2026–27 Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Palisade — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–1.5 across 8 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,435 vs $46,270) and more available power (329 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if you'll sell in about five years (52.7% vs 45.1% of value retained).
Scorecard: Palisade 4.5 pts · Highlander 1.5 pts across 8 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Palisade | 2026 Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $39,435 | $46,270 | Palisade |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.39 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 45.1% | 52.7% | Highlander |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 34 mpg | 35 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 329 hp | 265 hp | Palisade |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 19.1 cu ft | 16 cu ft | Palisade |
| Standard seats (1) | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 1% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 8 | 10 | Palisade |
| Weighted points | 4.5 | 1.5 | Palisade |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Palisade 34 mpg vs Highlander 35 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Palisade — 19.1 cu ft vs 16 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Palisade — $39,435 vs $46,270 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $30,949 for the Palisade vs $27,723 for the Highlander.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Highlander — 52.7% vs 45.1% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Palisade 5,000 lb vs Highlander 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Palisade starts at $39,435 and tops out at $56,780; the Highlander runs $46,270 to $55,675 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% off. Used, the median asking price is $30,949 for the Palisade and $27,723 for the Highlander (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Palisade: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Highlander: 0.39 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 67th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Palisade 8, Highlander 10.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Highlander 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Palisade | 2026 Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $39,435 | $46,270 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $56,780 | $55,675 |
| Horsepower | 287–329 hp | 243–265 hp |
| Max torque | 339 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 19–34 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 7 / 8 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 19.1 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Palisade | Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 199.2 in | 194.9 in |
| Width | 78 in | 76 in |
| Height | 69.5 in | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.9 in | 112.2 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.4 in | 8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Palisade lists for a median $23,182 — 45.1% of today's median new price of $51,377. A 5-year-old (2021) Highlander lists for a median $30,260 — 52.7% of today's median new price of $57,374.
Shop both
- See 26,638 new 2027 Hyundai Palisades for sale →Median listed price $53,058 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2026 Toyota Highlanders for sale →
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Hyundai Palisade
More on the Toyota Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Palisade better than the Highlander?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Palisade — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–1.5 across 8 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,435 vs $46,270) and more available power (329 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if you'll sell in about five years (52.7% vs 45.1% of value retained).
Which is more reliable, the Palisade or the Highlander?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Palisade and 10 for the Highlander.
Which holds its value better, the Palisade or the Highlander?
The Highlander: a 5-year-old example lists for 52.7% of the new price, versus 45.1% for the Palisade, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Palisade or the Highlander?
The Palisade starts lower: $39,435 vs $46,270 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Palisade or the Highlander?
It's a wash: 34 mpg vs 35 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026–27 Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/hyundai-palisade-vs-toyota-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.