Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander

The Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Highlander have been two of the most cross-shopped three-row SUVs for years, but for 2027 they've gone in very different directions. The Palisade, redesigned for 2026, offers a choice of a V6 or a turbocharged hybrid. The 2027 Highlander is now fully electric. If you're shopping for one of the best Hyundai SUVs for families in Colorado Springs, here's how the two compare on price, space, towing, efficiency and everyday features.

At a Glance

Price and Trim Levels

The 2027 Hyundai Palisade starts at an MSRP of $39,735 for the SE and runs up to $57,680 for the Hybrid Calligraphy Black Ink. Gas trims include the SE, SEL, SEL Premium, Limited, XRT Pro and Calligraphy. Hybrid buyers can choose from the Hybrid Blue SEL, Hybrid SEL, Hybrid SEL Premium, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Calligraphy and the new Hybrid Calligraphy Black Ink. See what's new for the year on our 2027 Hyundai Palisade page.

The 2027 Toyota Highlander comes in two trims, XLE and Limited. Toyota hasn't announced pricing yet, and the Highlander is expected to reach dealers in late 2026 or early 2027. With more than a dozen Palisade trims across two powertrains, it's easier to find a Palisade that fits your budget today.

Exterior and Styling

The Palisade's redesign gave it a bold, upright look with vertical LED lighting front and rear, a wide grille and squared-off body lines. The rugged XRT Pro adds a tougher look and all-wheel drive. Explore every trim and color on our Hyundai Palisade page. The Highlander takes a sleeker approach for its move to electric power, with a slim light bar across the nose, a lower roofline and 19-inch or 22-inch wheels.

Interior Design and Seating

The Palisade seats seven or eight depending on trim, and upper trims offer Nappa leather, ventilated seats and second-row captain's chairs. The Highlander seats six with standard captain's chairs, or seven with the optional bench on the XLE AWD. The Highlander's longer wheelbase adds legroom in the second and third rows, but the Palisade still offers the larger maximum seating count for bigger families.

Infotainment and Features

The Palisade pairs a 12.3-inch touchscreen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in one panoramic display. The Highlander has a 14-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display. Both include smartphone integration and available premium audio, and the Highlander Limited adds a head-up display and self-parking.

Cargo Capacity

The Palisade has 19.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row and up to 86.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Highlander offers 15.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 45.6 cubic feet with the third row folded. For ski gear, strollers or a week of camping supplies, the Palisade gives you more room to work with.

Towing Capacity

The Palisade with the 3.5L V6 tows up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, enough for a small camper or a boat headed to the reservoir. Toyota offers a towing package on the Highlander but hasn't published a towing capacity. If towing is part of your plans, the Palisade is the proven choice today.

Drivetrain and Engine

The Palisade offers two powertrains. The 3.5L V6 makes 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque with an 8-speed automatic. The Palisade Hybrid's 2.5L turbocharged engine makes 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. HTRAC all-wheel drive is available, and the turbocharged hybrid holds its power well at Colorado Springs' altitude.

The Highlander is all-electric. The front-wheel-drive XLE makes 221 horsepower, and all-wheel-drive models make 338 horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque, using a 77 kWh or 95.8 kWh battery.

Want a three-row electric SUV with a Hyundai badge? Compare the Highlander with the Hyundai IONIQ 9, and see the EV tax incentives available in Colorado.

Performance, MPG and Range

The Palisade Hybrid Blue is EPA-rated at up to 34 mpg combined, and the V6 is rated at up to 22 mpg combined. You fill up in minutes and never plan around a charger, which matters on long drives across Colorado.

Toyota estimates the Highlander's range at 287 miles for FWD, 270 miles for AWD with the smaller battery and up to 320 miles with the larger battery. It uses the NACS charging port and can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions. Like all EVs, its range will drop in cold weather, so winter driving and home charging access are worth considering.

Safety Features

Every Palisade includes Hyundai SmartSense, with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and parking sensors, and most trims add a Surround View Monitor. Every Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense 4.0. Both offer advanced driver assistance across the lineup.

Warranty

Hyundai backs the Palisade with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Toyota's standard coverage is 3 years/36,000 miles basic and 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain. Learn more about Hyundai warranty coverage and our exclusive 30-year/300,000-mile warranty.

Pricing as of November 2026. MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title, license and dealer fees. Toyota Highlander range figures are Toyota estimates. Specifications are subject to change; see dealer for details.