Since its introduction within the 2020 mannequin yr, the Hyundai Palisade has executed an amazing job appearing because the automaker’s flagship SUV. This three-row household machine is snug, competent and full of good creature comforts. Stable as it’s, there’s at all times somewhat room for enchancment. That is the vanity behind the Palisade’s mid-cycle refresh: A couple of mild tweaks right here and there make a great automotive higher.
The Palisade at all times regarded contemporary, however I believe the 2023 refresh ramps it up. I like how the entrance grille is extra distinguished, possibly extra intimidating, higher mixing with the daytime operating lights and giving off a a lot stronger vibe. Hyundai’s designers added a smidge extra overhang up entrance to enhance its facet profile, however I barely discover a distinction. The rear finish loses some overhang and the decrease half of the bumper picks up a butch new skid plate, however the total look would not change a lot. A brand new set of auto-dimming facet mirrors rounds out the outside redo.
The Palisade’s inside will get somewhat extra love. A revised instrument panel appears only a bit fancier, with a full-width trim piece connecting the vents so as to add extra visible width. The steering wheel appears brisker, too. The middle console stays huge, housing a lot of the controls and providing a giant storage cubby beneath. The third row stays somewhat tight for adults because of its raised ground, however it’s greater than spacious sufficient for teenagers, and a bevy of USB ports and storage spots means these within the again do not miss out on the Palisade’s practicality.
Aesthetic tweaks aren’t actually one of the best a part of the Palisade’s refresh. As an alternative, it is all the brand new tech and creature comforts the automaker crammed in right here. The 2023 Palisade picks up heated third-row seats, a massaging driver’s seat, a 4G LTE Wi-FI hotspot operating on the Verizon community, a boatload of sooner USB-C ports, beefier wi-fi system charging and a digital rearview mirror. All trims now rock a 12.3-inch infotainment display screen, and whereas Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are onboard, it is a wired affair solely. Hyundai additionally improved its phone-as-a-key tech, which is now appropriate with Apple merchandise in addition to Samsung units. The underlying infotainment tech stays the identical, which is to say it is easy to make use of and mighty responsive.
Hyundai’s steering wheels are a few of my favorites within the business, and the Palisade’s is not any exception.
Hyundai
Security tech abounds, as nicely. All Palisade trims include ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, full-speed adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality, and lane-keep help. Freeway Driving Help, which mixes a few of the aforementioned methods to scale back a few of the tedium of lengthy expressway jaunts, can also be customary on each Palisade. Transferring up by the trims provides different options, like a surround-view monitor, blind-spot cameras and distant parking help. Freeway Driving Help can be upgraded to HDA II, including lane-change help and shifting the automobile’s lane place if another person is crowding you on both facet.
The 2023 Palisade’s powertrain is unchanged, with its 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, routed by the customer’s selection of the entrance or all 4 wheels by an 8-speed automated transmission. It is a lot advantageous, offering greater than sufficient energy for a three-row SUV with an honest exhaust observe that by no means overwhelms the cabin. The transmission is a clean shifter, and the stop-start system presents clear, annoyance-free operation. Merely put, it is a delight to pilot round city and by no means feels too massive or onerous, even on tighter metropolis streets.
Regardless of its dimension, the Palisade by no means actually looks like a handful within the metropolis.
Hyundai
The inside is a bit quieter than earlier than, because of improved sound absorption supplies, and my top-of-the-line tester presents some very soft Nappa leather-based to maintain occupants good and cozy. Visibility stays good from all angles, and the digital rearview mirror makes up for any heads in between my eyes and the rear glass. The trip high quality is on the softer facet, snug with out feeling too floaty. I like that the suspension is similar throughout your complete vary of trims, so whether or not you go for the bottom SE or the high-end Calligraphy trim, the coddling is strictly the identical. Load the SUV up with children and cargo, and the trip ought to really feel even smoother.
Throughout my time with the Palisade, Hyundai put collectively an off-road course to point out that the refreshed SUV can deal with grime and dust higher than I would anticipate in all-wheel-drive guise. With a locking middle differential, the Palisade cruises by deep, muddy ruts with ease, although its customary all-season tires aren’t precisely engineered for the tough stuff. Bumpier, rockier roads do not actually upset the automotive, nor introduce any unusual sounds into the cabin; hell, the suspension is so competent that it stays fairly snug all through the off-roading portion of my analysis. The Palisade would not precisely provide class-leading strategy and departure angles, however a pair steep drops did not a lot as plink the bumpers, so I’m assured 99.9% of consumers could have no drawback taking their Palisades wherever they need to go.
Is your Jimmy Buffett live performance on the finish of a gravel highway? Don’t have any worry, the Palisade can deal with that, and a good bit extra, too.
Hyundai
The 2023 Palisade presents a powerful vary of trims and value factors. The bottom Palisade SE begins at $36,245 (together with $1,295 for vacation spot), with the SEL operating $39,245 and the brand new rugged-looking XRT trim sliding in at $41,545. The penultimate Restricted will set you again $47,795, whereas top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim asks for $50,195. All these costs are for front-wheel-drive fashions, thoughts you; if you need all-wheel drive, it is a flat $1,900 upcharge on each trim.
Whereas the 2023 Hyundai Palisade may be on the light-to-medium facet of mid-cycle refreshes, it is as a result of Hyundai did not must do all that a lot. A couple of visible nips and tucks maintain the aesthetics fascinating, whereas a wholesome addition of cabin tech and creature comforts be sure it stays aggressive towards vehicles just like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer. It is an amazing household automotive made even higher.
