Used 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is one of the newer competitors in the arena of midsize 3-row SUVs, and it’s quickly become one of our favorites. It does almost everything well as an SUV alternative to a minivan. It has a roomy and upscale interior with 3-row seating and a generous list of standard features. Also, this SUV can get pretty luxurious in the upper trims with premium comfort and tech features. Families will appreciate its IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status.

The Palisade primarily competes with midsize SUVs like the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse, and the mechanically similar Kia Telluride. A couple of SUVs have more seating space, and some offer a hybrid option, but the Palisade is one of the most well-rounded SUVs in this competitive segment.

The Hyundai Palisade is relatively new, but it’s already received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2023 model year. Updates include an aesthetic refresh inside and out, more optional tech features like a camera mirror and a WiFi hotspot, and standard rear side-impact airbags. This facelift took a good SUV and made it even better.

New for the 2023 model year is the Palisade XRT, a rugged-looking model with dark 20-inch alloy wheels, a dark grille, revised bumpers, black roof rails, a power sunroof, and synthetic leather upholstery in black.

The Hyundai Palisade does an excellent job of providing a minivan-like driving experience in the form of an SUV. That’s not a bad thing — this is a comfortable family cruiser on city streets and highway road trips.

The standard V6 engine delivers satisfying thrust, but the overall performance is about average for this class. The 8-speed automatic transmission provides quick and smooth shifts. The handling is composed for an SUV this size, but you’ll still get some body roll if you take a turn too fast.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on the Palisade, but don’t expect rugged off-road capabilities. AWD gives it more confidence-inspiring traction on snowy roads, making it a good option for families in cold climates with harsh winters.

The inside of the Hyundai Palisade feels like a more expensive SUV. The interior design is upscale, the materials are lovely, and the seats are comfortable. A new option is an Ergo Motion driver’s seat derived from the Genesis luxury brand. It’s a specially designed seat with air cells inside for enhanced support and comfort.

Hyundai updated the interior design for 2023 with a new instrument panel, gauge cluster, steering wheel design, and seating surfaces. These updates keep the Palisade fresh, modern, and high-tech.

The Palisade can seat up to eight people, which drops to seven if you opt for second-row captain’s chairs. The second row is roomy and comfortable, and even the third row is spacious enough for adults. On top of the roomy seating space, the Palisade has a pretty big cargo hold.

The styling of the Hyundai Palisade is a bit controversial. It has a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic, but we think it looks pretty nice. For 2023, it gets a new front and rear bumper fascia, a new front grille, a new headlight design, and new wheel designs. The higher you go in the model range, the more premium the aesthetic.

The size of the Palisade is about average for a midsize 3-row SUV. The dimensions are very similar to the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander.

HEATED THIRD-ROW SEATS
This is an uncommon comfort feature in midsize SUVs. If you regularly have passengers in the third row and live in a cold climate, your passengers will appreciate this available feature.

REMOTE SMART PARKING ASSIST
With this available tech feature, you can remotely park or exit a parking spot from outside the vehicle using the key fob.

The base Hyundai Palisade is well-equipped for its price point. Standard features include alloy wheels, LED projector headlights, 3-row seating for up to eight, one-touch sliding second-row seats, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and new USB-C ports in the first and second rows.

The Palisade comes with many standard safety and driver assistance tech features. These include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, full-speed adaptive cruise control, rear occupant alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Assist. You also get nine standard airbags.

The Palisade has many desirable options available throughout the model range, some of which are new for 2023. Interior comfort and convenience options include an Ergo Motion driver’s seat, heated seats in all three rows, leather upholstery, second-row captain’s chairs, and a dual-pane sunroof.

Some optional tech features include a 12-inch screen with navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, a camera mirror, Digital Key 2 Touch, a wireless charging pad, and Hyundai’s Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Whether you want an affordable family SUV with nice standard features or a near-luxury SUV without a premium price tag, there’s something in the Palisade model range for just about everyone in the market for a 3-row SUV.

The sole engine option in the Hyundai Palisade is adequate but nothing special. This 3.8-liter V6 engine is par for the course in this segment regarding performance and fuel economy. It’s linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Like most SUVs in this class, front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.

3.8-liter V6
291 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg (FWD), 19/24 mpg (AWD)