Hyundai Palisade vs Lexus RX: Specs Compared
Also searched as Lexus RX vs Hyundai Palisade specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Lexus RX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Hyundai Palisade, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Lexus RX leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2020–2027
Hyundai Palisade
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 24 configurations
2015–2026
Lexus RX
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 59 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Hyundai Palisade | Lexus RX |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 34 mpg | 36 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 33 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 35 mpg ✓ | 34 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,800 ✓ | $2,100 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 258 g/mi | 89 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI | SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI; PHEV, 3.5 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S6) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Premium, Premium and Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2020–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 24 | 59 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Hyundai Palisade vs Lexus RX dimensions and size
The Hyundai Palisade is 3.9 inches longer than the Lexus RX on a wheelbase 2 inches longer, and 26.4 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Hyundai Palisade (2025) | Lexus RX (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 196.5 in | 192.5 in | 3.9 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78 in | 75.6 in | 2.4 in |
| Height | 68.9 in | 67.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 in | 112.2 in | 2 in |
| Curb weight | 4,314 lbs | 4,288 lbs | 26 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Hyundai Palisade vs Lexus RX: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Hyundai Palisade burns about $1,800 of fuel annually against $2,100 for the Lexus RX. That $300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,500 over five years and $2,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Lexus RX is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the Hyundai Palisade pulls ahead on the interstate at 35 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Hyundai Palisade is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI), the Lexus RX with 4 (SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI; PHEV). Across 24 recorded Hyundai Palisade configurations and 59 for the Lexus RX, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Hyundai Palisade is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Lexus RX with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Lexus RX emits 89 g/mile of CO2 versus 258 g/mile for the Hyundai Palisade. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Palisade vs RX: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Hyundai Palisade or the Lexus RX?
The Lexus RX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Hyundai Palisade, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Hyundai Palisade runs about $1,800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,100 for the Lexus RX — a difference of roughly $300 per year.
What engines do the Palisade and RX offer?
Hyundai Palisade: SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI. Lexus RX: SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI; PHEV, 3.5.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Hyundai Palisade as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Lexus RX as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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Comparison id: hyundai-palisade-vs-lexus-rx