It’s been five years since the Hyundai Palisade first made the scene (in 2019 as a 2020 model) and yet despite few changes, it continues to top the list of being one of the best mid-size SUVs around (an honor also shared with its cousin the Kia Telluride). Seems like Hyundai hit the ball out of the park with the Palisade, loading it up with plenty of high-tech features, making it luxurious, and pricing it fair. All this leads to the Palisade being one of the hardest vehicles to buy – as they don’t sit on dealer lots very long. This week, I’m reminded of why the Palisade is so popular.
Just a refresher – the Palisade is a three-row, seven passenger (eight with the second-row bench seat) mid-size SUV that makes for an excellent family hauler. Like most Hyundai’s, the Palisade, which is the brand’s flagship SUV, is loaded with value, with a starting price of $38,045.
The Palisade remains basically the same vehicle as it was when it came out in 2019. New options and trim levels have been added and last year it received a revision to the front-end that ties the Palisade more closely with the look of other Hyundai vehicles. For 2024, the trend continues with only subtle changes to the Palisade, such as a blackout trim feature now included in the top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim package.
The Palisade that I was in a few weeks ago was the XRT model – which was added to the lineup last year. More like a sport appearance package, this mid-level trim comes in above the SEL and below the Limited and gives the Palisade a darker grille and lower door trims, dark 20-inch wheels, a black roof rack and black faux leather seats inside. If you want your Palisade to have that outdoor, adventure look, the XRT is the way to go. For 2024, the XRT gets rear-side window sunshades.
Under the hood, the familiar 3.8-liter V-6 engine continues in every Palisade. With 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, it provides plenty of power to move the mid-size SUV. That power is sent to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional, otherwise the Palisade drives the front wheels.
As I approached and enter the 2024 Palisade XRT, I was reminded just how nice the Palisade is and why it is so popular. The cabin is clean, purposeful, and easy on the eyes. Driver and front passenger seats are form fitting and offer a wide range of adjustability. Passengers in the second-row captain’s chairs can manually slide fore and aft and recline, giving them a fair amount of head and legroom. Third row passengers can also recline.
When it comes to cargo space, the Palisade makes itself very useful. With all rows in use, there is 18.0 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which includes hidden storage under the deck floor – perfect for loose items. Drop the third row, and storage space jumps to 45.8 cubic feet, which then increases to an impressive 86.4 cubic feet when both second and third rows are folded flat. Need to tow? The Palisade has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The Palisade XRT tester has a price tag of $45,100 – and with its blacked-out treatment, is, in my opinion, the best-looking Palisade in the brand’s lineup. While good looking, it does come with some minor setbacks. First the XRT’s digital instrument panel is set up showing digital numbers only – no analog dials are shown. Not a showstopper, but I do wish it was at least configurable to choose how the driver wants the see the display. And second, there are a lot of features that are not available on the XRT trim (yet are available on the lesser SEL trim level) like ventilated front row and heated second- and third-row seats. Seems like if there are some specific options you want, you may have to step down to the SEL, where you have at least the option to choose some extra features, or simply step up to the Limited or Calligraphy trim levels, where most features come standard.
Minor grips aside, the Palisade is an impressive mid-size SUVs that should not be overlooked. In today’s automotive market, where vehicle prices are reaching astronomical highs, the Palisade remains one of the few vehicles around where you can honestly say you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Back in 2019, the Hyundai Palisade made an immediate impression in the mid-size SUV segment by delivering a three-row SUV with style and practicality – at a reasonable price. Over the years, the Palisade has received some upscale trim levels and features to keep up with the status quo. But most importantly, the Palisade has remained affordable and big on value – and that is what continues to make it an excellent vehicle of choice for families with big needs on not-so-big budgets.
— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:
Base Price: $43,550.00
Price as Tested: $45,100.00
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 3.8 liter V6
Transmission: 8 – speed automatic
Horsepower: 291 hp
Torque: 262 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
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