The 2027 Ford Explorer delivers 300 hp and up to 85.8 cu ft of cargo space against the Palisade’s 287 hp and 86.7 cu ft. The Explorer adds a 13.2-inch touchscreen and BlueCruise hands-free driving assist where the Palisade tops out at 12.3 inches with no equivalent feature. This page breaks down every key spec side by side so you can shop Explorer inventory at Greg Hubler Ford with confidence.
The 2027 Explorer is the right pick for buyers who want more powertrain choices, a larger touchscreen, and available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. The 2027 Palisade earns its place for shoppers who want standard 8-passenger seating, a longer base warranty, or Hyundai’s 10-year powertrain coverage. Neither is the wrong answer, but the two vehicles suit different priorities in a meaningful way.
| Specification | 2027 Ford Explorer | 2027 Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Engine (base) | 2.3L EcoBoost Turbo I-4 | 3.5L GDI V6 |
| Horsepower | 300 hp | 287 hp |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD standard, AWD available | FWD standard, AWD available |
| Combined MPG (gas) | 24 mpg | 21 mpg (gas V6) |
| Seating | 7 | 7 or 8 |
| Cargo (max, behind front row) | 85.8 cu ft | 86.7 cu ft |
| Cargo (behind 2nd row) | 46.0 cu ft | 19.1 cu ft |
| Length | 198.7 in | 199.2 in |
| Height | 69.6 in (base) | 69.5 in |
| Basic Warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Touchscreen | 13.2 in | 12.3 in |
| Towing | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs (with trailer brakes) |
The Explorer’s 2.3L EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder produces 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, routed through a 10-speed automatic. Buyers who want significantly more thrust can step up to the 3.0L twin-turbo V6, which is standard on the ST trim. The Palisade counters with a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 producing 287 hp, backed by an 8-speed automatic.
On fuel economy, the Explorer’s turbo four returns 24 mpg combined. The Palisade’s V6 manages 21 mpg combined on the gas model. That 3-mpg combined gap adds up over a year of commuting and family hauling. Both vehicles cap towing at 5,000 lbs, so neither has a meaningful edge in that category.
The Explorer Tremor trim adds standard intelligent 4WD and 8.7 inches of ground clearance for buyers who take unpaved roads seriously. The Palisade offers HTRAC AWD across most trims as an option, but does not offer a dedicated off-road variant.
Both vehicles seat seven in their standard configurations. The Palisade adds an available bench layout for 8-passenger seating, which the Explorer does not offer. Families that regularly fill all three rows will find that advantage notable.
Behind the second row, however, the Explorer pulls ahead clearly. It offers 46.0 cu ft of space with the third row folded, compared to the Palisade’s 19.1 cu ft behind the 2nd row as provided in the competitor brief. Maximum cargo capacity with all rear rows down is 85.8 cu ft in the Explorer and 86.7 cu ft in the Palisade, so the two are functionally identical at full fold.
Interior head room reaches 40.7 inches in row one and 40.5 inches in row two of the Explorer. Third-row passengers get 38.9 inches of head room and 31.8 inches of leg room, which is a usable space for teens or shorter adults. The Explorer also features a standard power liftgate with key fob open/close, and a surround-view 360-degree camera system on ST-Line and above trims.
The Explorer’s 13.2-inch center touchscreen is a full inch larger than the Palisade’s 12.3-inch unit. Both support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Explorer adds Google Maps native navigation and Google Assistant voice controls as standard features, plus a 5G modem with a Wi-Fi hotspot connecting up to 10 devices within 50 feet.
BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assist is available on the Explorer ST-Line and Tremor trims. The Palisade offers Highway Driving Assist, which is a lane-centering adaptive cruise feature, but it is not a hands-free system in the same category as BlueCruise.
On audio, both vehicles offer premium upgrade options. The Explorer’s available Bang and Olufsen system scales up to a 14-speaker, 980-watt setup. The Palisade offers a 14-speaker Bose Premium Audio system as an option on upper trims.
Standard safety on the Explorer includes the full Ford Co-Pilot360 suite: forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, intersection collision mitigation, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning with automatic braking, and a 360-degree camera. The Palisade carries Hyundai SmartSense as its safety suite, including blind-spot collision warning and highway driving assist.
The Explorer’s Ford powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles. The Palisade’s powertrain warranty runs 10 years or 100,000 miles, which is among the longest in any mainstream vehicle segment. The Palisade’s basic bumper-to-bumper warranty also covers 5 years and 60,000 miles versus the Explorer’s 3-year, 36,000-mile coverage.
For buyers who prioritize warranty peace of mind above nearly every other factor, the Palisade’s numbers are hard to match. The Explorer compensates with stronger fuel economy, a more powerful turbocharged engine, and available BlueCruise technology that adds genuine highway convenience on long Indiana drives.
The Explorer’s Ford Connectivity Package is included for one year and covers streaming, games while parked, and other connected features. The Ford Security Package is also included for one year from the warranty start date.
Muncie-area families shopping for a three-row SUV with modern tech, strong output, and a five-trim lineup that spans from the practical Active to the focused ST will find the Explorer a compelling choice at Greg Hubler Ford.
The spec comparison points clearly at the Explorer for buyers who want more horsepower, better fuel economy, a larger screen, and available BlueCruise on their daily commute or weekend trip out of Muncie. Greg Hubler Ford carries current 2027 Explorer inventory across trims, so you can compare the Active, ST-Line, Tremor, ST, and Platinum in person before making your decision.
Yes. The Explorer produces 300 hp from its standard 2.3L EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder, compared to 287 hp from the Palisade’s 3.5L V6.
The 2027 Explorer gets 24 mpg combined. The 2027 Palisade’s V6 gas model returns 21 mpg combined, making the Explorer the more fuel-efficient choice.
Yes. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assist is available on the Explorer ST-Line and Tremor trims. The Palisade does not offer an equivalent hands-free system.
Maximum cargo capacity is close: 85.8 cu ft in the Explorer and 86.7 cu ft in the Palisade. Behind the second row, the Explorer offers a substantially larger 46.0 cu ft versus the Palisade’s 19.1 cu ft.
Yes. The Palisade’s powertrain warranty runs 10 years or 100,000 miles versus the Explorer’s 5 years or 60,000 miles. Palisade’s basic warranty is also 5 years/60,000 miles compared to the Explorer’s 3 years/36,000 miles.
The 2027 Explorer seats 7 passengers. The Palisade offers available 8-passenger seating with a second-row bench configuration.
Yes. Greg Hubler Ford in Muncie, Indiana carries 2027 Explorer inventory. You can browse available trims online or visit the dealership to compare models in person.
