2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Subaru Forester

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, 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, available only in Abyss Black or Hyper White paint colors. Inside, it boasted a luxurious feel with an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior design elements.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester focused more on practicality and capability than on aesthetics, though it did receive notable styling updates. The Forester's exterior featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a more generic look compared to previous models. The Sport trim, which we tested, included bronze trim accents and 19-inch wheels, while the Limited and Touring trims offered additional features like a low-profile roof rack and chrome badging. The Forester maintained its large-greenhouse shape, with geometric wheel arches and a more decisive window design. Inside, the Forester offered a functional cabin with StarTex material in the Sport trim and genuine leather in the Limited and Touring trims, along with structural dash elements that added to its intentional design.

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. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Palisade had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and offered eight inches of ground clearance. It featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, and allowed for locking the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, with the transmission consistently in the right gear. The AWD system effectively distributed power on various terrains, though the Palisade was best suited for less challenging paths. The EPA rated the AWD Palisade at 21 mpg combined, but our testing showed an average of 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade offered a quiet ride, especially in the Calligraphy Night Edition, with a firm yet comfortable suspension and excellent visibility for city driving.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a Lineartonic CVT and standard Symmetrical AWD. While not known for its quietness, the Forester's engine noise was less intrusive at lower speeds. The Forester Sport and higher trims included a dual-function X-Mode system for improved traction on slippery surfaces. The Forester's acceleration was modest, but it offered smooth steering and stability on various terrains, including snow and mud. The EPA rated the Forester at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with a slight decrease for Sport and Touring trims. A hybrid version was anticipated but not yet available.

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 and ventilated front seats were available, with additional comfort features like memory settings and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade provided configurable storage options, including a large bin, cupholders, and a wireless charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered decent comfort and standard heating and air conditioning vents. The Palisade's cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, increasing cargo space to 29.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded. The Forester's cargo area included eight heavy-duty hooks, and the vehicle offered a roomy second row. The Premium trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with additional adjustability and heating options in higher trims. The Touring trim added driver’s seat memory, front-row seat ventilation, and heated back seats.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth connectivity, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable, while wireless charging was standard from the SEL trim. The Palisade offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display provided useful data but was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model featured two 7-inch touchscreens with wired smartphone projection. Higher trims included dual USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Touring trim offered a navigation system, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and additional driver-assistance features. Subaru’s Starlink connected services suite included new capabilities like Valet Mode and Remote Vehicle Configuration.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with the SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, 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 Subaru Forester featured Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technology, with enhancements for 2025 including a wider field of view and an electric brake booster. Emergency Stop Assist was available on the Touring trim, along with a digital rearview mirror and reverse automatic braking. The 2025 Forester had not yet been crash-tested, but the 2024 model received high safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.