Anyone in the market for a midsize SUV with three rows of seating would be wise to put the two vehicles we’re set to compare here on their list of cars to test drive. The 2024 Hyundai Palisade and Ford Explorer are well-respected choices and deliver the passenger room, cargo space, and comfort touches people demand in a modern SUV. They can both be equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) for those who want added assurance when the roads turn slippery. And they have plenty of standard and available safety features that provide additional peace of mind.
Let’s see how the Palisade and Explorer compare by exploring (no pun intended) the highlights of each.
2024 Hyundai Palisade
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade starts at $38,045, including destination fees. New for this model year is the top-of-the-line Calligraphy Night Edition. This posh model adds cosmetic touches like a black chrome front grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black roof rails.
In total the Palisade can be had in six trims, with the Calligraphy Night Edition priced at $55,245. All models come with a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade can seat up to eight people — one more than the Explorer.
Hyundai Palisade Highlights
Opulent upper trim: We are constantly impressed by the quality and design of the Palisade’s interior. Even lower trims feel like they could justifiably cost thousands more than they do. Higher trims absolutely spoil you with soft leather seating upholstery, ambient interior lighting, a dual-pane sunroof, a power-folding third row, and a digital rearview mirror.
Excellent warranty: Hyundai has some of the best warranties in the business, period. The Hyundai Palisade comes with 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
USB port aplenty: Do you routinely drive with folks who demand outlets to keep their assorted devices charged up? Then you’ll love the fact that the Palisade has a total of seven USB ports throughout its interior.
Impressive resale value: The Hyundai Palisade recently scored our award for Best Resale Value among midsize SUVs. It’s always nice knowing the vehicle you’re invested in will hold its value for many years ahead.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Palisade models near you.
2024 Ford Explorer
The 2024 Ford Explorer has a base price of $38,455, including delivery fees, and eight available trims: Base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, Timberline, ST, King Ranch, and Platinum. About the only major change this model year is Ford’s decision to drop a hybrid powertrain option from the Explorer lineup.
The standard powertrain continues to be a 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional. This is one of the most potent base engines available in a midsize 3-row crossover, but the Explorer has another ace up its sleeve.
Ford Explorer Highlights
Strong twin-turbo V6: We can vouch that the Explorer gets down the road just fine with its 300-hp turbo 4-cylinder. However, the twin-turbo V6 fitted to the ST, King Ranch, and Platinum helps to give this family hauler a lot more kick. With 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque on tap, we’ve found this engine powers the Explorer from 0-60 mph in about six seconds. The Hyundai Palisade can’t match that kind of performance.
Timberline model: A trend among SUVs is to get back to, well, their SUV roots. This means at least one third is geared towards off-road adventures. In the case of the Explorer, it’s the Timberline model that fills this role. It comes with AWD, underbody steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, upgraded shocks, a limited-slip differential, and a carbonized gray front grille.
More third-row legroom: It’s a close race, but the Ford Explorer has slightly more legroom in the third row than the Hyundai Palisade. It also has a touch more cargo space behind the way-back seats. Note, however, that the Ford Explorer seats a maximum of seven people, vs. eight for the Hyundai Palisade.
Gas mileage: A rear-wheel drive Explorer with the standard turbo 4-cylinder returns an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined. This is a couple of MPGs better than the Hyundai Palisade’s best.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Explorer models near you.
Similarities
These are both smart choices for anyone who needs the seating capacity and space afforded by a midsize SUV. In terms of their spec sheets, there’s very little separating the Hyundai Palisade and Ford Explorer.
Conclusion
To its credit, the Explorer basically set the template for a family-friendly SUV dating all the way back to its first-gen model in the early 1990s. The latest iteration delivers everything from a potent optional turbocharged V6 to a user-friendly infotainment system and many small details that continue to make it popular. Some SUV shoppers might also like that it’s available with rear- or all-wheel drive, versus the front- or all-wheel drive arrangement of the Hyundai.
Overall, the Hyundai Palisade just feels the fresher of these two SUVs. It boasts a supple ride and a luxury-like interior and has the benefit of a great warranty and strong resale. It can also seat one more person than the Ford. An updated Explorer is on the horizon for the 2025 model year, so we’re looking forward to a rematch. For now, the win goes to the Palisade.
| 2024 Hyundai Palisade | 2024 Ford Explorer | |
| Starting Price | $38,045 | $38,455 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.8-liter V6 | Turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy | 19 city/26 highway/22 combined | 21 city/28 highway/24 combined |
| Also Available | AWD | Twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | NO | 5 ray |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 inches | 119.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 196.7 inches | 198.8 inches |
| Width | 77.8 inches | 78.9 inches |
| Height | 68.9 inches | 70.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.7 feet | 38.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.7 inches | 40.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.1 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 37.8 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 44.1 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.4 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 31.4 inches | 32.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.2 inches | 61.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 60.8 inches | 61.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 55.2 inches | 54.6 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 18.0 cubic feet | 18.2 cubic feet |
Tags: Hyundai Palisade Ford Explorer Comparison
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