While there’s no objective winner when comparing powerful and comfortable Hyundai Palisade vs. Hyundai Tucson SUVs, this guide aims to help you make the better choice for your family. The first question you should ask yourself when weighing your options is: How big of an SUV are you looking for? The two-row Hyundai Tucson’s compact dimensions are part of what helps it thrive in city settings. It can grab a parallel parking space that other SUVs might have to pass by. Meanwhile, those with more passengers and cargo to haul will likely be drawn to the three-row Hyundai Palisade.
You’re more than welcome to test-drive both at Jim Ellis Hyundai. We offer the following information to help you determine how these vehicles will fit into your family before you come to see them on our lot.
The 2025 Hyundai Palisade is the bigger model, but how much bigger? It’s classified as a midsize SUV, meaning it balances a spacious interior cabin with decent maneuverability, and it has 47.1 cubic feet more passenger room than the Hyundai Tucson does, allowing it to accommodate an extra two or three people. While the Palisade has less standard cargo room when all of the seats are in use, its maximum cargo capacity is 6.1 cubic feet larger than the Tucson’s. Here’s an overview of how these two SUVs compare by the numbers:
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 2025 Hyundai Palisade | |
|---|---|---|
| Rows: | 2 | 3 |
| Seating Capacity: | 5 | 7-8 |
| Wheelbase: | 108.5 in | 114.2 in |
| Length: | 182.7 in | 196.1 in |
| Height: | 65.6 FWD / 66.3 AWD | 68.9 in |
| Width: | 73.4 in | 77.8 in |
| Minimum Ground Clearance: | 7.1 in | 8 in |
| Total Interior Volume: | 146.9 cu ft | 173.3 cu ft |
| Passenger Volume: | 108.2 cu ft | 155.3 cu ft |
| Standard Cargo Capacity: | 38.7 – 41.2 cu ft | 18 cu ft |
| Maximum Cargo Capacity: | 74.8 – 80.3 cu ft | 86.4 cu ft |
As you might expect, the bigger, bolder vehicle also has a larger engine under its hood. The 2025 Hyundai Palisade comes standard with a 3.8-liter six-cylinder that shows off an impressive 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is motivated by a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder that delivers 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Both come with their own advantages, and both have an eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC and your choice of front-wheel or HTRAC all-wheel drive. We’ll dive more into these vehicles’ performances in the next section.
Many people who are interested in the Hyundai Palisade for sale appreciate this model’s third row and 5,000-pound towing capacity,1 which should be more than enough to help you tug a fishing boat to the lake.
The Hyundai Tucson can only tow a maximum of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped, but being a lighter vehicle with a less robust engine helps it to stay delightfully fuel-efficient. You’ll be able to enjoy an EPA-estimated 25/33 MPG (City/Highway) with FWD.2 HTRAC AWD will cause your fuel economy to dip slightly – to 24/30 MPG (City/Highway)2 – but adds Snow Mode to your list of Driving Modes, which already includes Normal, Sport, and My Drive. We recommend the XRT trim with AWD for those who’d like to do some weekend camping, since this version of the SUV comes with a standard tow hitch with trailer pre-wiring and 8.3 inches of ground clearance.
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 2025 Hyundai Palisade | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3.8L 6-cyl | |
| Horsepower: | 187 | 291 | |
| Torque: | 178 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | |
| Maximum Towing Capacity: | 2,000 lbs1 | 5,000 lbs1 | |
| EPA-Est. MPG (Cty / Hwy) w/ FWD: | 25 / 332 | 19 / 262 | |
| Drivetrain: | FWD or HTRAC AWD | FWD or HTRAC AWD |
The new Hyundai Tucson for sale comes in five different trims:
From the entry-level trim onward, you’ll enjoy a 12.3-inch touch-screen display, wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® integration, a 4.2-inch gauge cluster, and SmartSense safety features ranging from Forward Collision Assist with Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction Turning Detection to Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
Meanwhile, the Hyundai Palisade has a slightly larger trim lineup:
Its standard features include a 12.3-inch touch-screen display, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and dual-zone automatic temperature control. Like the Hyundai Tucson, this vehicle starts out with cloth upholstery and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat. Standard Blind Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Highway Driving Assist can help you feel more confident behind the wheel.
Of course, both SUVs only become more generously equipped as you move through the trim levels. Here’s a look at Hyundai Palisade vs. Hyundai Tucson available features:
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 2025 Hyundai Palisade | |
|---|---|---|
| Available Features: |
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These amenities can help make completing your daily routine a little smoother and a lot more comfortable and entertaining. When you drop by our dealership for a tour, we invite you to bring your kids along so they can tell you how inviting the second and third rows of these SUVs are. This will also give you the chance to test out the Passenger Talk in-car intercom that’s available in the Hyundai Palisade.
Do you like what you’ve seen of these dynamic SUVs so far? Visit our dealership to determine whether these models live up to your expectations in person. (We think they will.) Our team will be more than happy to set you up with a test drive of either Hyundai or help you compare these vehicles to others on our lot – for instance, you can put the Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid up against each other head-to-head.
Even after you’ve driven off in your dream car, we hope to see you again. In addition to offering America’s best warranty,3 all new Hyundai vehicles also come with three years or 36,000 miles of Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance, which covers oil changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections.4 Receive this expert automotive care at our Hyundai service center or request accessory upgrades with the help of our parts department.
The Hyundai Palisade is a little over 13 inches longer than the Tucson. This allows it to fit in an extra row of seats so that you can transport seven or eight people inside its cabin. It has a total interior volume of 173.3 cubic feet. The two-row Hyundai Tucson has 146.9 cubic feet available for your use.
The Hyundai Tucson has a seating capacity of five, while the Hyundai Palisade can seat seven or eight, depending on whether you opt for second-row bench seating or captain’s chairs. Having eight seats can be useful for carpooling, but choosing the seven-seat configuration can make it easier to access the third row and provide a more comfortable experience for your passengers.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade gets competitive gas mileage for a three-row SUV. It can get up to 19/26/22 MPG (City/Highway/Combined) with standard FWD2 or 19/24/21 MPG (City/Highway/Combined) with HTRAC AWD.2 However, for those looking to save a substantial amount at the gas pump, we also have hybrid SUVs at Jim Ellis Hyundai.
1Towing capability varies by configuration. See the towing guide in the Owner’s Manual for proper use and additional information.
2All figures are EPA estimates and for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle’s condition.
3America’s Best Warranty claim based on total package of warranty programs. See dealer for LIMITED WARRANTY details. See your Hyundai dealer and HyundaiUSA.com/Assurance for details and limitations regarding Hyundai’s Powertrain Limited Warranty, New Vehicle Limited Warranty and Roadside Assistance program. Competitive claim based on comparison of warranty specifications on manufacturer websites.America’s Best Warranty claim based on total package of warranty programs. See dealer for LIMITED WARRANTY details. See your Hyundai dealer and HyundaiUSA.com/Assurance for details and limitations regarding Hyundai’s Powertrain Limited Warranty, New Vehicle Limited Warranty and Roadside Assistance program. Competitive claim based on comparison of warranty specifications on manufacturer websites.
4COMPLIMENTARY MAINTENANCE INCLUDES FOUR (4) BASIC MAINTENANCE SERVICE VISITS THAT MUST BE USED IN THE FIRST 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. Basic maintenance includes Hyundai approved oil and oil filter change (except for electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles), multi-point inspection, plus tire rotation. While driving at normal factory scheduled maintenance intervals, four services would cover oil and oil filter changes, multi point inspections and tire rotations for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles. Any additional services and parts are excluded. Offer valid only for original owners of new 2025 model year Hyundai vehicles. See your Hyundai dealer for further details and limitations.
