This SUV will warn you in opposition to leaving children within the automobile, chide you by way of a smartphone app in the event you nonetheless handle to depart children within the automobile, and let you know who’s unbuckled within the again so you may scold them. There’s even an in-car father or mother intercom. Severely, kudos to Hyundai for figuring out its viewers. I’ve by no means pushed a automobile this centered on youngsters, and that features the hand-me-down minivans my fraternity brothers owned. True, these are all options that trendy minivan house owners will probably be accustomed to. However in the event you discover {that a} minivan cramps your model, Hyundai is right here to assist.

Hyundai and Kia have been hitting dwelling run after dwelling run these days, delivering hits just like the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 (our Greatest EV of 2022, in the event you haven’t heard) which can be redefining the automakers as high quality, cool manufacturers. It solely is smart that that excellence would trickle into their bread-and-butter three-row crossovers, and the refreshed 2023 Palisade is about to vary extra perceptions and make plenty of households’ lives simpler. 

The three-row Palisade is Hyundai’s largest SUV, coming in above the Santa Fe. It’s been round since 2019 however not too long ago acquired some styling and luxurious upgrades for 2023. The mid-tier, blacked-out XRT trim can be new this yr. 

The Palisade’s facelifted entrance finish seems to be extra squared off, with a wider, rectangular grille with plenty of chrome (or black trim, within the XRT’s case) and upright LEDs pushed additional towards the automobile’s edges. This makes it look wider than earlier than, though it stays the identical dimension. Within the rear, reverse and fog lights be a part of a single decrease gentle bar. General, it’s a cleaner look and a reminder that much less is commonly extra in relation to mid-cycle updates (taking a look at you, Jaguar F-Kind.)

Inside, it’s a lot the identical story. A brand new four-spoke steering wheel frames the digital gauge cluster, and the 12.3-inch display’s sprint integration is smoother than earlier than. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are commonplace. Second-row passengers get both a three-seat bench or twin captain’s chairs, relying on trim stage, and the third row is a bench.

The Palisade rocks the identical 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 and eight-speed automated as earlier than, and you may select front- or all-wheel drive.

Driving the Palisade is, in a phrase, reassuring. A raft of energetic security options, easy driving dynamics, and a commanding view of the street conspire to say, “Chill out, I acquired this.” Although it’s a big SUV, correct steering, large mirrors, and clear sightlines meant that multistory parking garages have been the one locations the Palisade felt its dimension. I had no downside parallel parking or navigating metropolis streets. Dealing with is assured, too, with respectable physique management and steering effort that builds naturally. This isn’t a canyon-carving evaluate, however the Palisade had no downside retaining an inexpensive tempo by mountain sweepers, and its steering and chassis advised me sufficient about what was occurring that issues didn’t really feel sketchy. Whereas temperatures hardly dipped under 60 levels throughout my week with the automobile in LA, I’ve little question that on correct winter tires, it will be an effective way to get to the ski mountain or Grandma’s home within the sticks.

Hyundai’s 3.8-liter V6 powertrain is the least premium a part of the Palisade. It will get up and goes, however I want it was a bit extra easy. Peak energy and torque arrive at 6,000 and 5,200 rpm, respectively, and it really works laborious to drag you up to the mark. I wish to hear triple downshifts into V6 screams after I’m passing within the new Nissan Z, not in a three-row SUV. As my colleague Kristen Lee identified in her evaluate of the mechanically equivalent Kia Telluride, a turbocharged four-cylinder with a hybrid system would generate extra usable torque and improve effectivity for the each day driving house owners. 

The Palisade is packed stuffed with driving aids and security options that take the stress out of schlepping. When setting off, the automobile chimes and vibrates the brake pedal in the event you’re in reverse and one thing rolls by behind you. Okay, not revolutionary—we’ve all seen automobile commercials, proper—however it’s well-executed and useful, particularly in a bigger automobile or with backseat distractions. One other instance of considerate design is the Palisade’s blind-spot digicam, which comes on within the cluster each time you placed on the flip sign. Now, we should always all be checking our mirrors, however I discovered it useful to have a second set of eyes for bike lanes and curbs when road parking, and I feel patrons will agree. Why don’t extra vehicles do that?

Hyundai’s Freeway Driving Assistant 2 adaptive cruise management is critically spectacular stuff. With the system absolutely activated, it controls steering, pace, and distance from the automobile in entrance utilizing radar. It’ll even change lanes for you in the event you flick on the flip sign and it’s protected to take action. On a rush-hour drive dwelling on the 101, the Palisade drove me from freeway entrance to exit—a distance of about 30 miles—with out actual intervention. I stored my fingers on the steering wheel as required, however the automobile requested nothing else of me, at the same time as speeds floor from 80 mph to a standstill. I phoned a pal by way of Bluetooth and let the seat’s Ergo Movement quasi-massage perform work out my kinks. It was one of the vital enjoyable drives I’ve had. The system doesn’t promise every thing, however it does what the field says: That is what a freeway driving assist ought to be. Implementation is every thing, and there’s a skinny line between a automobile you belief and one it’s important to babysit.

The Palisade’s new grille and LED design draw parallels to a Vary Rover. The highest trim, “Calligraphy,” even sounds suspiciously like “Autobiography.” It’s clear to me what Hyundai is making an attempt to do right here: Construct a full-fledged luxurious SUV for semi-regular people. It really works. Gentle wooden paneling and cream-colored leather-based give the check automobile’s cabin an ethereal, nice vibe, at the same time as I thought of which denims I used to be sporting and whether or not they’d depart any dye bleeding. It’s easy and quiet on the freeway, simple round city, and sensible in relation to tech.

The third-row headroom was barely cramped for me, and the automobile’s start-stop fuel-saving function might’ve been smoother. Then again, I’m 6 ft 2 inches and have but to satisfy a start-stop system I preferred. Whereas we’re nitpicking, can somebody please clarify to me why a three-row, non-performance SUV has a sport mode that adjustments the instrument cluster into pretend, digital carbon fiber? It’s 2023, and digital shows can present no matter we would like. Why are we recreating “light-weight” supplies in a 4,500-pound SUV? Let’s have some creativity, people. 

The 2023 Palisade is available in 5 trim ranges, every providing Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system as a $1,900 choice. Base SE trim contains the three.8-liter V6, front-wheel drive, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, seating for eight, and 18-inch wheels for $36,545 together with freight. The tester was the top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD mannequin, which begins at $52,395. Add in carpeted flooring mats for $215, and also you’re at a complete of $52,610. The elegant Moonlight Cloud paint and Beige (learn: cream) inside are no-cost choices, although I’d assume twice about gentle leather-based if I have been toting tots with this factor. On that be aware: Restricted and Calligraphy trims get second-row captain’s chairs however lose the center perch, reducing complete seating from eight to seven.

Looking on the competitors, Hyundai’s smaller Santa Fe ($35,660 beginning MSRP) will get higher fuel mileage and presents a hybrid mannequin, the brand new Honda Pilot ($39,150 beginning MSRP) has much more area, and the uber-favorite Toyota Highlander ($36,420 beginning MSRP) will final 18 billion years with simply oil and tire adjustments, in response to your cousin Steve. Dodge’s Durango ($38,495 beginning MSRP) remains to be kicking and has the best tow ranking within the class, if that’s one thing you’re involved with. Kia’s Telluride ($35,890 beginning MSRP) is virtually equivalent feature-wise, so it comes right down to which design you favor and who’s providing higher incentives on a given week.

The Palisade’s gas economic system is firmly within the “okay, not nice” camp. I averaged 18.1 mpg over 250 miles of largely metropolis driving, which barely trails the EPA’s metropolis ranking and the automobile’s most important rivals.

On a by-the-yard foundation, it’s simple to make the worth case for a base Palisade. It’s virtually the identical value because the Santa Fe and presents considerably more room. North of $50,000 for the loaded Calligraphy I drove is some huge cash, however the inside and the driving force aids have been worthy of the value tag. In its place, including the $4,950 Premium Bundle to a Palisade SEL will get you Freeway Driving Help, the energetic security tech, heated second-row seats, heated and ventilated first-row seats, a Harmon-Kardon sound system, and a heated steering wheel—for about $8,000 lower than the Calligraphy. You’ll miss out on the massaging seat, fancy leather-based and wheels, and Distant Good Park Help, however the worth is difficult to argue with.

If you happen to’re contemplating a 2023 Hyundai Palisade, odds are you’ll be proud of it. It’s a good-looking, premium automobile that melds to your way of life, and never the opposite means round. Engine and effectivity gripes apart, the Palisade in high trim is each bit as legit as a Lexus or BMW. I can’t assure it’ll make you a greater father or mother, however it may provide help to be much less pressured between all of the errands alongside the way in which. 

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