Hyundai Palisade SUV Review: My Favorite Features and Tech

The most obvious part of the Palisade’s 2023 update is a futuristic front facia. This new grille work brings the flagship Palisade in line with Hyundai’s new corporate aesthetic that debuted with the compact Tucson SUV‘s parametric jewel pattern grille.

Instead of chrome, the XRT and Calligraphy Night trims have their grilles blacked out.

The Palisade’s headlights are on either side of the front grille. The LED daytime running lights are located on the outside of the round headlights.

When not activated, the turn signals blend in as part of the chrome grille.

The only engine available on the Palisade is Hyundai’s 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated Lambda II V6 engine.

The V6 produces 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The quiet, smooth-revving V6 delivers effortless power, sufficient acceleration, and competitive fuel economy for the segment, matching the Subaru Ascent’s turbocharged four-cylinder and the Honda Pilot’s 3.5-liter V6.

All Palisades come standard with blindspot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, rear occupant alert, rear park distance warning, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, trailer sway control, and highway driving assist.

The Calligraphy trim gets forward park distance warning, parking collision avoidance assist, and upgraded forward collision avoidance assist.

Hyundai Palisade is naturally a front-wheel-drive crossover SUV.

All-wheel drive is available as a $2,000 option on all trim levels except the top-of-the-line Calligraphy Night Edition, which gets it as a standard feature.

HTRAC operates in front-wheel-drive when cruising around but can send up to 50% of the engine’s power to the back wheel when needed. At low speeds, the driver can activate an AWD Lock function that forces the system to send at least 20% of the power to the back wheels. This is useful for driving in poor road conditions or off-road.

Hyundai did a great job with cabin ergonomics with a sensible mix of touch controls and physical switchgear. There’s also a variety of useful storage scattered throughout the cabin.

All Palisades come standard with a 12.3-inch color touchscreen. The touchscreen comes equipped with a built-in navigation system that can receive updated maps remotely.

It also comes standard with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Quiet Mode limits the volume of the front speakers and mutes the speakers in the rear cabin, allowing its occupants to rest without disruption on a road trip.

The Passenger Talk feature amplifies the driver’s voice through the speakers in the rear cabin.

Higher level trim levels get a blind-spot view monitor standard. The system uses side mirror-mounted cameras to give the driver a live view of the vehicle’s blind spot through the digital gauge display when the turn signal is activated.

Higher-level trims also get a head-up display (HUD) projected onto the front windshield. The HUD can be configured to present various information, including speed, the status of the advanced cruise control, and the speed limit.

Hyundai’s hands-free tailgate is standard on all trim levels of the Palisade except the base SE.

The liftgate triggers if you stand within 3 feet of the rear bumper for more than three seconds with the key fob. This is a departure from rival systems that require the driver to swing their leg under the back bumper.

The driver’s seat’s Ergo-Motion function uses self-adjusting inflatable air pockets to support the driver’s posture and combat fatigue on long drives. When the Palisade is in Sport Mode, the air pockets inflate to provide additional lumbar support.

The Palisade’s rearview mirror is equipped with a smart rear-vision camera display, which comes in handy when the cabin is loaded up with cargo.

The actual camera is located near the top of the rear window.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s third-row of seats are not only power operated, but are also heated, perfect for those cold days. Third-row passengers are have a pair of dedicated USB-C plugs.

The Palisade Calligraphy came equipped with a 630-watt Kardon audio system. The 12-speaker system is standard on higher trims and available as an option on the SEL trim.

The 64-color ambient lightning, installed on door trims and the center console, adds a little extra panache to the cabin, especially at night.

The Palisade’s center console comes equipped with trick foldable cup holders that rotate to tuck away when not in use.

The Calligraphy trim comes with front, rear, and side cameras. The cameras come together to provide the driver with a 360-degree view of the Palisade and its surroundings.

Right above the rearview mirror is a retractable panoramic mirror. The panoramic mirror gives the driver a clear view of the action in the back of the vehicle.

Instead of a single panoramic glass roof like those found in the Subaru Ascent or Honda Pilot, the Palisade has two individual sunroofs. The smaller front sunroof opens, but the larger rear glass roof does not.

The leathers, plastics, and soft-touch materials used in the cabin are exceptional, especially for a mass-market vehicle.

The Palisade Calligraphy is the only trim that gets this rich Nappa leather upholstered seats.

Unlike many of its competitors, the Palisade relies upon electric motors instead of manual latches or handles to retract the second and third-row seats.

The Palisade has a hidden storage area under the center console, perfect for bags or small purses. The storage nook also houses USB-C and 12V plugs.

These days spare tires are becoming increasingly rare as automakers opt for a can of fix-a-flat to save weight and money.

Fortunately, the Palisade still has a spare wheel mounted underneath the rear cargo area.