The SUV segment is highly competitive and now that Hyundai’s a player, it’s looking to ensure it remains in the mix. For 2023, the South Korean brand updated the ute inside and out and took it to the New York auto show for its world debut.
The updates aren’t so drastic that it’s unrecognizable, think of the 2023 model as a freshening of the original version. It received new rear and front fascias, a new front grille and headlamps as well as new alloy wheels. On the inside, the changes are more noticeable, starting with a completely new instrument panel, gauge cluster, audio interface and steering wheel, to start.
“The enhanced 2023 Hyundai Palisade offers the design appeal and features worthy of Hyundai’s flagship SUV,” said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. “More than ever, Palisade is the ultimate family vehicle for daily use and memory-making road trips.”
A little more of everything
As the brand’s flagship SUV, designers wanted to ensure the 2023 Palisade looked the part so it tweaked the grille, making it wider with a cascading element designed to make it look almost like a shield for a “premium” feel, officials noted.
The new forward lighting signature features vertically connected LED composite lights that frame the grille creating a sharp-edged, technical appeal.
The lower front skid plate features a strake detail designed to enhance the “tough” look the high-end feel designers infused into the new model. That previously mentioned premium feel is further accentuated with the bold C-pillars and panoramic side glass. The rear view emphasizes a wide, stable stance via vertical LED taillamps and lower fascia skid plate details.
This design has aerodynamic benefits as well, with specific design cues that include a fast A-pillar angle, a rear spoiler side garnish, an optimized front cooling area with an extended internal air guide, aero underside panels, and rear wheel aero deflectors, the company noted.
The brand is also offering a new trim package: XRT, which comes with a darker front grille and 20-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails, a power sunroof and black leatherette seats. It also comes with “rugged look” front and rear fascias with skid plate design elements and lower door trim.
Premium outside, premium inside
The exterior updates are strong, but not overwhelming. But the biggest changes are inside the Palisade, which gets a compete redo of all the elements on the dashboard as well as the seats. The 2023 model features a 12-inch touchscreen, ideal for navigation as well as easy access to features like Apple CarPlay and Android Audio.
However, the engineers didn’t stop there using — for the first time — a digital full-display center view review mirror, a WiFi hotspot, a Digital Key 2 touch, stronger wireless charging and USB-C ports (replacing USB-As) and an improved voice recognition system.
The impressive list of technology doesn’t end with the concierge items, but also includes a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, such as forward-collision avoidance assist, smart cruise control, highway driving assist, remote smart parking assist and more.
However, the tech isn’t the only reason occupants will feel like they’re in a premium offering, the updated seating may be the biggest selling point. The new Palisade features “an innovated Ergo driver’s seat,” which is designed to be more comfortable and reduce fatigue on longer drives. Palisade’s third-row seating now offers heating for its passengers, a first for Hyundai. The second row of seats now offers wing-out headrests and seat ventilation for extra comfort.
Motor-vation
Palisade’s power comes from an Atkinson-cycle 3.8-liter V-6, dual CVVT, direct-injected engine putting out 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate torque converter and offers both two-wheel and HTRAC all-wheel-drive configurations, with a final drive ratio of 3.648 for confident acceleration.
The HTRAC all-wheel drive adds Tow mode for 2023, in addition to Normal, Sport and Smart. The Sport setting gives a more agile feel by sending more available torque to the rear wheels, for a sporty dynamic feel when desired. This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems and has been tuned to conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- or high-speed cornering, and hill starts.
“Palisade is extremely quiet, with generous under-hood insulation, special sound-deadening carpets and powertrain tuning that delivers smooth, linear response. In addition, Palisade offers drivers the ability to start the vehicle via remote key fob or via the Blue Link app,” the company said.
Pricing and availability was not revealed. However, pricing on the 2022 Palisade starts at $33,600 for the SE model with front-wheel drive and runs all the way up to $48,990 for the Caligraphy model with all-wheel drive.