim, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available on higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition provided a luxurious experience with its simulated suede seat inserts and black interior. Configurable storage options included a console-top tray, a large storage bin, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered decent comfort and roominess. The Palisade's cargo space ranged from 18 cubic feet behind the third row to 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper and revising the center console for improved functionality. Heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel available from the SEL trim. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, though heated rear seats were unavailable. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with generous head and legroom. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded, plus an additional .85 cubic feet in the frunk. The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System (NACS), allowing access to Tesla's Supercharger network, and included a Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter for versatile charging options.

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, supporting Bluetooth connectivity, 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, though wireless charging was standard from the SEL trim. The Harman Kardon premium sound system, part of the SEL Premium package, delivered excellent audio quality. Additional tech included a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display provided comprehensive data but was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and instrumentation, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, enhancing smartphone connectivity. The Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT and Limited trims, while SE and SEL trims featured a six-speaker system. Standard tech included navigation, dynamic voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5's head-up display was exclusive to the Limited trim, and the wireless charging pad was available from the SEL trim.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with the SmartSense suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, offering a hands-on driving system for highways. The SEL Premium package added features like front parking sensors and a surround-view camera system. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received high marks in NHTSA side-impact and rollover tests.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 continued to receive top safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. New safety features included an enhanced driver attention system and parking-distance warnings. The XRT and Limited trims offered a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 2 adding lane-changing capability and machine learning for improved performance.