2026 Toyota Sequoia vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia presented a robust and imposing design, reminiscent of its Tundra pickup sibling. Its tall and wide stance, coupled with blocky features, gave it a commanding presence on the road. The front showcased a large black grille, more contained than the Tundra's, with a blacked-out look confined within the grille itself. The sides featured a distinctive shoulder line that descended from the hood to the front doors, while pronounced haunches over the wheels added to its chunky aesthetic. Black wheel flares were standard across most trims, except for the Capstone trim, which opted for body-colored flares. The rear was marked by a standard spoiler and tailgate Sequoia lettering, with wheel options ranging from 18 to 22 inches. Inside, the Sequoia's cabin continued the chunky theme, with large dials and a utilitarian feel, especially in the TRD Pro trim. The interior featured black synthetic leather upholstery with a camouflage pattern, TRD Pro embroidery, and red contrast stitching. While soft-touch surfaces adorned certain areas, hard plastics were prevalent, emphasizing its utilitarian nature over luxury.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, available in four trims, exuded style and presence across its lineup. The base SEL trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the front featured a massive grille with horizontal slats, framed by LED projector headlights and five large LED daytime running lights. The profile boasted body-color, heated side mirrors, with power-folding and auto-dimming features on higher trims. The rear was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and stacks of five LED taillights wrapping around the corners. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The SEL trim offered H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and three-stage heating elements for the front seats. Higher trims added features like Nappa leather upholstery and integrated driver's seat memory settings. The interior was filled with organic shapes and well-considered storage solutions, providing a richer feeling of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia transitioned from a V8 to a hybrid powertrain, known as i-Force Max, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. An electric motor, positioned between the engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission, contributed an additional 48 hp and 184 lb-ft, drawing power from a 1.87-kWh battery pack. The Sequoia's performance was robust, with a 0–60 mph time of about six seconds, and it maintained a V8-like growl. It could tow up to 9,520 pounds, aided by a haul mode and an optional Tow Tech package. However, the large towing mirrors, while helpful for towing, obstructed views at intersections. Handling was typical for a body-on-frame SUV, with noticeable body lean in corners. The TRD Pro trim, designed for off-roading, featured an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and additional off-road features like a front grille light bar and aluminum skid plate.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of sluggish hybrids, offering a lively driving experience. It utilized a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The turbo-four engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the combined output reached 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The Palisade Hybrid's performance was enhanced by an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and next-generation hybrid system, which eliminated the starter motor and auxiliary belts. This setup allowed for optimized power distribution and improved fuel efficiency. The cabin remained quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing materials and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, providing a responsive driving experience, although the pedal feel was somewhat soft. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a balanced and enjoyable ride.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia, a full-size SUV, accommodated seven or eight passengers. The first row featured eight-way power seat adjustments and two-way power lumbar adjustments, with ample headroom and legroom. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilation available on most trims. The second row offered good comfort, especially with captain's chairs, and included USB-C ports and a 115-volt outlet. Access to the third row was facilitated by center access or tilting and flipping second-row seats. While adults could fit in the third row for short trips, the low seat bottoms compromised long-trip comfort. Cargo space was both a strength and a weakness, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with seats folded. However, the load floor was not flat, and rivals offered more cargo space.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid provided 86.7 cubic feet of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others. The battery's position under the front passenger seat slightly reduced second-row legroom, but it remained competitive. The third row offered 32.1 inches of legroom, with the Calligraphy trim providing 33.6 inches. Headroom in the third row was 37.8 inches. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and six USB-C power outlets. It came standard with seating for seven, with an option for a second-row bench to accommodate eight. The interior featured numerous storage cubbies, including a rubberized cargo space in the center console and a small shelf ahead of the front-passenger seat.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia featured a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an optional 14-inch touchscreen available. The instrument cluster displayed trip information, fuel economy, and more, while the 14-inch touchscreen offered shortcuts to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and vehicle settings. Other standard tech included a three-month satellite radio trial, an eight-speaker audio system, and a month of Wi-Fi Connect. Higher trims offered a head-up display, a 120-volt outlet, a wireless phone charger, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. The climate controls and drive mode selector were conveniently located on the center console.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. It supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Palisade Hybrid also featured a Passenger Talk intercom system for easier communication between rows. Higher trims added a 14-speaker Bose stereo and a built-in dashcam. A 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard, though it lacked ventilation. The Palisade Hybrid introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off, provided the hybrid battery had sufficient charge.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia came with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia received mixed crash-test results from the IIHS, with a top Good score in some tests but a Marginal score in others. The safety systems performed well during testing, but the wide tow mirrors posed challenges in tight spots. Toyota did not offer a hands-free highway driving system.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid featured a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, and the rear doors had a safe-exit alert indicator. During testing, the Palisade's ADAS tech performed flawlessly. At the time of writing, the Palisade had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.