Compare the2026 Ford ExplorerVS 2026 Hyundai Palisade

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply 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.

Both the Explorer and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Palisade has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

There are over 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Palisade doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Hyundai.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (300 vs. 287) and 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Palisade’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 71 more horsepower (400 vs. 329) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 339) than the Palisade’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Hyundai Palisade V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Palisade:

The Explorer 3.0L EcoBoost V6’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade V6’s standard fuel tank (20.2 vs. 19 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Palisade doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, 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 Explorer ST’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Palisade:

The Explorer ST’s optional 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 Explorer stops much shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Palisade (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (275/45R21 vs. 265/45R21).

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Palisade doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Palisade (119.1 inches vs. 116.9 inches).

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the Palisade XRT PRO pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Palisade XRT PRO’s (38.4 feet vs. 39 feet). The Explorer’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Palisade’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (7.6 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Tremor’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Palisade XRT PRO (8.7 vs. 8.4 inches).

The Explorer offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Palisade doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Explorer Active 4WD is quieter than the Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC (66 vs. 67 dB).

The Explorer has .4 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear hip room, .9 inches more rear shoulder room and 1.1 inches more third row headroom than the Palisade.

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Explorer. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

While the Palisade Hybrid can only tow 4000, any Explorer can tow a minimum of 5000 pounds.

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Palisade. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Palisade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Bluelink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Explorer’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock 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 Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Palisade’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Explorer has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Explorer Platinum also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Explorer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Hyundai Palisade by 76% during 2024.