Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota RAV4

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Palisade Discontinued model
Hyundai Palisade in South Africa

Hyundai Palisade

2.2D Elite AWD 8AT 7-Seater Diesel Discontinued model
ZAR 1,204,500 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 142 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 8.2 km/l
VS
Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota RAV4: the short answer

Palisade and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context Palisade: last listed from ZAR 1,204,500 · RAV4: current from ZAR 610,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Palisade RAV4
Maximum Power Palisade142 kW RAV4137 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Palisade440 Nm RAV4221 Nm
Engine Size Palisade2199 cc RAV42500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Palisade8.2 km/l RAV421.3 km/l
Ground Clearance Palisade203 mm RAV4186 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai Palisade 2.2D Elite AWD 8AT 7-Seater

Source type: South Africa

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Palisade

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

RAV4

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Palisade

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

RAV4

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Palisade RAV4
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Body Style Seven-seat SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Tare Mass Kg 1952 kg 1725-1740 kg
Model Introduced Year Not confirmed 2026
Generation Not confirmed All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026
Facelift Launched Since Not confirmed Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current South African 2026 specification
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec Palisade RAV4
Ground Clearance (Default) 203 mm 186 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 71 l 55 l
Kerb Weight 1952 kg -
Towing Capacity 2200 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Length Not confirmed 4645 mm
Width Not confirmed 1880 mm
Height Not confirmed 1680 mm
Wheelbase Not confirmed 2690 mm
Boot/Cargo Space Not confirmed 732 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not confirmed 2230 kg
Doors Not confirmed 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not confirmed 5.6 m

In depth: how these cars differ

This Palisade and RAV4 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Palisade 74 vs RAV4 50.

Efficiency index: Palisade 40 vs RAV4 84.

Safety-equipment index: Palisade 90 vs RAV4 93.

Practicality index: Palisade 79 vs RAV4 71.

Ownership-cover index: Palisade not separately scored vs RAV4 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Palisade leads by 0 points

Palisade and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 51% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

Palisade

51% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 40
Performance 74
Efficiency 40
Safety 90
Practicality 79
Leads by 0 points
73
#2

RAV4

61% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 50
Performance 50
Efficiency 84
Safety 93
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Palisade +24 Efficiency RAV4 +44 Safety RAV4 +3 Practicality Palisade +8

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Palisade

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 79/100

RAV4

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Palisade leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 73 pts for RAV4

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Palisade leads. However, RAV4 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Palisade vs RAV4 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.