The Hyundai Palisade is a mid-size family SUV that was first introduced in 2018 and was designed to be primarily sold in the US. The name Palisade is inspired by the Pacific Palisades, a series of coastal cliffs that can be found in South California. The Palisade does seem to be selling really well, but is Hyundai Palisade a good car?
Yes, the Hyundai Palisade is one of the best mid-size family SUVs you can buy right now because it is valued really well, it gets good engines, it looks good, it offers loads of space, and it is fairly dependable. The Palisade is the largest passenger car you can get from Hyundai at the moment which means that it also comes with three rows of seats.
It may not be a true off-roader like some other larger SUVs, but the Palisade does come with AWD which should be enough for occasional strolls off the pavement or into the snow. The Palisade drives like it looks which means that you certainly do feel the heft of the car and that your driving position is really high.
All in all, the Hyundai Palisade is a really good mid-size SUV that offers you everything you need from an SUV of this size. It is a well-rounded package that gets lots of equipment in virtually all trim levels.
Hyundai Palisade – The powerplant
The Hyundai Palisade comes with a 3.8L direct-injection 6-cylinder engine that pushes out 295hp and 216lb-ft of torque. This engine can be had with either a permanent FWD system for those who don’t care about AWD and want to save fuel or with the AWD. In my opinion, buying such a large SUV without an AWD system is unacceptable.
The 3.8L V6 is a well-known Hyundai engine that comes from the Lamba engine series, a series of engines that were mostly used for higher-end Hyundai models such as the Equus or the Genesis. This engine is mated to a smooth 8-speed automatic gearbox that enables the Palisade to return up to 19MPG in the city, 25MPG on the highway, or 21MPG combined.
According to recent stats, the Palisade could soon be equipped with a smaller 2.2L gasoline 4-cylinder engine that is going to offer the same levels of performance, but with lower Co2 emissions and better efficiency. In other markets, the Palisade is even available with a diesel engine, but diesel in the US is only reserved for pickups and commercial vehicles.
Hyundai Palisade – Design and chassis
When it comes to design, the Hyundai Palisade definitely delivers as it looks really good. You can immediately see that Hyundai designed the Palisade for the US market because of its boxy design and long commanding front nose. The interior of the Hyundai Palisade looks really luxurious and filled with amazing technology which elevates the driving experience a lot.
The chassis and suspension tuning of the Hyundai Palisade is also really impressive because the car is comfortable and relatively compliant. Sure, it does lean into corners a lot, but that is to be expected from a car of this size.
Hyundai Palisade – Reliability and common issues
When it comes to reliability, the Hyundai Palisade seems to be better than most mid-size and large-size SUVs out there. There are some issues worth talking about, but most of these are due to lackluster maintenance or are issues that are/are going to be solved with future iterations.
First of all, owners complain about the engine is way too loud and vibrating at higher speeds. The safety systems such as blind spot assist, lane keep assist, and automatic braking can all sometimes activate randomly. Owners also said that the Palisade suffers from certain equipment-related issues and certain electrical issues.
Hyundai Palisade – Value and practicality
The price of a brand-new Hyundai Palisade starts at $33,150 while the most expensive models can easily reach $50,000. For this price, you can’t really find many competent mid-size SUVs which is why the Palisade is such as a good deal. Used examples can be had for even less money than that which is a really tempting prospect.
Practicality is also really good because the Palisade comes with three rows of seating, a large trunk space, amazing visibility, and is a really easy car to get in and out of. It gets lots of family-friendly features which make it a really good passenger car in general.
FAQ Section
Is the Hyundai Palisade a luxury SUV?
The Hyundai Palisade is not a through and through luxury SUV and that is apparent the money you look at the car’s price tag. However, the Palisade does get certain luxury features such as LED lights, lots of space, cool interior features, and all the necessary safety and convenience sensors and technologies.
The engine itself is also really good because it offers 300hp and is a V6. This is fairly rare in non-luxury vehicles as these engines typically are smoother, more powerful, and downright more fun to drive than small 4-cylinder units.
Which SUVs rival the Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade competes with the Honda Pilot which costs between $38,000 and $52,000 and also gets a V6 engine. The 2022 Subaru Ascent gets a turbocharged flat 4-cylinder engine and costs between $32,000 and $45,000, but many people deem it to fall in an entirely different category. The new Kia Telluride rivals the Palisade head-on, especially because it also gets the same engine.
The Toyota Highlander is also a stark competitor to both the Pilot and the Palisade, especially because it gets a V6 and because it is available with a hybrid. The price of the Highlander is almost identical to the Palisade which further makes these two dead-on competitors.
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Hyundai Palisade?
The Kia Telluride beats the Palisade when it comes to design, interior, cargo space, reliability, price, and fuel economy. On the other hand, the Palisade is more comfortable, it drives better, and it is safer. If you want to choose between these two, you ought to pick which one of these characteristics matters more to you.
