Hyundai continues its fast fashion approach with the 2023, 7-seater Palisade, without skimping on practicality or driving dynamics. It’s equipped with a hefty 3.8L V6 and an 8-speed automatic transmission to strike a good balance of performance and efficiency. The 2023 Palisade is also feature rich thanks to a plethora of standard features, while the top models go above and beyond to spoil you with enhanced luxury treatments including a dual panoramic sunroof, in-cluster navigation and quilted Nappa leather seats.
For 2023, Hyundai has updated its front fascia with an aggressive single-piece front grille with squared edges, similar to that of a GMC truck. The instrument panel will now also come with a larger 12.3” display packing a higher-resolution. Other design upgrades include a revamped steering wheel and updated upholstery options.
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade can be purchased for as low as $36,886 for the base trim while the highest Caligraphy model rings in at $50,850. We recommend the mid-range Urban trim ($41,885) as it includes the larger 12.3” infotainment display, navigation and driver-assistance features. But if you have a higher budget, the Caligraphy trim is a great choice that adds premium Nappa leather seats, heads up display, dual-panoramic sunroof and remote smart parking assist.
Standard across all trims come, the only engine option equips the Palisade with a 3.8L V6, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that outputs 291 horsepower. It’s not a huge amount for its engine size, but the smooth shifts from the transmission and well-tuned engine configuration helps accelerate the Palisade smoothly and with ease. Canadian models come standard with AWD while American models have the option to configure the Palisade in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive for lower trims. The other bonus of having the larger engine is the Palisade’s 5,000 lbs towing capacity.
Thanks to its box-like form factor, the Hyundai Palisade offers plenty of interior and cargo space with no shortage of legroom. Second row can be configured with two captain chairs for added comfort or a standard 3-passenger bench seat upping the passenger count from 7 to 8. Plenty of compartments for storage and cargo space is made available throughout the cabin and 3rd row seats can be converted into additional cargo space thanks to its convenient electronic button-controlled folding seats.
The 2023 Palisade exemplifies Hyundai’s leading automotive design. The overall interior looks and feel pristine with its brushed aluminum trim, intuitive center-console dials and a unique combination of wood and metal materials used throughout the carefully crafted cabin space.
The massive 12.3” infotainment display was also one of the highlights of our week’s test drive and it proved to be very intuitive and easy to use. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported along with SiriusXM and Bluetooth connectivity. Other unique electronic features include Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and when equipped with Hyundai’s Blue Link app, which can unlock, lock and even remotely start the vehicle directly from your smartphone.
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade’s footprint stacks up close to its other competitors such as the Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9 and Honda Pilot. But where the Palisade excels is its interior and exterior aesthetics and a larger 3.8L V6 engine that adds plenty of power, smoothness and towing capacity. For its 7-seater practicality, the fuel economy isn’t too bad with an EPA rating of 19 and 26 mpg on city and highway driving. We did find that the Interior did absorb a bit of exterior road noise on the highway, which was noticeable because everything else was so quiet. Overall, the 2023Palisade makes a great choice that offers a wide price range for buyers to best suit their needs.
