2025 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out in a dwindling market of wagons in the United States, adopting crossover trends with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its Crimson Red Pearl paint paired beautifully with the black leather interior, though earthy shades were considered more fitting for its adventurous spirit. Subaru's focus on off-road capabilities paid off, as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became top sellers. The 2025 model saw no major changes, with various trims offering different upholstery and features, such as the Limited trim's power moonroof and DriverFocus tech. The Touring XT trim boasted Nappa leather and ventilated front seats, while the interior maintained a balance of chrome and black plastic, with easy-to-read gauges and a digital display.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Palisade leveraged bold design as its differentiator, moving away from rugged styling cues to a more angular and upscale look. The 2023 refresh enhanced its appeal, making it seem like a bargain at its price point. Inside, even the base SE trim offered a modern and upscale feel, with premium versions featuring luxury touches like leather and metal speaker grilles. The Palisade was packed with thoughtful details, such as USB ports in seatbacks and smartphone storage pockets. Available in seven trims, the Palisade ranged from $37,200 to $54,500, with our test vehicle, the Calligraphy trim, priced at $55,205. Despite some hard-to-read metallic control markings, the Palisade's design and features made it a standout in its segment.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine, available in two forms: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas, with power routed through a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, though not at performance car levels. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode enhanced traction on slippery surfaces, with the Wilderness model offering 9.5 inches of clearance and additional off-road features. The Outback's smooth and comfortable ride, light steering, and powerful brakes made it a pleasant companion on rough roads, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade came with a 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it averaged 22 mpg in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade's ride and handling remained competitive, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer feel on highways. The powertrain was smooth and satisfying, with the automatic transmission providing silky shifts. However, fuel efficiency was a concern, with recorded mpg falling short of EPA estimates. The Palisade's steering and suspension offered a reasonable road feel, and the brakes were well-calibrated. Overall, the Palisade's driving experience was enjoyable, especially for those who appreciated its suspension tuning.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality, with easy entry and exit and a lower roof height for loading. Its low center of gravity allowed for quick direction changes. The cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with the seat folded, with a flat floor and square shape maximizing usability. The Outback's 109 cubic feet of passenger volume surpassed crossover competitors, though the rear seat was slightly smaller. Buyers were advised to test different trims, as the driving experience varied, and the turbocharged engine increased towing capacity to 3,500 pounds.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured three rows of seats, with our test vehicle offering a seven-passenger setup with second-row captain's chairs. The Calligraphy trim included Nappa leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver's seat. The second-row seats were heated and ventilated, with good support and legroom. The third-row seat, also heated, accommodated adults with some adjustments. Storage was generous, with adjustable cupholders and dedicated smartphone storage. The Smart Liftgate provided hands-free access, though it could open unintentionally. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless connectivity on most trims. The Harman Kardon audio system was effective, though navigation commands limited audio output. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, with some functions requiring touchscreen interaction. A CD player and USB ports catered to older devices.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology, while not as modern as newer models, was fully functional. It featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and SiriusXM radio. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Harman Kardon audio system offered commendable sound. Additional features included Hyundai Pay, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display with blind spot warnings.

The 2025 Subaru Outback was equipped with EyeSight driver-assist technology, offering features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The system kept the Outback in its lane, though with some side-to-side movement. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured Hyundai SmartSense, with standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The HDA system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. Higher trims added features like a rear occupant alert, surround-view camera, 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.