Entering its fourth year on the market, the Hyundai Palisade midsize SUV has been improved with new exterior styling, updated interior elements and some advanced technologies.
Hyundai has unveiled its flagship 2020 three-row SUV with seating for seven or eight people and plenty of cargo space.
Hyundai says that by 2023, the Palisade will offer “updated interior and exterior styling cues, new infotainment and safety features, and advanced driver assistance systems.”
There are five trim levels available, and each level is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Pricing starts at $35,550 for a base front-wheel-drive SE model; The HTRAC all-wheel drive adds $1,900, which works out to $37,450.
The other models in order are the SEL ($38,550 FWD, $40,450 AWD); XRT ($40,850 front-wheel drive; $42,750 all-wheel drive); Limited ($47,100 FWD; $49,000 AWD); and calligraphy ($49,500 4WD; $51,400 4WD).
On the outside, the new Palisade features new front and rear bumpers, front grille, headlights and daytime running lights, multi-spoke alloy wheels and auto-dimming exterior mirrors.
Interior changes include a new instrument panel, steering wheel, seats and materials, instrument panel and audio interface design.
There’s also a new “ergo-motion” driver’s seat, as well as second-row armrest angle adjustment, heated third-row seats and, on the top-of-the-line Calligraphy model, acoustic laminated tailgate glass.
Other interior features include a 12.3-inch 720p navigation and information screen; digital full-screen center rear-view mirror; Wi-Fi hotspot; digital key (compatible with iPhone and Android); new Bluelink features; improved USB-C ports (replacing USB-A ports) for faster charging; enhanced charging of wireless devices (from 5 W to 15 W); and improved dynamic voice recognition.
Palisade’s advanced driver assistance systems include Forward Collision Avoidance Assistance, Navigation-based Intelligent Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assistance, Reverse Parking Assistance and Collision Avoidance, and Remote Intelligent Parking Assistance.
Passive safety features include standard rear side airbags in addition to front side airbags.
The durable Palisade also provides exceptional comfort and roominess. When it was introduced in 2020, it replaced the Santa Fe XL in Hyundai’s lineup with an all-new SUV chassis.
Our Palisade Calligraphy tester came with all-wheel drive, a Sierra Burgundy body color and a black-on-black interior with Nappa leather seats. The test car came standard with a double-glazed sunroof.
We also had double captain’s chairs replacing the second-row bench seat, which only gave room for seven passengers in the car instead of eight.
The Palisade has convenience features such as power third row seats and second row seats with One Touch for more reconfiguration flexibility.
A plethora of technologies, including seven USB ports, heated and ventilated second-row seats, and industry-first innovative roof vents, make the Palisade perfect for everyday family use or fun road trips.
In addition, Hyundai SmartSense technology provides many standard safety features.
Diffuser vents, like those used in aircraft, can be focused, partially diffused, or fully diffused to provide quieter airflow and more even air distribution.
Driver-selectable Normal, Sport and Smart modes provide confident handling in all weather conditions. Snow mode has a dedicated snow setting to optimize available traction and rider control.
The all-wheel-drive system includes a locking differential for tough situations and a wider range of torque distribution than many others, tuned for straight-line acceleration, mid-to-high speed cornering and hill starts.
All Palisade models are equipped with a 3.8-liter Atkinson cycle V-6 engine, dual continuously variable variator and direct injection, producing 291 hp.
Power is sent to the wheels by an eight-speed automatic transmission with Shifttronic paddle shifters for manual control. Shift-by-Wire technology (flat buttons for gear selection) frees up space on the center console and includes automatic parking logic that switches to park mode when the engine is off and the driver opens the door.
The spacious cabin was welcoming and versatile, with second-row captain’s chairs that folded and pushed forward with one touch, providing easy access to the third row, which was electrically folded/unfolded/tilted. The buttons for controlling the second row are located on the top of the seat back (also the lever on the side of the seat cushion) and on the cargo wall, along with the buttons for the third row.
All rows have USB ports, including two on the side of the front seatback and two in a pass-through bin under the front console, for a total of seven.
A talking mirror allowed the driver to see the rear passengers, and the Driver Talk car intercom system allowed the driver to communicate with the rear passengers via the audio system. Rear sleep mode allows front passengers to listen to the sound with the rear speakers turned off – in case the kids settle down and take a nap or don’t like the music you’ve chosen.
The driver’s seat belt warning is active for each seat.
With good insulation under the hood, special sound deadening carpets and a drivetrain setup, the cabin was quiet so you could enjoy a conversation or superior sound from Harmon Kardon 630W with 12 premium speakers including SiriusXM.
The Blind Spot Monitor, exclusive in its class, complements the standard Blind Spot Assist by displaying blind spot video feed from the left or right side of the vehicle, or from the left or right side of the instrument cluster when the turn signal is on. very handy feature, especially in the corners. The navigation system supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Hyundai Blue Link Connected Car System has been free for three years with features such as climate controlled remote start, remote door lock/unlock, car finder, advanced roadside assistance and stolen vehicle recovery accessed via buttons on the rearview mirror. plus MyHyundai.com, Blue Link smartphone app, Amazon Alexa Blue Link skills, and Blue Link Google Assistant app. Some features are available through the smartwatch app.
Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning and Safe Exit Assist were standard. Safe Exit detects vehicles approaching from behind and alerts the driver when passengers attempt to open the door using visual and audible warnings. The driver cannot disable the electronic child safety lock or unlock the rear doors until the road is clear.
The Rear Occupant Alert system monitors the rear seat using an ultrasonic sensor to detect the movement of children or pets. The driver is alerted in the message center when the vehicle is turned off. If the driver exits and locks the vehicle, a chime will sound and a Blue Link alert will be sent to the connected smartphone. In addition to preventing children or pets from being left behind, the system will also help in case children accidentally get blocked.
The Palisade’s rigid construction, with improved high-strength steel in key areas, is lighter and stronger for greater occupant protection.
Our Palisade was beautiful inside and out, very comfortable for a long trip, versatile – plenty of storage space including 16 cup holders, and mini pockets on the backs of the front seats for digital devices, as well as several cargo/passenger configurations.
It was fun to drive, and surprisingly economical for a seven-passenger car.
EPA mileage estimates for our all-wheel-drive Calligraphy model were 19 mpg city/25 mpg/21 combined. We averaged 22.4 mpg driving mostly city and local interstate highways.
Carpeted floor mats ($215) were the only additions in our tester.
With a base price of $51,400, a freight of $1,335, and floor mats, the total sticker cost for our 2023 Palisade Calligraphy AWD was $52,950.
G. Chambers Williams III car speakers have been featured regularly in Express News since 2000. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @gchambers3. His driving partner Emma Jane Williams contributed to this report.

2023 Hyundai Palisade