Compare the2025 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2025 Toyota 4Runner

Both the Palisade and 4Runner 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 4Runner’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 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro offers Parking Support Brake.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Palisade uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The 4Runner uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Palisade and the 4Runner 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 4Runner’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 Toyota covers the 4Runner. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 4Runner ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 4Runner’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the 4Runner (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 13 more horsepower (291 vs. 278) than the 4Runner’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Palisade is faster than the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Palisade FWD gets better fuel mileage than the 4Runner Limited RWD (19 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/24 hwy).

The Palisade stops shorter than the 4Runner:

The Palisade’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4Runner SR5’s standard 70 series tires. The Palisade’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the 4Runner TRD Sport/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Palisade has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 4Runner SR5.

The Palisade offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Palisade’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the 4Runner (114.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Palisade Limited HTRAC handles at .81 G’s, while the 4Runner Trailhunter pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Palisade’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 4Runner’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 1000 pounds less than the Toyota 4Runner.

Unibody construction lowers the Palisade’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The 4Runner doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Palisade Limited HTRAC is quieter than the 4Runner Trailhunter (69 vs. 70 dB).

The Palisade has standard seating for 8 passengers; the 4Runner can only carry up to 7.

The Palisade has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 7.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 4Runner.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Palisade’s middle and third row seats recline. The 4Runner’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Palisade’s cargo area provides more volume than the 4Runner.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 4Runner doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Palisade has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 4Runner doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Palisade’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the 4Runner doesn’t offer a sensor on the cargo door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Palisade has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the 4Runner only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Palisade to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 4Runner doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Palisade’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 4Runner offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 4Runner.

The Palisade has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

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 4Runner doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Toyota 4Runner by 14% during 2024.