Hyundai Palisade vs Subaru Forester: Specs Compared
Also searched as Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Palisade specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Subaru Forester is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 35 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Hyundai Palisade, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Subaru Forester leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2020–2027
Hyundai Palisade
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 24 configurations
2015–2026
Subaru Forester
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 29 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Hyundai Palisade | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 34 mpg | 35 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 33 mpg | 35 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 35 mpg ✓ | 34 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,800 | $1,750 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 258 g/mi | 255 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI | SIDI, SIDI; Hybrid, 2.5 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S6) | Automatic (AV-S8), Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (AV-S7) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular, Premium |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2020–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 24 | 29 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Hyundai Palisade vs Subaru Forester dimensions and size
The Hyundai Palisade is 13 inches longer than the Subaru Forester on a wheelbase 9.1 inches longer, and 734.1 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Hyundai Palisade (2025) | Subaru Forester (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 196.5 in | 183.5 in | 13 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78 in | 72 in | 5.9 in |
| Height | 68.9 in | 68.1 in | 0.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 in | 105.1 in | 9.1 in |
| Curb weight | 4,314 lbs | 3,580 lbs | 734 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 Subaru Forester: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Subaru Forester burns about $1,750 of fuel annually against $1,800 for the Hyundai Palisade. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $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 Subaru Forester is the stronger commuter at 35 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 Subaru Forester with 3 (SIDI, SIDI; Hybrid, 2.5). Across 24 recorded Hyundai Palisade configurations and 29 for the Subaru Forester, 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 Subaru Forester with 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 Subaru Forester emits 255 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 Forester: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Hyundai Palisade or the Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 35 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Hyundai Palisade, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Subaru Forester runs about $1,750 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $1,800 for the Hyundai Palisade — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the Palisade and Forester offer?
Hyundai Palisade: SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI. Subaru Forester: SIDI, SIDI; Hybrid, 2.5.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Hyundai Palisade as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Subaru Forester as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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