2025 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its bold and unmistakable design, which was a refreshing departure from the rugged styling cues often seen in SUVs. Its angular and technical look, introduced in the 2023 refresh, replaced the previous chubby-cheeked face, giving it a more upscale appearance. The Palisade's interior continued this design ethos, offering a clean, modern, and luxurious feel, especially in the higher trims. Despite some hard-to-read metallic-surface control markings, the Palisade was packed with thoughtful details like USB charging ports in the front seatbacks and second-row smartphone storage pockets. Available in seven trim levels, the Palisade's pricing ranged from $37,200 to $54,500, with our test vehicle, the Calligraphy trim, priced at $55,205.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black color scheme, was less appealing in the tropical climate of Hawaii. Despite this, the Wrangler's design remained fundamentally appealing, drawing on themes of American freedom and capability. The Wrangler was available in several trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. Our Sport S model, priced at $49,175, included options like a black hardtop and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with a focus on utility over luxury, and its design was rooted in its military vehicle heritage. Despite its lack of sophistication compared to modern cars, the Wrangler's iconic seven-slot grille and Made in the U.S.A. label contributed to its enduring popularity.

The 2025 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. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg in combined driving, or 21 mpg with AWD. Despite its age, the Palisade's driving dynamics remained impressive, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer ride on highways. The powertrain was smooth and refined, delivering satisfying performance, although it fell short of the EPA fuel economy estimates during testing. The Palisade's steering and suspension provided a reasonable feel for the road, and its brakes were well-calibrated.

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 four-cylinder engine 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 Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its ride was rough, and its steering and handling were less precise, with a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious interior with three rows of seats, accommodating up to eight passengers. Our test vehicle featured a seven-passenger configuration with second-row captain's chairs, providing comfort and convenience with features like heating, ventilation, and side window shades. The third-row seat was also heated, a rarity in this segment. The Palisade's storage solutions were thoughtful, with adjustable cupholders, door panel trays, and a Smart Liftgate for easy access to the cargo area. It offered 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 86.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated seats and steering wheel. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small bins and nets for stashing items. The Wrangler's cargo area was accessible through a tailgate and rear window, offering 31.7 cubic feet of space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While it required a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the system was otherwise impressive, offering Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Palisade also included navigation, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Safety features like blind spot warnings and a surround-view camera system enhanced the driving experience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a highlight, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional Alpine sound system. Jeep Connect provided access to a Wi-Fi hotspot and off-road navigation capabilities. The Convenience Group pack added a digital display, passive entry, and remote engine start. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group package.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, offering a range of standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Palisade SEL added an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system, while the Calligraphy model featured automatic parking braking and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024 but received a Poor rating in a new frontal-impact test for 2025. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment, with optional advanced driver assistance systems like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available on higher trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection but Marginal in the small overlap frontal-impact test.