By Veeno Dewan
There are a few changes to Hyundai’s flagship Palisade luxury orientated SUV. It has always been a high value, nicely equipped family vehicle at a competitive price. New touches for 2023 include a wider cascading grille set off by attractive new vertical LED composite lights plus a styled lower front skid plate element. At the rear, new vertical LED tail lamps and lower fascia skid plate details are present, while the new 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels elegantly profile the substantial premium look. The cabin also gets several new touches, with different material designs and features. Entry-level models are better equipped with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen as opposed to the outgoing model’s eight-inch setup.
Power is provided by an Atkinson cycle 3.8-liter V6, dual CVVT, direct-injected engine producing 291 horsepower. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic unit with a multi-plate torque converter and Hyundai’s HTRAC® four-wheel-drive fitted as standard to AWD models.
The Palisade is offered in a range of trims — Essential ($41,399), Preferred ($46,399), Luxury ($50,599) and the new Ultimate Calligraphy ($54,899). We tested the mid-range Urban edition priced from $52,599 – $53,699 that arrives in either a seven- or 8-seater version and with the option of All Wheel Drive.
The Urban Edition features; as standard Sunroof, Smart Key includes Keyless Entry, Keyless Start heated Steering Wheel, Climate Control A/C, Auto, 3 Zones, Remote App Control, power synthetic Leather heated and ventilated front seats, rear Captain’s heated seats and Fold Flat Third Row Seats. As standard is a 12-speaker, Harman/Kardon, Surround Sound system, 12.30-inch, Colour, Touchscreen, Voice Activating System, Audio, Phone, Navigation, Carplay, Android, USB, Bluetooth, and AM/FM, Satellite Radio. The Palisade offers drivers the ability to start the vehicle via remote key fob or via the Blue Link app.
The Palisade has a great looking interior, with premium quality styling and materials. The center console has an updated “floating” design with good storage capacity. New expanded ambient lighting sets varying moods in the Palisade highlighted by a mix of high-quality contrasting materials throughout the cabin.
Overall, the Palisade has wide supportive seats, and a spacious and comfortable front and rear cabin with lots of storage nooks and bins for those long family trips. You also gain multiple USB plugs (seven in total) plus a wireless charge pad up front in the top trim.
Access to the small adult or kids sized third-row seats is much easier in the Palisade with one touch folding second row seats, Rear second row passengers also gain built-in sun shades, and heated and cooled seat functions. In terms of cargo space, the hands-free power liftgate offers a cavernous area when the second- and third-row seats are folded.
On the road, the Palisade is impressively quiet. The eight-speed automatic shifts seamlessly and engine noise is muted thanks to the good under-hood insulation, and special sound-deadening carpets. The powertrain tuning delivers smooth linear response and impressive acceleration. Maximum Power from the V6 is 291 hp @ 6000 rpm with max Torque at 262 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm. The Palisade handles and brakes very well with no issues. Drivers can tune the Palisade by choosing different driving modes, via a dial that can select Normal, Comfort and a firmer Sport mode, plus Eco and a “Smart” setting that automatically adapt to your driving style. There are also “terrain” settings, for Snow, Mud, and Sand –selected via a rotary knob that adjusts the AWD system’s parameters.
You are in serious good luck if you tow a boat or trailer, the Palisade offers an excellent standard towing capacity of 5,000 lb, (2,268 kg), which is top of its class. All Palisades come with a two hitch, Trailer Sway Control, pre-wiring, and a heavy-duty transmission oil cooler as standard equipment, while an auto-levelling rear suspension and a Class III receiver hitch are optional. Fuel economy is rated at 11.2 L/100Km combined, 12.6 city and 9.5
highway.
The Palisade is extremely high on safety, and equipped with Hyundai’s full active safety suite, including lane-keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, plus blind spot monitoring with instrument cluster view, occupant monitoring system, and rear Safe Exit Assist system.
I just have to recommend the Palisade very highly. Even the base model is very well equipped and superb value. Quality is high, and the cabin is brilliant in execution. Downsides are few, the V6 can be thirsty and there is no Hybrid or All- electric version as yet. However, with a versatile roomy interior layout and the best towing capacity in its class, the Palisade is one heck of a good buy for any active family. Highly recommended.
Pricing: 2023 Hyundai Palisade Urban: priced from:$52,999- $53,749. More info at: www.Hyundai.ca
