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Simply because the minivan as soon as kicked the station wagon to the curb because the household hauler of selection, the three-row SUV has now pushed apart the minivan. Because the Hyundai Palisade‘s introduction in 2020, it—together with the mechanically similar Kia Telluride—has been among the many hottest choices within the section with its mixture of nice worth, a luxurious inside, and a raft of options that ease the duty of ferrying a herd of kids via suburban America. For 2023, Hyundai gave its three-row schooner a facelift and extra tools. Our first drive of the brand new Palisade revealed a cushty, dynamically sound crossover that may even fulfill the promise of respectable, if hardly ever used, off-road functionality.
Exploring the roads round Asheville, North Carolina, we discovered this Palisade to be the identical pleasant and easy-to-drive associate because the 2020 unique. This checks out, for the reason that 2023 replace largely left the mechanicals alone, focusing as a substitute on exterior styling and inside options. We’ll allow you to resolve whether or not the brand new armor-like grille and thick, boomerang-shaped LED headlights are engaging, however the look is definitely extra eye-catching than the earlier iteration.
As earlier than, the three.8-liter V-6 produces 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with the eight-speed computerized additionally carrying over. The Palisade continues to be out there in front- or all-wheel drive; we sampled an all-wheel-drive Calligraphy mannequin throughout our go to to Asheville. The V-6 supplies sufficient oomph for a automobile of this dimension—the Palisade by no means felt torpid in metropolis site visitors, and merging onto the freeway was a breeze. We recorded a 6.9-second dash to 60 mph for the Palisade in a 2020 comparison test, and we might anticipate an identical outcome with the brand new model.
Whereas ascending a steep hill can typically depart the transmission flummoxed, shuffling via the ratios because it searches for the proper gear, the eight-speed usually shifts easily round city. Mashing the throttle also can catch the transmission off guard, though switching into Sport mode supplies extra aggressive shifts. The Palisade can be fitted with paddle shifters, however do not be fooled into pondering they make this huge SUV an enticing drive. Their unhurried shifts did not make the Palisade noticeably faster.
The steering is exact and sufficiently weighty—switching to Sport mode provides heft however no suggestions. The Palisade rides pretty easily, though it might probably really feel a bit taut over rougher pavement, and physique roll is nicely managed for such a big automobile. The brakes, whereas devoid of really feel, cease the 4500-pound SUV nicely sufficient (hauling it down from 70 mph in a class-competitive 173 toes in that 2020 comparability take a look at). Hyundai touted elevated sound deadening for 2023, however we nonetheless heard a good quantity of wind noise whooshing by the sizable side-view mirrors at freeway speeds.
Whereas the varsity pickup line and Goal parking zone are the Palisade’s common haunts, Hyundai nonetheless wished to reveal the SUV’s adventurous facet. (A new XRT trim level performs up that theme however does not embrace any significant {hardware} upgrades.) On a light off-road path, traversing via muddy puddles and deep ruts, the Palisade proved to be a surprisingly succesful companion. It absorbed small bumps nicely, and the ultrasharp entrance, rear, and fowl’s-eye digicam views helped us keep away from skirmishes with rocks and bushes. Nonetheless, the pavement-oriented tires struggled for grip within the mud, and we would not advocate pushing the Palisade past a mud two-track.
Inside, the Palisade is simply as nice as earlier than. Hyundai supplies an opulent cabin for a reasonably reasonably priced worth, with the top-of-the-line Calligraphy mannequin beginning at $50,195 (add $1900 for all-wheel drive). The Calligraphy’s inside is filled with supple supplies, such because the nappa leather-based that wraps the extraordinarily comfy seats. New for 2023 is the Ergo Movement driver’s seat, which routinely begins massaging your again and backside throughout an extended drive to assist scale back fatigue. The seats additionally tighten the bolstering round your ribs once you have interaction Sport mode, making you’re feeling extra comfortable once you’re navigating twistier roads or simply want a hug.
The Palisade now comes commonplace with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, which shows a crisp, fashionable graphics, and the refresh provides a number of options which can be essential for placating a crowd. Together with out there heated and ventilated seats within the first two rows, the third row beneficial properties non-compulsory heated seats—similar to the new Range Rover—whereas the second row can be fitted with adjustable wings on the headrests to maintain noggins from flopping over throughout naptime. The Palisade turns into the primary Hyundai to supply a Wi-Fi hotspot, offering 4G LTE service from Verizon, and it options the most recent model of Hyundai Digital Key, which permits house owners to make use of an iPhone, an Apple Watch, or a Samsung Galaxy to lock, unlock, and begin their automobile in lieu of a key. Six USB-C and one USB-A port plus a wi-fi charging pad ought to maintain everybody’s units charged up.
Mother and father may even be completely happy to listen to that the 2023 Palisade provides side-impact airbags within the second row, and parking-collision-avoidance help joins a bunch of different driver help options. There may be additionally a digital rearview mirror for elevated visibility when the Palisade is full up with passengers or cargo, auto-dimming mirrors to scale back glare, and a brand new Tow mode (though towing capability stays 5000 kilos). With all of those new options coming for round $50,000—and lots of of them out there on cheaper trims—the 2023 Palisade continues to make a powerful worth argument whereas offering competent driving dynamics and including an uptick in freshness to the design.