Compare the2026 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2026 Honda Pilot

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 Honda Pilot doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the Palisade and Pilot have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Pilot’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 Pilot doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Pilot has not been tested.

Both the Palisade and Pilot have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Palisade has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Palisade and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 Honda Pilot:

	Palisade	Pilot
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Palisade is safer than the Pilot:

	Palisade	Pilot
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	315/382 pounds	540/674 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 Pilot is not even 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 Pilot’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Pilot. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Pilot ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Pilot’s (7 vs. 5 years).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Palisade has a standard 800-amp battery. The Pilot’s 650-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 6th.

The Palisade’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 44 more horsepower (329 vs. 285) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Palisade 4 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Honda Pilot:

	Palisade	Pilot
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	7.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.6 sec	20.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.1 sec	7.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.8 sec	4.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.7 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	112 MPH

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

			MPG
Palisade
	FWD	Blue 2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/35 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	31 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
Pilot
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		TrailSport 3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Palisade Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pilot doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Palisade’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The Palisade stops much shorter than the Pilot:

	Palisade	Pilot
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	189 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

The Palisade Calligraphy’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Palisade Calligraphy has standard 21-inch wheels. The Pilot’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Palisade has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pilot’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Palisade’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Pilot (116.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC handles at .82 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Palisade has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (7.4 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Palisade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Palisade XRT PRO’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (8.4 vs. 8.3 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC is quieter than the Pilot Elite:

	Palisade	Pilot
At idle	34 dB	40 dB
Full-Throttle	71 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	67 dB	68 dB

The Palisade has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pilot (161.9 vs. 158.4).

The Palisade has 1 inch more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more third row hip room than the Pilot.

The Palisade has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly, without having to lift, carry or store heavy seats, like in the Pilot.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pilot’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Palisade uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pilot uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Palisade’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

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. Honda doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Pilot.

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 Pilot doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pilot.

Compared to traditional radio, the Hyundai Palisade’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Pilot doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Hyundai Palisade retains 52.47% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 51.72% resale value of the 2026 Honda Pilot after five years, which can save the Hyundai’s owner up to $1730 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Palisade and the Honda Pilot, 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 Pilot has never been chosen.