2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

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 other aspects of the vehicle equally appealing. The Palisade was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new-for-2024 Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $36,650 to $53,850, excluding the 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. Its interior boasted a luxurious feel with leather and artificial suede inserts, an artificial suede headliner, and sophisticated metal speaker grilles, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black color scheme, was less about luxury and more about rugged appeal. Despite the heat-sink color combination being less than ideal for a tropical climate, the Wrangler's design was rooted in nostalgia, drawing on themes of American freedom and capability. Jeep offered the Wrangler in various trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Rubicon X, and Rubicon 392, with prices ranging from $34,685 to $63,995. The Sport S model we evaluated came with a few options, including a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and had an MSRP of $49,175. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with a focus on utility over form, and its design was reminiscent of a World War II military vehicle, complete with the iconic seven-slot front grille.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup 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 the AWD system could be locked for off-road conditions. However, the Palisade was best suited for less challenging terrains. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, with the transmission always in the right gear. The AWD system effectively distributed power on dirt and gravel roads, and the Palisade averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode during testing, slightly below the EPA's 21 mpg estimate. The suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, and the Palisade displayed surprising agility on mountain roads, with reliable brakes that withstood rigorous use.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering slightly better fuel efficiency with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. During testing in Hawaii, the four-cylinder Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's design was well-suited for off-road adventures, with standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and excellent approach and departure angles. However, its ride was rough, with a steady stream of jiggles and jolts, and the steering felt disconnected at higher speeds. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern, but its off-road capabilities were impressive, especially with the right equipment.

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. Most trims featured heated, power-adjustable front seats, with additional comfort features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available in higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition included an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade's interior was spacious, with configurable storage options and a generous cargo capacity of up to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered more comfort and room than many competitors. A hands-free power tailgate was standard from the SEL trim, providing convenient access to the cargo area.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging, though the front seats were comfortable and supportive. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was suitable for various climates, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Wrangler's rear seat offered adequate legroom, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of the plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in the cupholders. Accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be cumbersome in tight spaces. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and Bluelink+ connected services. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though they required a USB-A cable. The Palisade's 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 comprehensive data, though it was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport S trim came with a standard eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system available. Jeep Connect offered connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and off-road navigation capabilities. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group package added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine starting, while the Active Safety Group package included rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with the SmartSense collection 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 for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received a five-star side-impact rating from the NHTSA, though frontal impact test results were incomplete.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment, with optional advanced driver assistance systems available on higher trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available, but forward collision warning required the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler as Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.