2023 Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is a three-row SUV with seating for up to eight, and at 196.7 inches in length, it’s considered a midsize. It’s designed for busy family life with plenty of room for people and cargo, and with numerous standard features. This isn’t a luxury vehicle, but the quality of the materials, especially in top trims, makes it a more premium offering without the premium price. There are ample standard and available safety features, as well as a comprehensive infotainment system that makes it easy to stay connected.

For 2023, the Palisade gets a thorough refresh that includes new exterior design cues and upgraded interior materials. It gets new available features including a heated third row, and an Ergo Motion massaging driver’s seat to fight fatigue on long drives. There are new advanced driver assistance features available, and technology gets an upgrade with Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity—a first for Hyundai. There’s also enhanced device charging, refined voice recognition, 12.3-inch higher-resolution navigation and a digital rearview mirror—another first for Hyundai. The trim lineup also expands to include the rugged XRT.

There is lots of competition in the segment including the related Kia Telluride, which offers the same performance with an even more upscale interior but at a lower price. There’s also the Nissan Pathfinder, which has comparable pricing across its lineup, but doesn’t match up for interior quality and overall appearance. Other strong competitors include the Honda Pilot, which has similar pricing and power and with a notably smooth ride, Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander and Subaru Ascent.

Every Palisade is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a responsive powertrain that easily gets this large vehicle up to speed. The base SE with front-wheel drive is priced at $36,245, including a delivery fee of $1,295, with the SEL priced at $39,245. The new XRT trim is $41,545. At the upper level, the Limited is $47,795 and the Calligraphy is $50,195. All trims can be optioned to all-wheel drive for an additional $1,900.

The Palisade isn’t the lowest-priced offering in the segment but stands out for exceptional value when factoring in the wide range of features and quality of materials. Even the base trim is a well-equipped and comfortable SUV that makes traveling with the family easier and less stressful for everyone.

The extensive standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and braking, reverse distance warning, rear-seat occupant alert, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, driver attention warning, safe exit assist and forward emergency braking that recognizes pedestrians and cyclists, along with oncoming traffic when turning. That’s an impressive number of standard safety features, which helps make the base trim of the Palisade a great value.

Performance: 11/15

All Palisade trims are powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive on every trim. It’s a powerful engine that easily gets this large vehicle up to highway speeds without complaint. The transmission shifts smoothly for even power delivery under hard acceleration, with no harsh shifts to jar passengers and a minimum of engine noise intruding into the cabin.

Once you’re up to speed, there’s still plenty of power left for passing. The Kia Telluride shares the Palisade’s driveline with similar performance, while the Nissan Pathfinder and Honda Pilot have slightly less power, at 280 and 284 hp, respectively. All four have more power than Volkswagen’s Atlas, which starts off with a four-cylinder but also offers a 276-hp V6.

Though not designed for heavy-duty off-roading, the Palisade is still capable of tackling more rugged terrain. The drive mode selector offers Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart modes to tailor ride and handling to current conditions. Models equipped with all-wheel drive add a Snow mode and new Tow mode, with maximum capacity of 5,000 pounds, and can be locked into all-wheel at low speeds for getting out of snow and mud. 

Fuel Economy: 12/15

In front-wheel drive, the Palisade achieves an EPA-rated 19 mpg in the city, 27 highway and 22 mpg combined. Trims with all-wheel drive see only a small drop to 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. 

That 22 mpg combined in front-wheel drive is 1 mpg less than the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder, all of which rate 23 mpg. For all-wheel drive, the Telluride matches the Palisade at 21 mpg, while the Pathfinder rates 23 mpg (the top-level Platinum gets 22 mpg) and the Honda Pilot rates 22 mpg, with its off-road TrailSport dropping to 21 mpg.

Unfortunately, Hyundai doesn’t yet offer a hybrid Palisade, unlike certain competitors. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is rated for an impressive 35 mpg combined, and the rear-wheel-drive Ford Explorer Hybrid achieves an estimated 27 mpg combined.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15 

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade has not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the 2022 model year was and will likely be similar. That model earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the highest for both organizations.

Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear braking, rear park distance warning, rear-seat occupant alert, lane keeping and lane following assist, driver attention warning, safe exit assist, highway driving assist, trailer sway control and emergency front braking with pedestrian and cycling detection, plus oncoming traffic when turning at intersections. Only a few extra features are reserved for higher trims, including an ultrasonic rear-occupant alert (lower trims only detect that the door was opened) and a remote parking feature.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

The Palisade is a spacious SUV. It provides 42.4 inches of second-row legroom, a practically full-size SUV amount that matches the Kia Telluride and bests most competitors. The Pilot offers 38.4 inches, the Atlas 37.6 and the Pathfinder just 35.5. Those are significant differences, especially if the second row is holding adults rather than kids in car seats. For the third row, the Atlas dominates at 33.7 inches of legroom but both the Palisade and Telluride offer 31.4. The Pilot has marginally more at 31.9 inches, but the Pathfinder once again trails with 28.0 inches.

Seating for eight is standard on the base SE and optional one step up on the SEL, but the rest of the lineup features only second-row captain’s chairs that take seating down to seven. The base trim gets cloth upholstery, but “leatherette” and leather trims become standard as you move up, with the top Calligraphy edging into luxury territory. 

Materials are attractive and appealing across the lineup, with available features including heated seats for all three rows that make the Palisade feel decidedly luxurious. A second row that slides forward at the touch of a button makes accessing the third row easy, even for adults.

Infotainment: 13/15

A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard across the full Palisade lineup. It’s an easy system to use, with well-organized menus that help reduce driver distraction. Navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard with the ability to connect two devices simultaneously. Keeping everyone charged is easy with three first-row and two second-row USB charging ports. Dual third-row ports are standard on top trims. All but the base trim have a wireless charger.

Optional on the SEL, and standard on the Limited and Calligraphy trims, is a 630-watt, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display are available on top trims. The large standard touchscreen adds to the system’s usability, as does good responsiveness so you’re not repeatedly stabbing at the screen to make your selections.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The Palisade is a spacious SUV with plenty of room to manage all the cargo that comes along with family life. It has 18 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row, which is less than the Telluride’s 21 cubic-feet, but more than the Pathfinder at 16.6 cubic-feet, and the Pilot at 16.5 cubic-feet. When the third row is folded down, the Palisade has 45.8 cubic-feet of cargo space. The Pilot and Telluride have more, at 46.8 and 46 cubic-feet, respectively, but the Pathfinder has 45 cubic-feet. Fold all of the Palisade’s seats and there are 86.4 cubic-feet of space, a little bit more than the Pilot Toyota Highlander, but still less than the Atlas’ 96.8.

The Palisade’s large center console holds smaller items and keeps them out of sight, while underfloor storage in the cargo area offers another hidden storage spot. Except for the base SE, all trims have a hands-free liftgate with programmable height adjustment that makes loading cargo easier when your arms are full. 

Style & Design: 9/10

The Palisade isn’t intended as a luxury SUV, but take off the Hyundai badging and you could easily be fooled. It has an attractive exterior design with a bold grille that gives it a strong presence. The cabin materials look and feel good, and even on the base trim, nothing looks cheap or cost-cutting. It’s premium across the lineup without the premium pricing.

Seating is comfortable, especially up front, with features including heated and ventilated seats on the upper trims that make it a fantastic choice for longer drives. The large infotainment screen helps give it a premium, tech-forward look. Hyundai has a reputation for creating visually appealing interiors with quality finishes and plenty of comfort, and the Palisade upholds that reputation in a vehicle that’s ideal for large families and their busy lives.

Is the 2023 Hyundai Palisade Worth it? Which Palisade is the Best Value?

The Palisade has plenty to offer with seating for seven or eight, a quiet, comfortable ride and numerous standard features across the lineup, rather than only on the top trims. There’s a large suite of standard driver-assist safety features and a large touchscreen that’s easy to use, especially when following complicated navigation. Five trims make it easy to find one that fits your needs and your budget.

The Calligraphy at $50,195 offers premium features, but for the best value, look at the SEL, one step up from the base trim. At $39,245, the SEL’s pricing is more manageable than the top trims but has numerous items not found on the base SE at $36,245, including roof rails, a hands-free liftgate, and power-adjustable front seats. The SEL also offers a choice of a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs, and it gets leatherette seating surfaces that are easier for cleaning the inevitable kid spills over the SE’s cloth seats. Add $1,900 to all trims for all-wheel drive.

The Pathfinder and Pilot have less-powerful engines with interiors that don’t offer the same refinement. The Atlas has more cargo and third-row room, but lackluster performance even with the optional V6. The Telluride from Hyundai’s sister company Kia has the same engine as the Palisade and an equally attractive interior. It’s priced from $34,725 to $44,625, but doesn’t have as many luxury features as the Palisade in its upper trims.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Hyundai Palisade?

The Hyundai Palisade costs a bit more than some rivals to insure. According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $2,083 for the Palisade. On average, a Honda Pilot would run to $1,963, a Kia Telluride to $1,998 and a Nissan Pathfinder $2,161. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, see our car insurance calculator.