Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Hyundai Palisade

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS 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 GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Palisade doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the Palisade.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Palisade doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLS 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 983 to 2049 pounds more than the Hyundai Palisade. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Palisade isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 84 more horsepower (375 vs. 291) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 219 more horsepower (510 vs. 291) and 276 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 259 more horsepower (550 vs. 291) and 276 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

	GLS	Palisade
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.4 sec	17.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.2 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	93 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Both the GLS and the Palisade have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLSs 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 GLS has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (23.8 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, 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 GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Palisade:

	GLS	Palisade
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12 inches

The GLS’ standard 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 GLS stops much shorter than the Palisade:

	GLS	Palisade
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Palisade (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 245/60R18). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 245/60R18).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s standard 60 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Palisade’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Palisade. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Palisade.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Palisade, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Hyundai doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Palisade.

The GLS has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Palisade’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLS 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 GLS’ 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 GLS’ wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the Palisade (123.4 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The GLS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Palisade’s (56% to 44%). This gives the GLS more stable handling and braking.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Palisade SEL HTRAC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (10.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 3.4 inches higher than on the Palisade (11.3 vs. 7.9 inches).

Cargo Capacity

The GLS 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 (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLS. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Palisade’s (7716 vs. 5000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS 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

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Palisade (except SE/XRT), the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Palisade, and is not available on all models.

The GLS’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Palisade’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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.

The GLS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Palisade doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Palisade doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Palisade doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

Both the GLS and the Palisade offer available massaging front seats. The GLS also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the Palisade.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Only the Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Palisade because it costs $181 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Palisade, including $22 less for a fuel pump and $596 less for a timing belt/chain.