2023 Hyundai Palisade Review

Seating 8, the Palisade takes care of large families. Optional 2nd-row Captain’s Chairs allow you to change the layout to take care of 7. It just takes one touch to operate the second row, allowing access to the third. Back row seats have a reclining capability for extra comfort.

For the first time, the Hyundai Palisade offers a special Ergo chair for the driver. It has been shown to reduce discomfort and fatigue. Another first, the second row can be outfitted with ventilated seats, always a favorite for our Phoenix summers. Other new options for second-row comfort are the special wing-out headrests and armrest-angle adjusters.

Cloth upholstery looks good and feels good to the touch. Trim levels add more style with leatherette, leather or premium Nappa leather. A Hyundai Palisade sale is a good way to get a higher trim at a bargain price. If you want to shop certified pre owned you might aim for a 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited or SEL.

The dash looks different with its new instrument panel. This hooded display has ambient lighting themes and a large overall appearance. Sitting next to it is the large touch screen display. The steering wheel is also a new design.

The air vents run horizontally as do other features. This prevents the cluttered feeling often found on today’s dashboards. This is the first year that Palisade shoppers can get a digital rearview mirror. It offers a full display of what’s behind the SUV.

The newest trim level is the 2023 Hyundai Palisade XRT. The exterior exudes ruggedness through its special fascias, skid plate design, and lower door trim. A dark-finish is applied to the front grille and the 20-inch alloy wheels. The interior picks up fun amenities like a power sunroof and luscious black leatherette upholstery.

Like the 2022 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, the 2023 top edition has Nappa leather seating and all of the features included in this review. Ventilated seats, now on two rows, make it a perfect SUV for Phoenix AZ families.

The 2023 changes to the Palisades include measures that dress up its exterior. There’s a wider cascading front grille that is accented by parametric shield elements. It is flanked by new lights and underscored by a new front bumper fascia. The 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels add a striking element to the sides of this big SUV.

The new headlights are vertically-connected LEDs that add a sharply contemporary look to the front end. The front cooling area has been optimized. This includes an external air guide and aero underside panels.

With its bold C-pillars, the vehicle projects its power through an extended hood profile and panoramic side glass. A new lower bumper fascia underscores vertical LED taillamps. A rear spoiler side garnish and rear wheel air deflectors are among the many aerodynamic elements in the design.

The new 2023 Palisade exterior colors include Robust Emerald. Other personality colors include Sierra Burgundy, Abyss Black, and Typhoon Silver. If you prefer quieter colors, you can go for Steel Graphite or Moonlight Cloud. Last but not least, Hyper White is the lucky number 7 of Palisade exterior colors.

Thoughtful touches and remarkable technologies make the Palisade a pleasure to drive. Parents will appreciate the little extras like a conversation mirror that allows them to see the passengers on the third row.

Hyundai is one of the few brands offering safe exit assist. This system detects rear-side vehicles and may warn occupants or even lock the rear door to prevent someone from stepping into the path of a car.

An ultrasonic rear occupant alert is useful in several ways. It will detect movement in the back rows. Then when the driver is leaving, it notices if the back doors are used. If not, it will warn the driver via honking the horn and sending a Bluelink alert to the driver’s smartphone.

It greatly reduces the chances that a caregiver or parent will leave a sleeping child or pet in a hot car. It also may alert the driver if a child has climbed into the car and shut the doors, locking themselves in.

A Dynamic Voice Recognition system allows the driver to instruct the vehicle’s many amenities. This includes turning on or off the ventilated seats, controlling the air conditioning, opening or closing the power liftgate, and more.

The new 12-inch touch screen has 720p resolution for clearer views. It comes with built-in navigation with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The USB-A ports are updated to USB-C ports for faster charging. A Wi-Fi hotspot has been added to the menu.

The new Hyundai Digital Key is the 2 Touch version. This allows users to utilize a smartphone to lock, unlock and start the three-row SUV. There are many new Bluelink-enabled features. Among them, remote start enhancements will allow you to turn on the ventilated seats.

Another 2023 change was updating wireless device charging This available charger works faster now that it is 15 watts instead of 5. When the smartphone or Apple Watch is place on the wireless charger, it can activate the Digital 2 Touch key and allow you to start the vehicle.

The Palisade dual CVVT engine delivers plenty of power: 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission works with a multi-plate torque converter to harness maximum power whenever needed. The front-wheel drive can be upgraded to HTRAC.

This four-wheel drive system adds ground clearance and all-weather, multi-terrain capability. For 2023, the HTRAC AWD has a tow mode. This adjusts the powertrain to allow for holding the lower gears longer to accommodate the load. The active torque system easily moves power between the front and rear axles.

The aerodynamic exterior assists with fuel economy.

The newest additions to the safety features list include rear side-impact airbags, bringing the number of bags to 9. This adds to the blanket of protections inside the cabin. The vehicle’s underbody disperses crash energy better thanks to multiple load paths.

From simple measures to complex technologies, this SUV works to assist the driver. Hyundai has upgraded the outside mirrors with an auto-dimming function. The high beams have an assist to turn them on and off as needed. A warning may sound if it detects driver inattention.

To help with parking, a rear cross traffic system with an avoidance assist is standard. You can also get a reverse parking system with an avoidance assist that pairs up nicely with the standard backup camera. The Smart Parking Assist automates more of the parking procedure.

Avoiding accidents is the aim of many systems now standard on the Palisade. It starts with the more advanced capability of the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist.

Watching ahead, it warns about and even brakes if it detects stopping or stopped vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. It also works in intersections to prevent dangers from oncoming vehicles. The system also has a steering assist for certain situations.

The blind spot monitor includes its own collision-avoidance assist. It recognizes rear-side vehicles and warns the driver that changing lanes or even exiting a parking spot is unsafe. Emergency braking has been added for reverse maneuvers.

The brand’s smart cruise control has the rare ability to work with the navigation system. It can anticipate curves and alter speed to match conditions better. It also has stop-and-go capability in busy traffic. The lane keeper helps the driver maintain the lane, and the lane follow knows when the car ahead is moving.

Highway Driving Assist is even more automated. It can even keep the vehicle centered when it is taking a curve at speed.