Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Preferred AWD
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Find all cars near me?SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Overall Rating
With tonnes of road presence and a refined 3.8L, V6 unit discharging duties under the hood, Hyundai seems to be pretty serious to win this battle of the full-sized Crossovers with its all-new Palisade.
Palisade in the dictionary means an area of defense created using iron railings or wooden sticks. We think that Hyundai is definitely trying to make a statement with the name. The grand 3-row family SUV segment was missing the most reliable Korean brand in the mix and Hyundai plans to change that with their all-new $31,975 Palisade.
While all other manufacturers have started poking this segment with at least one of their contenders, Hyundai went a step back and discontinued one of the well-established models - The Santa FE XL. Then, they developed an all-new SUV platform from scratch for this segment in conjunction with their sister brand Kia to rectify the mistakes they had made with the Santa Fe XL.
The middle trim “SEL” coupled with the convenience package makes the best buy out of the available options. Since the top-end trim is a bit overpriced for its equipment list, we believe that the middle trim can easily replicate the top trim's equipment list with the addition of the Convenience Package.
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
SEL 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A)
With tonnes of road presence and a refined 3.8L, V6 unit discharging duties under the hood, Hyundai seems to be pretty serious to win this battle of the full-sized Crossovers with its all-new Palisade.
Palisade in the dictionary means an area of defense created using iron railings or wooden sticks. We think that Hyundai is definitely trying to make a statement with the name. The grand 3-row family SUV segment was missing the most reliable Korean brand in the mix and Hyundai plans to change that with their all-new $31,975 Palisade.
While all other manufacturers have started poking this segment with at least one of their contenders, Hyundai went a step back and discontinued one of the well-established models - The Santa FE XL. Then, they developed an all-new SUV platform from scratch for this segment in conjunction with their sister brand Kia to rectify the mistakes they had made with the Santa Fe XL.
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is a truly special vehicle that brings a formidable mix of value, interior quality and technology - Cars.com
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade follows the conventional Hyundai-specific trim segregation method. It is offered in three trims, namely “SE”, “SEL” and the top-of-the-line “Limited”. In terms of safety, Hyundai has been very generous in blessing all of the trims with a plethora of standard safety features. However, when it comes to comfort and convenience, the base trims lack a lot of techs.
Most of the drool-worthy features begin from the “SEL” trim that sits smack bang in the middle of the trim table. The top of the line “Limited” Trim has been outfitted with everything from Hyundai’s stable that sets it on top of this segment as no other manufacturer is able to serve up the level of features and luxury that the Palisade has to offer at least in its class.
Trim |
SE |
SEL |
Limited |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (FWD) |
$31,775 |
$33,725 |
$44,925 |
MSRP (AWD) |
$33,475 |
$35,425 |
$46,625 |
Key Features |
8.0-inch infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
Adds/Upgrades to SE | Adds/Upgrades to SEL |
|
Projector headlamps with DRLs |
Door handle welcome lights |
All LED headlamps |
6-way adjustable driver seat |
8-way power-adjustable driver seat |
8-way power-adjustable passenger seat |
|
Acoustic laminated windshield |
Single sunroof |
Dual-panel sunroof |
|
Cloth seating surface |
Premium cloth seats |
Nappa leather seating surface |
|
60/40 split fold-flat seats |
Heated front seats |
Heated and ventilated front and rear seats |
|
|
Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink |
10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation |
The Kia Telluride comes closest to the Palisade in terms of features and equipment but there's no getting away from the fact that the Palisade is the more luxurious SUV of the two. Despite so many features, Hyundai has also made provisions in case you want to add some exclusivity to your pick. Except for the top-trim “Limited” which is already loaded with these packages as standard, they can be only mated with the middle trim “SEL”.
Package Name |
Convenience Package |
Premium Package |
Driver Guidance Package |
Power sunroof |
---|---|---|---|---|
Package Cost |
$2,200 |
$2,400 |
$1,250 |
$900 |
Key Features |
20-inch alloy wheels |
Bi-LED headlights |
10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation |
Power tilt-and-slide sunroof |
Auto-leveling rear suspension |
Leather seating surfaces |
Highway drive assist |
LED interior or map lights |
|
LED Tail-lights |
8-way power passenger seat |
Sirius XM radio |
||
Front Parking sensors |
Memory function for driver seat |
Driver talk (in-car intercom) |
||
Hands-free smart liftgate with Auto-open feature |
Heated second-row seats |
Multiple device connection |
||
7-inch high-res display in meter console |
Third row with reclining/folding/unfolding functions |
Blue-link connected car system |
||
Ultra-sonic rear-occupant alert |
Heated steering wheel |
|||
Wireless charger for smartphones |
Premium dashboard/door armrests |
|||
3rd row 115-V power outlet |
||||
Rear side window shades |
This format of offering flexible customization is followed mostly by luxury manufacturers that give customers the choice to opt for packages to personalize their vehicle to their taste, this goes to show how serious Hyundai is about their all-new flagship and it also shows the target demographic that Hyundai is aiming for with this luxurious family hauler. Unfortunately, these packages are not compatible with the base trim. Hence, if you opt for the mid-range “SEL” trim, you can get any of the below-mentioned packages fitted in it at a nominal price.
The middle trim “SEL” coupled with the convenience package makes the best buy out of the available options. Since the top-end trim is a bit overpriced for its equipment list, we believe that the middle trim can easily replicate the top trim's equipment list with the addition of the Convenience Package.
The V6 is potent enough for this segment, transmission shifts smoothly - Caranddriver.com
With a modest 3.8L, naturally aspirated V6 engine propelling either the front or all four wheels, the Palisade is best for cursing down boulevards and motorways and that's exactly what most full-sized seven-seater SUVs are appointed to do in their life cycle. This V6 GDi unit produces 291 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 262 lb-ft of torque at the crank.
Flat-footing the Palisade’s accelerator will get you to the 60mph mark in 6.9 seconds and it can cover the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds which might not be lightning quick. The FWD-equipped Palisade is relatively slower off the line and only manages to get to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds.
Since we do not have the details of the Palisade, we won’t be able to compare it with the lot. However, we think that Telluride will outshine this competition here. Because 120ft of stopping distance for a 4,000 lbs SUV is way more than just impressive. It packs 13.4-in. front rotors and 12- in. rear rotors.
Model |
2020 Hyundai Palisade |
2020 Kia Telluride |
2020 Honda Pilot |
2020 Chevrolet Traverse |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$31,775 |
$32,785 |
$31,550 |
$29,800 |
Engine |
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6 |
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6 |
3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD | FWD | FWD |
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
9-Speed Shiftable Automatic |
Power |
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
280 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
310 hp @ 6,800 rpm |
Torque |
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm |
266 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm |
0-60 MPH |
6.9 secs |
7.2 secs |
5.9 secs |
7.1 secs |
Quarter Mile |
15.3 secs |
15.4 secs |
14.4 secs |
15.5 secs |
Top Speed |
130 MPH | N/A | N/A | 130 MPH |
Both the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride share the same motor and powertrain setup which gives them identical performance figures but the Palisade is a tad bit faster when it comes to real-world performance. The Chevrolet Traverse is the most powerful vehicle of the lot and the Honda Pilot is the exact opposite with the least powerful engine of the lot.
The Hyundai Palisade earns combined fuel-economy ratings in the low 20s - Theconnection.com
If you want to know how economical the 2020 Hyundai Palisade is? then it's safe to say it is not going to impress anyone with its fuel economy figures. It can manage a not so frugal 19 miles to the gallon in the city. However, the highway figures at 26 mpg for the FWD variant are not so bad after all.
However, if your Palisade is mated to the H-TRAC All-Wheel-Drive system, the highway mileage gets reduced to 24 MPG. That said, we had expected better than this especially considering that Kia Telluride uses this same unit and still guzzles less fuel than the Palisade. Oh, and Kia is the heavier one out of the two as well.
Model |
2020 Hyundai Palisade |
2020 Kia Telluride |
2020 Honda Pilot |
2020 Chevrolet Traverse |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
19 |
20 |
20 |
18 |
MPG (Highway) |
26 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
MPG (Combined) |
22 |
23 |
23 |
21 |
Fuel Capacity |
18.8 gallons |
18.8 gallons | 19.5 gallons | N/A |
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) |
357/489/413 miles |
376/489/432 miles | 371/527/448 miles | N/A |
The Chevy Traverse is the heaviest vehicle in this comparison and yet it offers a better fuel economy than the 2020 Palisade if you take the AWD variants of the two into consideration. The Honda Pilot is the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the lot. But the fact that it is not as economical as some of the more conventional SUVs from this segment like the GMC Acadia is a bummer.
the Palisade offers an exemplary cabin that's loaded with class-above materials - Cnet.com
The top-variant features leather-wrapped seats which feel more premium than the cloth-wrapped ones on the other two variants. They are electrically powered and can be adjusted in 8 different ways. There is a 4-way lumbar support feature too. And that's still not it, the front seats also offer ventilating and heating functions as well. What more could you ask for?
The second-row seats are no different from the ones on the front either. They are equally spacious and feature loads of legroom. Three people can easily spend hours over here. Also, they can be reclined too. The third row is usually the aspect that receives the least attention but that's not the case with a palisade. if the question looming in your head is how spacious is the Palisade?
Well, It features tonnes of usable legroom and doesn’t feel like an add-on to the existing two rows. The third row of the Palisade feels like it was meant to be there, as opposed to the ones in other cars where it looks like someone stuffed it there forcibly. We are impressed with the seating forte of the Palisade’s cabin.
The entertainment duties in the Palisade have been undertaken by an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base trims, “SE” and “SEL”. The top-trim, however, takes things up a notch. It features a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that looks gorgeous inside. The top-trim also comes with a Harman Kardon 630-watt, 12-speaker unit which sounds ballistic.
Model |
2020 Hyundai Palisade |
2020 Kia Telluride |
2020 Honda Pilot |
2020 Chevrolet Traverse |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
7 |
7/8 |
8 |
7 |
First Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
40.7/61.2/44.1 |
40.9/61.6/41.4 |
40.1/62.0/40.9 |
41.3/62.1/41.0 |
Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
40.1/60.8/42.4 |
40.2/61.2/42.4 |
40.2/68.0/38.4 |
40.0/62.2/38.4 |
Third Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
37.8/55.2/31.4 |
38.1/55.3/31.4 |
38.9/44.6/31.9 |
38.2/48.5/33.5 |
Cargo Capacity |
18.0 cu. ft. |
21.0 cu. ft. |
16.5 cu. ft. |
23.0 cu. ft. |
Cargo Capacity (with third row folded) |
45.8 cu. ft. |
46.0 cu. ft. |
46.8 cu. ft. |
57.8 cu. ft. |
Cargo Capacity (with second row folded) |
86.4 cu.ft. |
87.0 cu.ft. |
83.9 cu.ft. |
98.2 cu.ft. |
All of the rivals in this category are matched equally with the Traverse as an exception. It is even bigger than the Palisade and offers the maximum room on all sides when compared with others in the lot. The Pilot and the Telluride stack up head to head with each other and the Palisade is left for the last position.
The Palisade really blurs the lines between a luxury and non-luxury vehicle - Edmunds.com
The front grill of the Palisade is surprisingly massive, not something that we have come to expect from Hyundai over the years. The bracketed headlamps that are swept towards the fenders are very distinctive. One look at them and you will immediately recognize the car. The hood of the Palisade is very American-like. It is squared, boxy, and thus, feels massive to look at.
The sides of the 2020 Hyundai Palisade are no different than a typical SUV silhouette. The upright C-pillar extends all the way to the roof and seamlessly blends into the body giving it its signature reverse hockey-stick design. The large wheel arcs add to the rugged appeal that leaves a lasting impression on the bi-standers.
The rear of the vehicle is equally eye-catchy, if not more. The small bulge below the Hyundai badge gives a muscular feel at the rear. The tail-lamps also follow a bracket-like shape just like the headlamps. Subtle chrome accents at the rear further escalate the lux-appeal of the Palisade.
Model |
2020 Hyundai Palisade |
2020 Kia Telluride |
2020 Honda Pilot |
2020 Chevrolet Traverse |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight |
4,231 lbs |
4,354 lbs |
4,036 lbs |
4,362 lbs |
Length |
196.1" |
196.9" |
196.5" |
204.3" |
Width |
77.8" |
78.3" |
78.6" |
78.6" |
Height |
68.9" |
68.9" |
70.6" |
70.7" |
Ground Clearance |
7.9" |
8.0" |
7.3" |
7.2" |
Wheelbase |
114.2" |
114.2" |
111.0" |
120.9" |
The Hyundai Palisade might not be the best out of the lot here, however, let us remind you that all of these SUVs are massive on the inside. They are very spacious and one won’t be disappointed with either of them. However, the Traverse is the biggest and brawniest of the lot and the Pilot sits at the other end of this comparison.
Hyundai's flagship SUV performs extremely well in the IIHS' safety testing - Motortrend.com
Hyundai has never taken things lightly when it comes to the safety of its occupants but is Hyundai's largest SUV, the Palisade safe? Complying with the same ideology, Palisade’s build quality is one of the best. Don’t believe us? Then do check out the IIHS ratings for the 2020 Palisade and we bet you’ll be impressed. It has also been listed as a “Top Safety Pick+” by them. NHTSA is yet to test it though.
Now that Palisade is the biggest SUV in the lot, it is ought to be the most responsible one as well. And that is exactly what it does. Some of the super-advanced safety features equipped in the top-trim of the Palisade are Blind-spot collision avoidance assist (BCA), Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist (RCCA), Ultrasonic rear occupant alert, Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA).
The Kia has a better road presence and also offers more flexibility with the optional equipment list. If rightly done, Kia Telluride would come to be a better value for money package. That said, the Palisade offers most of those optional features as standard but then its top trim comes out to be more expensive than Kia’s.
If you think the Palisade is big, then you should really check out the Chevrolet Traverse. Though it has more power, its extra weight delivers a sluggish performance overall. The Hyundai’s motor feels peppier than the Chevy’s. In terms of ride quality, both these cars are equally matched. But the Hyundai flaunts a better build quality and safety scores than the Traverse.
The Honda Pilot is one of the most flourishing crossovers in this segment and that it deserves. It does what it does very efficiently saving time and money. Hyundai’s transmission takes some time to understand the driver’s needs. We believe that the Pilot offers a better deal. But then you have to compromise with a ton of features and some space and then again some visual road presence as well.
The Palisade was created to haul upto 8 people engulfed in luxury and comfort, and that’s what it does best. If your search included a handsome urban lifestyle SUV with tonnes of road presence, the Palisade ticks all the boxes. It is reliable, solidly built, and offers a ton of drool-worthy features.
If you can compromise on the fuel economy, we think that Palisade is without a question our pick of the lot in this segment of full-sized SUVs at this price point. Although, before making a decision, we’d check out the Kia Telluride too. But if you are looking for a luxurious SUV in a similar price range with an American badge, make sure you take a look at the GMC Acadia AT4.