Honda Pilot Sport FWD vs Hyundai Palisade SEL 7P

Honda Pilot Sport FWD vs Hyundai Palisade SEL 7P

Which vehicles are we comparing?

vs
Pilot Sport FWD — $42,395 · 285 hp · 22 mpgPalisade SEL 7P — $42,240 · 287 hp · 21 mpg

Before you compare

What this matchup really means

Sport FWD vs SEL 7P, compared on verified specifications and price.

Pilot Sport FWDFirst-grade Trim
MatchupMixed Matchup
Palisade SEL 7PLeatherette seats
First grade

Pilot Sport FWD

  • Seats 8
  • Better highway fuel economy

Palisade SEL 7P

  • Leatherette seats
Read the full breakdown

The Sport FWD and SEL 7P are closely matched on price: $42,395 vs $42,240.

Because these two trims sit at different points in their lineups, the category winners below reflect trim level as much as brand. Read them as evidence, and weigh them against the equipment you will actually use.

At a glance

The quick decision

Best overall

Pilot Sport FWD

For shoppers on this Pilot site, the Pilot Sport FWD is our pick over the Palisade SEL 7P.

Best value

Pilot Sport FWD

Close call — closely matched on price: $42,395 vs $42,240.

Best performance

Pilot Sport FWD

Close call — closely matched on power: 285 hp vs 287 hp.

Best efficiency

Pilot Sport FWD

Close call — closely matched on efficiency: 22 mpg vs 21 mpg combined.

Head to head

Who wins what

The verified differences most likely to decide it — each shown side by side, with the winner called out.

Cabin & Comfort

WinnerPalisade SEL 7P

A more comfortable, upscale place to spend your drive, supported by leatherette seats — where the Pilot Sport FWD uses cloth.

Fuel Economy

Close callPilot Sport FWD
22 mpgvs21 mpg

Closely matched: 22 mpg vs 21 mpg.

Price & Value

Close callPilot Sport FWD
$42,395vs$42,240

Closely matched: $42,395 vs $42,240.

Cargo & Daily Use

Close callPilot Sport FWD
87 cu ftvs86.7 cu ft

Closely matched: 87 cu ft vs 86.7 cu ft.

Performance

Close callPilot Sport FWD
285 hpvs287 hp

Closely matched: 285 hp vs 287 hp.

Read the full breakdown

The Sport FWD and SEL 7P are closely matched on price: $42,395 vs $42,240.

Visual comparison

See them side by side

Exterior

Pilot Sport FWD
Pilot Sport FWD
Palisade SEL 7P
Palisade SEL 7P

Standout features

Pilot Sport FWD

  • Heated front seats

Palisade SEL 7P

  • Leatherette seats

Interior

Pilot Sport FWD
Pilot Sport FWD

Available colors

Pilot Sport FWD

Pilot Sport FWD — Crystal Black Pearl
Crystal Black Pearl
Pilot Sport FWD — Sonic Gray Pearl
Sonic Gray Pearl
Pilot Sport FWD — Radiant Red Metallic II
Radiant Red Metallic II
Pilot Sport FWD — Solar Silver Metallic
Solar Silver Metallic
Pilot Sport FWD — Platinum White Pearl
Platinum White Pearl

Palisade SEL 7P

Palisade SEL 7P — Abyss Black Pearl
Abyss Black Pearl
Palisade SEL 7P — Pacific Sapphire Pearl
Pacific Sapphire Pearl
Palisade SEL 7P — Galaxy Maroon Pearl
Galaxy Maroon Pearl
Palisade SEL 7P — Ecotronic Gray Pearl
Ecotronic Gray Pearl
Palisade SEL 7P — Quantum Silver
Quantum Silver
Palisade SEL 7P — Shimmering Silver
Shimmering Silver
Palisade SEL 7P — Titan Green Pearl
Titan Green Pearl
Palisade SEL 7P — Creamy White Pearl
Creamy White Pearl

The bottom line

The verdict

Editor's pick

Pilot Sport FWD

For shoppers on this Pilot site, the Pilot Sport FWD is our pick over the Palisade SEL 7P.

Why we landed here

  • The Pilot Sport FWD leads on seating: seats 8 vs 7.
  • Closely matched on fuel economy: 22 mpg vs 21 mpg.
  • Closely matched on price & value: $42,395 vs $42,240.
  • Closely matched on performance: 285 hp vs 287 hp.
  • Closely matched on cargo & daily use: 87 cu ft vs 86.7 cu ft.
  • The Palisade SEL 7P leads on cabin & comfort.

What could change this: If a better-equipped cabin matters most, the Palisade SEL 7P is the better fit.

The full picture

What to know before you decide

Living with the Pilot Sport FWD

  • Heated front seats

Living with the Palisade SEL 7P

  • Leather-trimmed seats

By the numbers

Specs that matter

These are the figures most shoppers weigh first — price, power, efficiency, and room — with the full specification table below.

Starting price
Pilot Sport FWD$42,395
Palisade SEL 7P$42,240
Horsepower
Pilot Sport FWD285 hp
Palisade SEL 7P287 hp
Combined MPG
Pilot Sport FWD22 mpg
Palisade SEL 7P21 mpg
Max cargo — behind 1st row, seats folded
Pilot Sport FWD87 cu ft
Palisade SEL 7P86.7 cu ft
AWD availability
Pilot Sport FWDFront-wheel drive · AWD available: No
Palisade SEL 7PFront-wheel drive · AWD available: Yes
Available AWD
Full specifications
SpecificationPilot Sport FWDPalisade SEL 7P
Starting MSRP$42,395$42,240
Horsepower285 hp287 hp
Torque262 lb-ft260 lb-ft
Combined MPG22 mpg21 mpg
City MPG19 mpg19 mpg
Highway MPG27 mpg25 mpg
Max cargo — behind 1st row, seats folded87 cu ft86.7 cu ft
Seating87
DrivetrainFront Wheel DriveFront Wheel Drive
Transmission10-Speed Automatic8-Speed Automatic
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Make the call

Which one is right for you?

Pilot Sport FWD buyer

Best for:

  • Fuel Economy: close call
  • Performance: close call
  • Cargo & Daily Use: close call
  • Price & Value: close call
Palisade SEL 7P buyer

Best for:

  • A better-equipped cabin

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

The questions shoppers ask most when weighing these two — answered with the verified facts.

Value comes down to the details. The Sport FWD and SEL 7P are closely matched on price: $42,395 vs $42,240. Weigh the standard equipment each includes, their fuel economy, and the features you'll genuinely use. The Palisade SEL 7P leans a little more upscale inside. Cross-shop comparably equipped trims and let local incentives settle it.

"Nicer every day" is about the things you touch on every drive — the seats, the controls, and the screen. The Palisade SEL 7P has the edge here, with leatherette upholstery and heated front seats that make the daily routine feel a notch more special. Comfort is personal, though: seat shape, driving position, and how intuitive the controls feel to you matter more than any feature list. Spend ten minutes in each on a route like your real commute — that test drive will tell you more about daily livability than any spec comparison.

We don't publish a feature-by-feature equipment comparison for this exact pairing, so we won't claim either way. Use the verified specifications and the verdict above — those come from confirmed data — and check each manufacturer's build-and-price tool for the equipment on the exact Sport FWD and SEL 7P you're considering. Equipment also moves with option packages and model year, so the trim you drive may not match a general list. A back-to-back test drive of the two specific cars you're shopping is the reliable way to see what one offers that the other doesn't.

High annual mileage puts the spotlight on running costs, and that's mostly about fuel. Beyond fuel, a high-mileage driver should weigh seat comfort for all those hours and each model's reliability record — worth checking current ratings for the specific trims, since it matters most when you're piling on miles. If your year is mostly highway commuting, lean toward the more efficient, more comfortable choice; the small differences compound over 15,000 miles in a way they wouldn't for a light-use second car.

On materials and appointments, the Palisade SEL 7P leads — it offers leatherette upholstery and heated front seats, which lifts the everyday feel of the cabin. Interior preference is partly personal — dashboard layout, seat shape, and where the controls fall all factor in — so the best test is to sit in both. If a richer, more feature-laden cabin matters to you, the Palisade SEL 7P is the one to start with; if you mainly want a comfortable, sensibly-arranged space, either will serve you well day to day.

For most shoppers, the right pick follows your priorities rather than a single score. If cabin comfort and features top your list, the Palisade SEL 7P makes a strong case; Use the verdict above as the starting recommendation, then confirm it with a back-to-back test drive of the exact trims you're considering.

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