Compare the2026 Buick EnclaveVS 2026 Hyundai Palisade

Both the Enclave and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Enclave is safer than the Palisade:

The Buick Enclave achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2026 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, pedestrian crash prevention testing, and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention testing. The Palisade has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Enclave’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (328 vs. 287) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 260) than the Palisade’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Enclave is faster than the Hyundai Palisade V6:

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

The Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 18.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade V6’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

The Enclave 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.

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the Enclave has larger standard tires than the Palisade (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R18). The Enclave’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (275/45R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The Enclave’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Enclave has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Palisade. The Enclave’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Palisade Calligraphy.

The Buick Enclave’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 Enclave 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the Palisade (120.9 inches vs. 116.9 inches).

The Enclave Avenir handles at .83 G’s, while the Palisade XRT PRO pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Enclave Avenir AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Palisade XRT PRO (27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Enclave uses 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.

The Enclave has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row hip room and 2.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

The Enclave’s cargo area provides more volume than the Palisade.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Enclave easier. The Enclave’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Palisade’s liftover is 32.8 inches.

The Enclave’s cargo area is larger than the Palisade’s in almost every dimension:

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Buick 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 48% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 30th.

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

The Enclave’s standard Keyless 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 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 doors.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Enclave Avenir has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Buick Enclave has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid.

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Palisade SEL Premium/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid offers wireless charging.