Compare the2026 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2026 Audi Q7

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Palisade are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Audi Q7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The Hyundai Palisade has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q7 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Palisade has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Q7 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Palisade is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q7, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Palisade	Q7
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-36 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-34 MPH	-31 MPH

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Hyundai Palisade achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Audi Q7 which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

Both the Palisade and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Audi Q7:

	Palisade	Q7
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Q7:

	Palisade	Q7
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	99	225
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	24 cm	30 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	4%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.38/.4	.57/.7

The Hyundai Palisade (built after November 2025) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Q7 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

The Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q7’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Palisade’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 96 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 51 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 1 place higher in reliability than Audi.

The Palisade’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 26 more horsepower (287 vs. 261) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Palisade gets better mileage than the Q7:

			MPG
Palisade
	FWD	Blue 2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/35 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	31 city/32 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
Q7
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	18 city/23 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Palisade uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q7 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Palisade higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi Q7 (4). This means the Palisade produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q7 every 15,000 miles.

The Palisade stops much shorter than the Q7:

	Palisade	Q7
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

The Palisade V6 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Palisade has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q7 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Palisade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Palisade is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q7.

For better maneuverability, the Palisade XRT PRO’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q7 Prestige’s (39 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 550 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

The front grille of the Palisade uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q7 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Palisade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Q7 can only carry 7.

The Palisade has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 4.2 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.9 inches more third row headroom, 2.9 inches more third row legroom and 6.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Palisade’s middle and third row seats recline. The Q7’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Palisade’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

	Palisade	Q7
Behind Third Seat	19.1 cubic feet	13.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46.3 cubic feet	35.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	86.7 cubic feet	68.1 cubic feet

The Palisade’s cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in every dimension:

	Palisade	Q7
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.9”/50”/85.4”	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”
Max Width	53.4”	52.5”
Min Width	45.6”	42.6”
Height	33”	30”

The Palisade has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Q7 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q7 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q7’s (5000 vs. 4409 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Palisade uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q7 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Palisade has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also available, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Audi doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Q7.

The Palisade SEL Premium/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid has standard front air conditioned seats and the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q7 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade XRT PRO/Limited/Calligraphy has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Palisade is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Hyundai Palisade retains 52.47% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 39.15% resale value of the 2026 Audi Q7 after five years, which can save the Hyundai’s owner up to $19135 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Palisade and the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Palisade as the 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Q7 has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by almost seven to one during 2025.