2026 Honda Pilot vs. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Review

by Brady Holt

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August 5, 2026

2026 Honda Pilot Elite ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Honda Pilot wasn’t America’s first three-row crossover SUV. But in 2003, it was the first to really crack the code for success. Buyers wanted comfortable on-road driving manners, lots of space, and decent gas mileage at a reasonable price.

These days, the Pilot is still winning plenty of fans through that time-tested formula. But lately, a lot of customers have drifted to the flashier, fancier, and even less expensive Hyundai Palisade. In the first half of this year, the Hyundai narrowly outsold the Honda.

But which one is best for you? For this review, we spent a week testing the freshly updated 2026 Honda Pilot and the fully redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade – the latter newly available with a gas-electric hybrid option. Keep reading as we discuss how these two three-row SUVs compare in each of eight categories, then name our overall winner. We’ll also share four other strong competitors to consider as well.

Pricing and Features

The 2026 Honda Pilot starts at $42,395 before a mandatory $1,495 destination charge. That’s not bad for a big eight-seat SUV, but the 2026 Hyundai Palisade costs less. Its base SE model, similarly equipped to the base Pilot Sport, starts at $39,435 plus $1,600 for destination. (The Pilot Sport does have bigger wheels and a power liftgate at that price, at least.) And the next-up Palisade SEL ($41,940) is equipped similarly to the Pilot EX-L ($44,695), too, albeit with leatherette versus the Honda's genuine leather.

The Palisade’s advantage grows as you move up the lineup. Hyundai includes a sunroof on the next-up SEL Convenience model ($43,370), while the Pilot doesn’t give you one until you hit the off-road-themed TrailSport ($50,595) or luxury Touring ($51,295). The Palisade introduces ventilated front seats on the SEL Premium ($45,300), while Honda reserves them for the top-of-the-line Elite ($53,695) like our test vehicle. The Pilot includes a heated steering wheel on the TrailSport and Elite, while the Palisade brings it on the SEL Premium. In other words, if you’re interested in a particular feature and choose your Palisade carefully, you don’t need to pay up as quickly for a higher trim level.

The top Palisade Calligraphy ($54,560) like our test vehicle also has a long list of exclusive add-ons you won’t find on any Pilot. These include decadent comfort features like a massaging driver’s seat, ventilated second-row seats, heated third-row seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and pop-up “relaxation” leg cushions for the front and second rows. They also include tech gizmos like a UV phone sterilizer, the ability to use your phone as a key, and an integrated dash cam. And they include safety technologies like blind-spot cameras, a rearview camera mirror, and automatic evasive steering to help you swerve around an obstacle. Several of these features are available on lesser Palisade models, too.

Both the Pilot and Palisade come standard with front-wheel drive and charge about $2,000 extra for all-wheel drive on most trim levels. Hyundai also charges $2,200 extra to upgrade its standard V6 engine to a more powerful, more economical hybrid; it’s available on most of the Palisade’s trim levels.

Overall, the Palisade not only costs less, but it also comes out on top if you’re looking for lots of high-end features.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Exterior Design

The redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade also looks a lot fancier than the 2026 Honda Pilot. Bold, blocky headlights are patterned in thick LED stripes, as are the pointier taillights. And between them, the body is shaped like a Range Rover. It’s blocky and purposeful, like a proper SUV, but it’s not one that tries to blend in.

Some people will prefer something simpler, though. The Pilot is handsome without as much glitz. This year brought a revised front end with a more squared-off, purposeful grille and front bumper. Some folks might consider the Honda bland, especially from the rear. But if the Palisade looks "extra" to you, the Pilot’s restraint might hit the spot. We’ll let you choose your own winner.

By the way, the Pilot and Palisade are each available with off-road-themed models – the Palisade XRT Pro and the Pilot TrailSport. The difference looks starker on the Hyundai, but it lets both SUVs dial back their chrome and add rugged all-terrain tires on smaller, less delicate wheels.

Winner: Tie

2026 Honda Pilot Elite ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Interior Styling and Quality

Inside, you’ll find the same dynamic – an opulent, daring Palisade and a straightforward, simple Pilot. The Palisade’s dashboard has thick, bold curves, echoed by its lower dash, instrument panel, and center console. It’s not for everyone, but it’s distinctive. We liked it. And it’s unquestionably well finished, with opulent materials and meticulous assembly.

The Pilot is nicely built, too. We especially like the extra-precise feel of its buttons and knobs. But Honda didn’t build it to dazzle. It has straight, simple lines and a couple spots with artificial woodgrain trim. It’s not cheaply built, but it’s not extra plush, and it’s not memorable to look at. Unless that’s your active preference, or the Hyundai’s styling just isn’t for you, the Palisade wins this category.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Infotainment and Controls

The Honda’s simpler interior design has one clear advantage: It’s a lot easier to use its controls. The Hyundai uses a touch-sensitive panel for most of its climate controls, which requires a lot more attention than the Pilot’s physical buttons and dials. It's not the trickiest modern car to use, since Hyundai does also provide some buttons and knobs, and the climate panel's layout is reasonable enough. But it doesn't match the Honda's old-school simplicity.

The Palisade’s digital experience is flashier than the Pilot’s, and it’s integrated more smoothly into the dash. A single curved panel holds both the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Still, Honda is catching up. The 2026 Pilot also now features a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the first time; last year had a choice of 7-inch and 9-inch units. But in the Honda, the screen just sits atop the dashboard. It has no connection to the 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, also new this year. The Honda’s graphics are more muted than the Hyundai’s, but once again, we preferred the functionality. In particular, Hyundai’s companywide infotainment system doesn’t show what song is playing in most of its views, unless you hand the full screen over to the radio display.

Winner: Honda Pilot

2026 Honda Pilot Elite ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Passenger and Cargo Accommodations

Both the Palisade and Pilot are spacious, family-friendly three-row SUVs with seating for up to eight people. Both even have intercom systems for drivers to reach their third-row passengers without raising their voices. But the Pilot’s functionality shines through yet again to give it another win.

The Honda has a little more room in the third-row seat. It has a little more cargo space. It has a clever feature that lets you remove a center seat from the second row, so you can choose each day between captain’s chairs and a bench seat. (It stows under the cargo floor.) And the Pilot’s manually folding, manually adjustable second- and third-row seats work instantly, while our Palisade Calligraphy’s power-operated seats were fussy and slow. (Most lower-trim Palisades also have manually operated rear seats.)

Hyundai counters with additional comfort features. As we mentioned, it’s the only one with a massaging driver’s seat, seat-extending cushions, ventilated second-row seats, and heated third-row seats. And amenities like ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel are more widely available than on the Honda. But we came away more impressed with the Pilot’s space and functionality.

Winner: Honda Pilot

2026 Honda Pilot Elite ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Driving Impressions

Both the Pilot and Palisade come standard with naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) 3.5-liter V6 engines. The Honda has 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Hyundai has 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed automatic. Despite the spec sheet, the Pilot is quicker; when you put your foot down, its engine comes alive to blast the car forward with more authority. But neither V6 feels too energetic until you’re really gunning it, which isn't how we usually shuttle kids around.

We preferred the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the new Palisade Hybrid, which is paired with two electric motors for a combined output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It moves with more authority whether you’re driving it gently or pushing it hard. The gas engine hums mildly rather than growling, but that suits us just fine for a big family car.

We also preferred the Palisade’s ride and handling. Regardless of the engine, the Palisade is quieter than the Pilot. We also felt its steering was more responsive than the ultra-light, more disconnected-feeling Honda’s. It's not an extreme difference. Both cars are easy and comfortable to drive. But our pick is the Hyundai – especially if you’re getting the hybrid.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Fuel Economy

Despite its power, it’s no surprise that the Palisade Hybrid is also the winner for gas mileage. In EPA testing, most models get 31 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 2 mpg less with AWD. (The base front-drive hybrid scores 34 mpg.) We beat the EPA estimates in our tested AWD Palisade Hybrid, averaging 32 mpg in a week of mixed driving. You'll do worse, of course, if you make full use of the hybrid’s 329 hp. Recall that the Palisade Hybrid generally has a similar sticker price to a non-hybrid Pilot, with the Hyundai costing less if you're interested in certain features that Honda saves for top trim levels. Honda is planning to introduce a hybrid powertrain for large vehicles within a few years; we’d expect the Pilot to make that list eventually.

If you’re sticking with the base V6 Palisade, the Pilot comes out a little ahead. The Hyundai gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 1 mpg less with AWD on most models. The XRT Pro, sold only with AWD, sheds roughly one more mile per gallon; it dips to 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. An XRT Pro we tested last year beat the estimate to average 21 mpg in mixed driving.

The Pilot, meanwhile, gets 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive; 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined with AWD; and 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined in TrailSport guise. Our Elite AWD test vehicle averaged 22 mpg. But the Palisade’s hybrid technology is a potent advantage.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Safety

The 2026 Honda Pilot and 2026 Hyundai Palisade both have lots of safety features and excellent crash test scores. But the Palisade comes out a little bit ahead on both fronts.

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, both SUVs earned five out of five stars overall and four out of five stars in frontal impacts. But the Palisade scored five stars for driver protection (along with four stars for front-passenger safety) in that test, while the Pilot earned four stars in each.

Similarly, at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Palisade earned the highest Top Safety Pick Plus designation for top scores in every crash test. The Pilot is a tier lower at Top Safety Pick, because it didn’t protect rear-seat passengers quite as well in a frontal impact; it earned the second-highest Acceptable score in that test.

Finally, the Palisade has a couple of exclusive safety features you can’t get on the Pilot: a blind-spot camera and automatic evasive steering. It also includes a surround-view parking camera on more trim levels than the Pilot.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Final Thoughts

There are two ways to pick a winner in this comparison. The first is a matter of taste. Do you prefer the simple, functional, all-business Pilot, with its user-friendly controls and its flexible, easy-to-use rear seats? Or do you prefer the flashier, more opulent Palisade?

Then comes value for the money. The Palisade costs thousands of dollars less than a Pilot with the same features, particularly if you’re attached to certain amenities. It’s also the only one of the two available with an extra-powerful, extra-efficient hybrid powertrain. When the fancier car is also a better buy, you have to really like simplicity to pay extra for the alternative.

As we noted, a few more minor distinctions also separate the two cars. The Pilot is slightly quicker and slightly more economical than the V6 Palisade, while the Hyundai is a little quieter and a little more agile. The Hyundai has slightly better crash-test scores, while the Honda has a little more room. Any of these points could also help sway you to one SUV or the other. And if some of these factors also tip you toward the Pilot, the price difference isn't insurmountable.

But overall, whether you’re interested in the more expensive-feeling SUV or you’re interested in paying less, the Palisade is our winner – especially if you get the excellent hybrid.

Winner: Hyundai Palisade

2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Other Competitors to Consider

If you’re shopping for a three-row crossover SUV, we’d also highlight four more models to consider alongside the Pilot and Palisade.

If you like the Palisade for its luxury and value, the Kia Telluride is a cousin to the Palisade with different styling. It’s also built to look like a luxury SUV, but with a boxier body and dashboard. The other key difference: Its base engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder, unlike the Palisade’s non-turbo V6; the Hyundai’s engine sounds richer, but the Kia’s is quicker while matching the Hyundai’s gas mileage. Both share the four-cylinder hybrid.

Another tempting balance of luxury and value is the fun-to-drive, competitively priced, and beautifully finished Mazda CX-90. Its base six-cylinder engine is both speedy and remarkably economical (beating the V6 Telluride by 5 mpg), and it has sharp, engaging handling. The sporty Mazda isn’t as roomy as the Palisade, though, and it doesn’t ride as smoothly. And we don’t love its expensive plug-in hybrid option.

Next, if you like the Palisade for its value but don’t need a deluxe experience, the Volkswagen Atlas has even more room for typically less money out the door. The VW also has sharper handling and gets better gas mileage than the V6 Palisade (though not the Palisade Hybrid). On the other hand, the Atlas doesn’t have as many extra-cool features; it maxes out at seven passengers instead of eight; its touchscreen-focused controls are clunkier than the Hyundai’s (to say nothing of the extra-easy Honda's); and it has no hybrid version.

Finally, if you’re considering the more expensive but simpler Honda Pilot, the Toyota Grand Highlander is a top alternative. It has even more room and better gas mileage than the Honda, along with two hybrid options – one that’s more efficient than the Palisade Hybrid and another that’s even more powerful. However, Honda has even simpler controls than the Toyota, along with better-sorted infotainment. We also prefer the Pilot’s steadier, more solid-feeling ride. And the Pilot is the only one of the two with a V6 engine instead of a four-cylinder.