Compare the2024 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 Hyundai Palisade

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Palisade doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Palisade doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Explorer and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Explorer	Palisade
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	160
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	42 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	318	333
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	35%

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Explorer	Palisade
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	224 lbs.	303 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	189
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	724 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Palisade:

	Explorer	Palisade
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.18 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1026 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.46 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 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, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Palisade is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Warranty

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

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Palisade doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (300 vs. 291) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 109 more horsepower (400 vs. 291) and 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Explorer turbo 4 cyl.	Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum	Palisade
Zero to 30 MPH	2.2 sec	n/a	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	5.3 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.7 sec	n/a	11.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.3 sec	n/a	3.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	13.9 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	99.9 MPH	89.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
Palisade
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/24 hwy

Both the Explorer and the Palisade have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Explorers have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the Palisade.

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (20.2 vs. 18.8 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Palisade doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Palisade.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Palisade:

	Explorer	Explorer ST	Palisade
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.3 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	13.8 inches	12 inches

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

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Palisade:

	Explorer	Palisade
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Palisade (255/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (275/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The Explorer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Palisade’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Palisade doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Palisade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Explorer’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 Palisade doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the Palisade (119.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Palisade’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the Palisade SEL HTRAC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Timberline has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Explorer XLT 4WD is quieter than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (73 vs. 74 dB).

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 1.1 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom and .8 inches more third row legroom than the Palisade.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Explorer	Palisade
Behind Third Seat	18.2 cubic feet	18 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	47.9 cubic feet	45.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87.8 cubic feet	86.4 cubic feet

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

	Explorer	Palisade
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.8”/49.8”/83.9”	20.8”/49”/82.5”
Max Width	59”	53.7”
Min Width	48.1”	43.4”
Height	33.7”	30.5”

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

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Explorer. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Palisade is limited to 5000 pounds. The Explorer 4WD offers up to a 5600 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Palisade. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

On a hot day the Explorer’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Palisade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Explorer Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Palisade because it costs $336 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Palisade, including $19 less for a water pump, $101 less for front brake pads, $202 less for a starter, $187 less for fuel injection, $119 less for a fuel pump, $139 less for front struts, $119 less for a timing belt/chain and $172 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Hyundai Palisade by over two to one during 2023.