Compared: 2023 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2023 Honda Pilot

These three-row midsize SUVs offer plenty to like.

Paul Eisenstein | 

Jul 19, 2023 | 3 min read

Hyundai | Honda

SUVs dominate today's new car market. Plenty of options exist, especially in the midsize three-row segment. The 2023 Hyundai Palisade and the 2023 Honda Pilot are popular models, each getting makeovers for the new model year, enhancing their appeal.

Hyundai

Hyundai Palisade Beats the Honda Pilot in Price

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is a better option if you're focused solely on the lowest price, with the base SE version starting at just over $37,000. All-wheel drive (AWD) bumps that up by almost $2,000. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy package costs more than $51,000.

Honda

The 2023 Honda Pilot comes in just slightly higher, starting at about $38,000. The top-tier Elite bumps that to more than $54,000.

These crossover SUVs offer a rich array of features, especially their higher-trim packages. The Hyundai Palisade might be more appealing to those looking for the latest in digital technologies, with the Honda Pilot having an advantage for buyers who'd be up for off-roading.

Hyundai

Palisade and Pilot Add Length and Features

Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade offer the choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD for 2023. They've both adopted more upright and rugged shapes for 2023. They've also grown a bit bigger, translating into larger interiors. Palisade's overall length is up 0.6 inches to 197.0. Width and height remain the same, at 78.0 and 69.0 inches. Depending upon which of the five trim packages you're looking at, the 2023 Honda Pilot grows to anywhere from 199.9 to 200.3 inches long, about 3.0 inches longer than the outgoing SUV, and about a half-inch wider.

Hyundai adds a few more tech touches, including Digital Key 2. This lets you leave the key fob at home and operate your vehicle from an Apple iPhone or Watch and various Samsung devices, but not other Android devices.

Honda

For those going off-pavement, Pilot has the new TrailSport model. It adds valuable features, including a new trail torque logic for its AWD system and the TrailWatch Camera system. With various selectable camera angles, the system helps motorists see where they're going during off-road expeditions. When properly equipped, the Pilot and Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Hyundai

Dueling V6 Engines Power the Pilot and Palisade

The two utility vehicles feature similar powertrains. The Hyundai Palisade is motivated by a 3.8-liter V6 making 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Honda Pilot gets a new dual-overhead cam 3.5-liter V6. With 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, it's Honda's most powerful V6 ever.

Honda

With just one notable exception, the two competitors boast the same fuel economy numbers, according to the EPA: 22 mpg with FWD packages and 21 mpg with AWD. The AWD-only Pilot TrailSport takes a slight knock to 20 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Paul Eisenstein

Paul Eisenstein is a Detroit-based publisher and editor-in-chief of an automotive news site. He also writes for a string of media outlets worldwide.