Hyundai seems to be on a roll in recent years, thanks in part to its expanding product line, which includes high-performance cars like the N-Line Elantra and futuristic all-electric models like the Ioniq 5. SUVs, on the other hand, are the brand's bread and butter, making up 65 percent of overall sales, and the Palisade was one of the South Korean automakers most popular models.

Hyundai's top-tier three-row mid-sizer was primarily so appealing due to the tremendous amount of value it offered for the money. Therefore Hyundai had to tread lightly with this already flourishing recipe. Riding on the success of its predecessor, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade made its public debut at the New York International Auto Show earlier this year.

2023 Hyundai Palisade Performance and Capability

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is available across five trims:

- SE

- SEL

- XRT

- Limited

- Calligraphy

In terms of powertrains, the Palisade retains the dependable 3.8-Liter GDI V-6 engine, which produces 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque for the 2023 Palisade. Power goes to the pavement via an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels (Standard on all trims) or to the Hyundai's optional H TRAC all-wheel-drive system, which now includes a new TOW mode that alters the powertrain to hold hears longer and reduce the frequency of shifting response.

The H TRAC all-wheel drive system can vary the torque split based on the mode. It varies from 100:0 ~ 50:50 in Normal mode and 80:20 ~ 50:50 in AWD Lock. While hill start assist is standard across all trims, the Downhill brake assist is only available when you spec your Palisade with all-wheel drive.

The various drive/terrain modes include:

- Eco

- Comfort

- Sport

- Smart

- Snow

- Mud

- Sand

As for the ride, you get tried and tested MacPherson struts up front with a Multi-link independent setup at the rear. While Hyundai has added a more off-roady XRT variant to the lineup, do note that the changes made are primarily cosmetic. The Hyundai Palisade features a unibody construction. So out on the road, you can expect it to behave like a car rather than an SUV. The Palisade can haul up to 5000 pounds.

Gas Mileage

2023 Hyundai Palisade Specs

Exterior Design

The most noticeable cosmetic change is a new parametric design grille that replaces the old cascading type waterfall grille. That shape somehow never really fit the attractive Palisade. This time around, Hyundai has nailed it. It makes way for a bigger and more pronounced in-your-face grille, which is exactly what the market wants right now.

The arrangement for the lighting elements is also new. The vertical daytime running lights now extend on the outer flanks of the bumper, rather than the inside as on the previous model. The turn signals, located underneath the hood line, neatly merge into the DRLs. The main headlights sit lower down in the bumper.

Onto the side now and the lower trims get the obligatory plastic cladding. Move higher up the range and Hyundai will paint color to match these trim pieces. This one facet in itself lends the Paliside a more upmarket look.

Hyundai has added fresh new rim designs between 18-inches to 20-inches available in a range of finishes. The chrome work around the window line and the door sills on the Calligraphy trim along with body-colored bumpers makes it appear that it belongs to a class above.

At the rear, you’ve got a nice brushed aluminum piece that makes up the scuff plate on the bumper, along with a dual-exhaust setup. The LED lighting is revised for the rear as well, with the Palisade name, boldly spelled out on the tailgate.

As blocky and bulbous as the new Palisade appears, Hyundai has carried out a few changes to make the SUV more aerodynamic. The angle of the A-Pillar, allows to better channel air around the windscreen, and there's a new rear spoiler, wheel deflectors, and redesigned underbody panels to make the Palisade more aerodynamically efficient. The result? The Palisade has a drag coefficient of just 0.33.

Additionally, the XRT trim goes down a rugged route with its dark-themed aesthetic. It includes the following bits to distinguish itself from other trims in the Palisade range

- Dark grille finish

- Rugged lower bumpers and skid plate accents

- Rugged lower door garnish

- Dark-finished 20-inch wheels

- Black roof side rails and cross rails

Overall, Hyundai has done a masterful job of perfecting the styling with this mid-cycle refresh of the Palisade. The SUV now has even more road presence with that imposing front end.

Available Exterior Colors

- Abyss Black

- Hyper White

- Steel Graphite

- Sierra Burgundy

- Typhoon Silver

- Moonlight Cloud

- Robust Emerald (New for 2023)

Exterior Dimensions

Interior Quality and Technology

If the exterior was impressive, the cabin will impress you further still. While much of the interior comes straight from the previous model, the Korean automaker has now thrown in even more features and technology into the Palisade, in an attempt to outdo the competition.

The Palisade's cabin was one of its main selling points, and Hyundai has set the bar considerably higher with this facelift. A prime example of this is the acoustic laminated glass in the rear doors of the top-spec Calligraphy trim. You also can’t ignore the all-new steering wheel and the all-new dashboard has AC vents that seamlessly merges into the dash's silver trim.

You have a range of interior themes to choose from, which ranges from the standard black, cognac, and an ivory shade with available with quilting and piping on the seats. They contrast well against the aluminum or open-pore wood finishers.

The Upholstery options include:

- Fabric

- Leatherette

- Black H-Tex Letherette (Only on XRT)

- Leather

- Premium Nappa leather

The New front row Ergo chairs, which improve comfort and prevent tiredness, are among the convenience features. These new heated and cooled ergo chairs should make long road journeys a lot more bearable. Also, a segment first massage function is now available on the driver seat (Calligraphy only).

You can configure the Palisade as a seven or eight-seater. Do keep in mind that luxury isn't restricted to the front seats; you can have optional heated seats in the third row, which also feature a reclining function. Access to the third row is just as simple, depending on how you arrange your Palisade.

Let's jump onto the tech side of things since there's a lot going on here. You get a redesigned instrument binnacle with an all-digital display. The centerpiece of the cabin is the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto comes as standard across the range.

Ambient lighting, digital rearview mirror, digital keys (Compatible with iPhone and Android), 5-15 watt Qi wireless smartphone charging, sufficient USB C ports to keep occupants happy in all three rows, two digital keys, enhanced voice recognition, ambient lighting, and, last but not least, the seat occupant indicator are some of the many convenience features.

Also, for the very first time, Hyundai has integrated a Wi-Fi Hotspot function as well as connected Bluelink features such as last-mile NAV, all of which can be operated from your smartphone.

With its chic style that comes courtesy of the metal speaker grills, leather seats, and ambient lighting, the new Palisade's cabin truly exudes a sense of class and Hyundai has worked hard to elevate the experience for occupants.

Interior Dimensions

2023 Hyundai Palisade Price and Availability

With an estimated starting price of $34,950 for the 2023 Hyundai Palisade in base SE trim, you can expect demand for the Palisade to continue to remain strong. While front-wheel drive comes as standard across all trims, you can add all-wheel drive for an additional $1,900. As for optional packages, the Premium Package (P2) available on the SEL trim ($4,950) gets you a lot of additional kit. Noteworthy features include:

- 20-inch alloy wheels

- Auto leveling rear suspension

- Front parking sensors

- 3rd Row USB C ports

- Acoustic rear side glass

- Power sunroof

- Intercom

- Heated steering

- Heated second-row seats

- Harmon Kardon 12 Speaker audio system

Deliveries were scheduled to begin this summer, which means you can soon expect to see the new Palisade show up at a Hyundai dealer near you.

Safety

Safety and driver assistance features continue to remain a priority for Hyundai. While both the NHTSA and IIHS have yet to rate the 2023 Palisade for safety, the outgoing Palisade did pretty well scoring the maximum five stars for safety with the NHTSA, while the IIHS awarded it the Top Safety Pick + in the mid-size SUV category for 2022.

The safety and driver assistance feature set for the 2023 Palisade includes:

- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist

- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

- Driver Attention Warning

- Highway Driving Assist

- Lane Keeping Assist

- Lane Following Assist

- Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control

- Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist

- Remote Smart Parking Assist

- Safe Exit Assist

- Standard rear side-impact airbags

- Heads up Display

Main Competition

Competition in the three-row mid-size SUV space is rife and buyers today have a lot of choices. The Hyundai Palisade goes up against some established family haulers, the sort of models that you often run into on the school run.

You've got the obvious ones like the Ford Explorer, the Toyota Highlander, and the Honda Pilot. The Palisade also goes up against Kia Telluride from its Korean sister brand. Here's how the Hyundai Palisade compares to some of its competition in terms of performance.

Now while Hyundai has significantly upped the ante with this latest refresh for the Palisade. There are still some areas where rivals do a better job. If it's cargo room that you're after, the Kia Telluride has a far more capacious trunk at 21 cubic feet as opposed to just over 16 cubic feet in the Palisade. The third row too isn't the most spacious one out there.

As for hauling capability, the Ford Explorer can tow slightly more - 5,300 pounds compared to the Palisade's 5,000 pounds. The Toyota Highlander offers a Hybrid which means you should see considerably better mileage than with the standard gas engine on the Palisade. On the price front, you can get into a Subaru Ascent at a much lower price point of just over $32,000 for the base model, but do keep in mind that the Ascent only packs a four-cylinder and a CVT.

However, one area where the rivals will have a tough time competing against this latest Palisade is with the cabin. It now feels far more upmarket than the competition. Throw in the exhaustive list of safety features and edgy exterior styling and Hyundai once again has a winner on its hands with the 2023 Palisade.