Compare the2025 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2024 Mazda CX-90

Both the Palisade and CX-90 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 CX-90’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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Palisade has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Palisade and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-90’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 Mazda covers the CX-90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-90 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-90’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-90.

There are over 55 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Palisade’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 70 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 11 more horsepower (291 vs. 280) than the CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Palisade uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-90 PHEV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For better stopping power the Palisade’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

The Palisade stops shorter than the CX-90:

The Palisade offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC handles at .82 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .79 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 CX-90 Premium Plus (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Mazda CX-90.

The Palisade is 4.1 inches shorter than the CX-90, making the Palisade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Palisade Limited HTRAC is quieter than the CX-90 Premium Plus:

The Palisade has 13.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-90 (155.3 vs. 141.6).

The Palisade has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 1 inch more third row legroom and 1.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Palisade’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Palisade’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Palisade easier. The Palisade’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.6 inches, while the CX-90’s liftover is 31 inches.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy/Night’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Night’s standard Easy Access Seat glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Palisade and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Palisade is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Palisade’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Night has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also avaiable, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Mazda doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the CX-90.

The Palisade Calligraphy/Night has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-90.

The Palisade Calligraphy/Night’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 CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Palisade is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Palisade, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2023 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC first. They ranked the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus fifth.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Mazda CX-90 by almost three to one during 2023.