Follow us today...
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade made its first appearance at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. With more than 86,000 units sold in the USA, its main market by far, the Palisade, flirting with 196.7 inces in length, is the largest vehicle to date from the Korean manufacturer.
There is a mid-term rework at the Palisade. To keep the interest of the public at its maximum, a car manufacturer must revise its range of vehicles as often as possible. Interestingly Hyundai Palisade's biggest rival is its distant cousin Kia Telluride, which is also due for a refresh this year. This means, the rivalry between these two great SUVs will surely continue in 2023.
Exterior Updates in 2023 Hyundai Palisade
Some car reviewers have thought that the front of the outgoing 2022 Palisade model was not unanimously accepted by the public. Too much chrome, some said, while others railed against this grille shape. Regardless, the new version makes a pretty clean sweep and introduces this resolutely more "robust" facies. The grille is reminiscent of the one that the design department has integrated into the Santa Cruz or even the Tucson, but with a more assertive build.
The signature of the LED daytime running lights, although different, is still there to illustrate the height of the vehicle and its technical side, if we believe the manufacturer at least.
The aesthetic changes in the 2023 Palisade are mainly concentrated at the front of the vehicle. Hyundai has of course worked on a new design for the rims, while a redesigned bumper is also part of this mid-term change, but that's about it.
Also note the addition of an Urban livery with the same kind of attributes as the Tucson and Santa Fe, both available with the urban badge. This new livery for 2023 will stand out from its peers with its darkened finish, its more aggressive front bumper, the same for the side sills, while the 20-inch rims will also have a more robust appearance. Even the roof racks are black on this livery.
Changes in the 2023 Palisade's Interior
Hyundai's seven-seat family SUV sports a more aggressive face with plenty of updated luxury, convenience and safety technologies. Hyundai has in any case perfectly integrated the codes of large American vehicles.
The atmosphere in the interior of the 2023 Hyundai Palisade seems to be the same as in the outgoing model, which has been marketed since 202. However, that's the very first impression only. One needs to take the time to rediscover this revised interior before jumping to conclusions. The steering wheel is new, as is the Ergo driver's seat, which is designed for increased comfort and reduced fatigue during extended excursions. As you increase the speed on the highway the seat automatically kind of grabs you and as you slow down, the seat releases the pressure.
The second row, meanwhile, even offers ventilation for hot days. Hyundai also took the time to add vertical air vents here. New features also include heated third-row seats, and a massaging driver's seat.
Finally, the dashboard features a new information screen behind the steering wheel with new themes for ambient lighting. It's a a higher-resolution 12.0-inch infotainment display.
And as it is important to offer connected vehicles these days, several USB-C ports have been added to the cabin of the 2023 Palisade to speed up charging in particular. In this regard, you should know that the smart device inductive charging pad is faster than before. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also included as one of the new features. A digital rearview mirror is also available on board, this kind of gadget that greatly facilitates parking maneuvers when the trunk is full of equipment.
Still at the rear, the windows of the second row of seats are of the acoustic type to cut out noise coming from the outside, but this novelty is exclusive to the plush Calligraphy model, which Torque News is reviewing this week.
Known Engine and Powertrain
Even if Hyundai is one of the most tenacious players when it comes to electrification, the new Palisade 2023 continues its path with the same powertrain well known to the public. The naturally aspirated 3.8-litre Atkinson-cycle V6 is back under the hood, the mill that delivers 291 horsepower and peak torque of 262 lb-ft. The eight-speed automatic transmission is also back, as is the standard HTRAC all-wheel drive.
Note that there's also a new tow mode for all-wheel drive, which adjusts the reactions of the powertrain, extending the first gears longer in addition to reducing the frequency of gearshift response. Note, the other driving modes (Normal, Sport and Smart) are still on the program.
More Safety Features
The vehicle is obviously equipped with all the appropriate safety assistance for a top-of-the-range vehicle. The Palisade's Dynamic Voice Recognition system responds quickly to voice commands to adjust HVAC settings, heated/cooled seats and other features. It also supports the latest version of the Hyundai digital key which allows you to start the engine using an Apple or Samsung device.
New Bluelink Options
Hyundai is bundling its suite of apps under the Bluelink banner and with this redesigned Palisade, this suite is optimized to enhance the experience for Palisade owners. There are new features like remote profile management for shopping preferences. Additionally, Hyundai is finally introducing a remote starter with functions to activate heated upholstery and even ventilated seats.
Trims and Prices
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is available in five trims: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy. The starting price of the SE trim is $36,545 MSRP. The starting price of the Calligraphy trim is $50,495.
For 2023, the Hyundai Palisade will be available in a new XRT variant. This sports a darkened look and joins the Santa Fe and Tucson XRT models. The Palisade XRT sports a set of its own 20-inch wheels, model-specific front and rear fascias, a tough-looking lower door trim, a grille with a darker finish and a set of black roof rails.
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD has a fuel economy of 21 MPG combined. In the city driving it gets 19 miles per gallon, while the fuel economy for the highway driving is marked as 25 MPG.
Behind The Wheel
Whoever is behind the wheel of the 2023 Palisade will be able to find the paddle shifter, driving modes, 10.74” color Head-up display (HUD), and convenience technology elements that make driving easier thanks to its remote engine start and Driver Talk technology (Intercom with passengers), Quiet Mode (Quiet Mode for rear seats), so everyone can enjoy the road.
As for practicality, the Palisade is extraordinary, there are storage spaces everywhere , the retractable cup holders in the center console are cool.
The second row travels great, and the third two medium-sized adults can travel medium distances in comfort. The inconvenience is not even given by the space, which is not a bad thing, but because the passengers on the last bench are sitting practically on the rear axle and the swings and rebounds of the suspension are quite felt.
The drive is smooth and very comfortable. I drove from Charlotte to Columbia, SC and truly enjoyed the trip back and forth. Acceleration is pretty robust and the V6 engine responds really well. I think it's a great family SUV for large families. The space, equipment and interior atmosphere guarantee that everyone will travel comfortably while, on the performance side, the mechanical assembly fully complies.
It is one of those vehicles that without being the best in something specific, does everything very well . I mean, it's not the most spacious, it's not the fastest or the most refined either, but in every area the 2023 Hyundai Palisade is very good and then, the overall result is really balanced.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.
Reference: Auto 123, Le Guide De L'Auto, GQ, Autocosmos.
Follow us today...
