Compare the2025 Buick EnclaveVS 2025 Hyundai Palisade

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Palisade doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Buick Enclave achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Hyundai Palisade has not been tested.

The Buick Enclave’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Hyundai Palisade does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Enclave and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	42 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	94/151 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Enclave is much safer than the Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	113 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	113	189
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	721 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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	55	68
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.55 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.18 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	915 lbs.	1026 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.46 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Buick Enclave has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Enclave has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Palisade’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Enclave’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (328 vs. 291) and 64 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Enclave is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	17.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.1 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	93 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Enclave FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Palisade FWD (20 city/27 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (21.7 vs. 18.8 gallons).

The Enclave 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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Palisade:

	Enclave	Palisade
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	109 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Enclave has larger standard tires than the Palisade (255/55R20 vs. 245/60R18). The Enclave’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (275/45R22 vs. 245/60R18).

The Enclave’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s standard 60 series tires. The Enclave’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Palisade’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Enclave has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Palisade. The Enclave’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Palisade.

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Palisade only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Enclave offers an available 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Palisade (120.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Enclave Avenir handles at .83 G’s, while the Palisade SEL HTRAC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Enclave Avenir AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Enclave 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.

The Enclave uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Palisade doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Enclave has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear hip room, 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, .7 inches more third row legroom, 4.8 inches more third row hip room and 2.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Enclave	Palisade
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	18 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.1 cubic feet	45.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	86.4 cubic feet

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Buick 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 48% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 30th.

Ergonomics

The Enclave’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Palisade does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

On a hot day the Enclave’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.

The Enclave’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Palisade doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Enclave Avenir has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Buick Enclave and Hyundai Palisade offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Enclave features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Palisade’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Night.

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

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