Compare the2025 Lexus GXVS 2025 Hyundai Palisade

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Palisade doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Lexus GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Palisade doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The GX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Palisade doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the GX. But it costs extra on the Palisade.

Both the GX and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Lexus GX weighs 1079 to 1539 pounds more than the Hyundai Palisade. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The GX’s 3.4 turbo V6 produces 58 more horsepower (349 vs. 291) and 217 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus GX is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

The GX has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (21.1 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus GX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Palisade.

For better stopping power the GX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Palisade:

The GX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Palisade are solid, not vented.

The GX stops shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the GX has larger tires than the Palisade (265/55R20 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GX offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Palisade’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Lexus GX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Palisade only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The GX has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Palisade; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The GX Overtrail has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Palisade doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Palisade’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GX has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Palisade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The GX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.2% to 47.8%) than the Palisade’s (56% to 44%). This gives the GX more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the GX Premium has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the GX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GX Overtrail’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the Palisade (9.8 vs. 7.9 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the GX Overtrail+ is quieter than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (37 vs. 38 dB).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the GX. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Palisade’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Palisade’s (9063 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Palisade is only 5000 pounds. The GX offers up to a 9096 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the GX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Palisade. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 78% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The GX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Palisade does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Palisade’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Palisade doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The GX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Palisade doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Lexus GX and Hyundai Palisade offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The GX features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Palisade’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Lexus GX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Palisade.