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High Inventories Make for Hot DealsHead-to-Head: 2022 Hyundai Palisade vs Ford Explorer
In this Hyundai Palisade vs Ford Explorer matchup, one keeps things simple and value-packed while the other goes wild with options and power.
Which three-row SUV do we Recommend?
The middle to large-ish, three-row SUV field is a crowded one, with automakers jockeying for their piece of this popular pie. It leads to heated competition like the head-to-head 2022 Hyundai Palisade vs Ford Explorer comparison we have here. The Explorer is a pioneer of this segment going back 30 years and continues to present as an athletic vehicle, especially with the new generation kicking off in 2020.
Hyundai’s Palisade, on the other hand, did not exist before 2020 but was an immediate hit with fresh styling and loads of standard content. The Hyundai leans a bit more luxury, the better to differentiate from its Kia Telluride cousin as we look at in this comparison. Both SUVs have three rows of seating, available AWD and a wide range of the latest tech systems. So, let’s look at which one is the best value in this Hyundai Palisade vs. Ford Explorer matchup.
Specs
Hyundai keeps things simple on the powertrain front, fitting every 2022 Palisade with a 3.8L V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic. Producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, it is paired with standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) for an additional $1700 across the four trim levels. It’s enough grunt to move the roughly 4,200-pound Palisade with ease but Ford offers a 400-horse twin-turbo mill that Hyundai cannot compete with.
Fuel economy on the Palisade is decent, achieving 19 mpg in city driving and 26 on the highway for FWD models. Adding AWD only drops the highway figure to 24 mpg. Rear legroom is a tossup between the Hyundai and Ford with 42” of second row space on the Palisade to the Explorer’s 39”. However, Ford has one more inch of third row legroom, at 32”, versus the Hyundai but those seats are best reserved for kids either way.
One area Ford can’t touch Hyundai is their warranty, which features 3 years of complimentary maintenance, 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and 60,000 miles of vehicle coverage. Ford does not include any maintenance and the powertrain vehicle terms are limited to 60,000 and 36,000 miles, respectively.
However, if you want choices, check out the Explorer with its trio of powertrain setups. Base models come with a 2.3L EcoBoost inline-4 making 300 hp, higher up the trim hierarchy you’ll find a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 making 400 horses and there is a hybrid variant that puts out 318 horsepower. In all cases, a 10-speed automatic sends power to the rear wheels with AWD a roughly $1900 option.
In base form, the Explorer has a small power advantage but better fuel economy figures at 21/28 mpg in city/highway driving for RWD models, estimates that drop by 1 mpg each when equipped with AWD. Even the hot rod 3.0L EcoBoost achieves 18 mpg around town and 25 on the highway. Of course, selecting the hybrid is your best bet for fuel efficiency with a rating of 27/28 mpg in city/highway driving.
Driving and Performance
Though Ford offers the 2022 Explorer with a big motor and sporting setup on the ST model, it is still a 2-ton SUV that no one is going to confuse for a Mustang in the corners. However, if you are interested in pushing it, the rear-wheel-drive format will offer better handling than the front-wheel-drive Palisade and you can buy the Explorer ST without AWD.
Additionally, Ford’s Timberline model has off-road gear like all-terrain tires and extra ground clearance if you’re planning to get off the beaten path. That being said, for the majority of folks buying either of these vehicles, the independent suspension will offer planted handling and the ride for both is generally geared towards comfort.
Certainly, towing is a factor in the buying decision within this segment and these SUVs are a close match with a 5,000-pound max tow rating for the Palisade versus 5,600-pounds with the Explorer. But it is the advanced driver-assistance systems that are making automotive industry headlines these days, an area in which both of these vehicles thrive. The Palisade comes standard with Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), a Lane Keeping System (LKS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). Higher-end models offer Hands-Free Driving (HFD) and a live feed of blind spots.
Ford offers a similar mix of systems including standard BSM, RCTA and LKS plus automatic high beams and forward collision alert, which are both included with the Palisade as well. BlueCruise is Ford’s name for the available HFD system, ACC is also available but the Explorer offers one helpful system that Hyundai does not. That would be Active Park Assist, a system that handles throttle, brakes, steering and shifting to parallel park the Explorer for you.
Comfort and Interior
In a Hyundai Palisade vs Ford Explorer interior comparison, it is a close call on paper. Both offer a second-row bench or captain’s chairs and standard third row seating, but Hyundai crams a middle position into the third row to accommodate up to eight passengers. The Explorer tops out at seven occupants due to a third row with two seats that are simply wider than the Palisade. Folding middle and back rows flat, the Palisade offers 86 cubic feet of storage versus the Explorer with 88 cubes. With all seats upright, however, they offer the same 18 cubic feet behind the third row.
Like the Explorer, the Palisade is upholstered with cloth on entry-level trim and leather further up. Both vehicles can be equipped with fully climatized front seats and a heated second row but only the Palisade offers ventilation for that second row. However, the Explorer can be setup with Active Motion massaging seats, something you will not find on the Palisade. Both SUVs make third row access a one-touch operation, have panoramic sunroofs available and a hands-free liftgate. Generally, these cabin amenities are made available at similar price points, so a consumer will likely end up being swayed by specific items like the posh quilted leather door panels on a Palisade or Western themed King Ranch Explorer cabin.
Trims and Features
As with the powertrain, Hyundai keeps their trim setup straightforward, offering four levels from the $34,595 SE to the $48,285 Calligraphy. The same can be said of Ford, which mirrors the variety of engine options by offering a whopping eight different models. They range from the $34,540 base model to an eye-watering $55,410 Platinum edition. New for the 2021 Ford Explorer, is the ST-Line model that brings ST sporty looks without the bigger motor.
Both the Palisade and Explorer come with an 8” infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot on base models. In addition, both also offer a 12” digital gauge cluster and roughly 10” touchscreen display further up the trim tree. The similarities continue with wireless charging, 115-volt power, navigation and a premium 12-speaker audio system on tap at roughly similar price points.
However, only the Palisade can be equipped with an in-vehicle intercom system or Driver Talk in Hyundai speak, so parents of small children take note. Hyundai also has a slick blind spot monitor system that displays a live feed of blind spots, in the gauge cluster, when turn signals are activated. Technically, the Explorer boasts a beefier stereo with its 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen system, but you’ll need at least a $55,000 King Ranch to access that, or a pricey package on lower-end models. Both of these SUVs offer far more features than can be detailed here, but you can check out our review of a 2022 Palisade for a deeper dive.
Conclusions
All things considered in this Hyundai Palisade vs. Ford Explorer showdown; it is a tight race. The Hyundai has a better warranty, more second row legroom and technically up to eight seats. However, the Explorer offers a hot rod and hybrid, an adventurer in the Timberline trim, better fuel economy and the hands-free parallel parking tech. Either SUV is a great option for families, which is why they are both on our list of the best family SUVs, but ultimately the 2022 Ford Explorer goes further thanks to its deeper roster of options.
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