2025 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2025 Subaru Forester underwent a noticeable visual transformation, focusing on a more generic and streamlined appearance. It featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with higher trims offering larger wheels and additional styling elements like bronze accents on the Sport trim. The Forester maintained its large-greenhouse shape but introduced geometric wheel arches and a more decisive window design. Inside, the Forester offered a more intentional cabin design with options for StarTex material or genuine leather seating, depending on the trim level.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Palisade embraced a bold and unmistakable design, especially after its 2023 refresh. The Palisade's exterior showcased balanced forms and upscale body sculpting, giving it a premium look. Inside, even the base SE trim offered a modern and upscale feel, with higher trims featuring premium leather, artificial suede, and luxury cues. The Palisade was equipped with thoughtful details like USB ports in the front seatbacks and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2025 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It came standard with a Lineartonic CVT and Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system. The Forester's X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, improved stability and traction on challenging terrain. While not particularly peppy, the Forester offered a smooth steering feel and confidence on various surfaces. Its fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with slight variations for Sport and Touring trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with optional AWD available. The Palisade's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it averaged 22 mpg in combined driving. The Palisade offered a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer feel on highways. Its powertrain was smooth and refined, with the automatic transmission providing silky shifts. Despite not being the most fuel-efficient, the Palisade's V6 engine was a delight to drive.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, increasing cargo space to 29.6 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet when folded. It offered a roomy second row, though it fell slightly short in cargo space compared to some competitors. The Forester's interior featured a dark headliner, power-adjustable seats, and options for heated and ventilated seating, enhancing comfort and practicality.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade provided three rows of seating, with our test vehicle featuring a seven-passenger arrangement. The Palisade Calligraphy trim offered Nappa leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver’s seat. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, while the third-row seat was also heated. The Palisade's storage solutions were thoughtful, with adjustable cupholders and dedicated smartphone storage. Its Smart Liftgate offered hands-free convenience, and 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 an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with additional features like dual USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Touring trim offered a navigation system, Harman Kardon sound system, and Subaru's Starlink connected services with new capabilities.

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 smartphone connectivity, it offered two-device Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and Bluelink+ connected services. The Palisade Calligraphy included a navigation system, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Its Harman Kardon audio system provided excellent sound, and features like a head-up display and surround-view camera system enhanced convenience and safety.

The 2025 Subaru Forester offered advanced safety features, including Emergency Stop Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Subaru's EyeSight suite with enhancements for 2025. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the 2024 model received high marks, suggesting continued safety excellence.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, offering a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. Higher trims added advanced technologies like Blind Spot View Monitor and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024, though a Poor rating in a new test affected its 2025 accolade. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.