2023 Hyundai Palisade Matures with Facelift, Digital Connectivity

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• The rugged looking XRT joins the SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy trims for 2023, with prices ranging from $36,245 to $50,195.
  

• A comfortable, capable, and effortless driving experience characterizes the Palisade, continuing the model's reputation as a good buy within its segment.

• One new feature is the Ergo Motion Driver's Seat, which will automatically massage drivers during r0ad trips to reduce fatigue and increase comfort.
  

Hyundai has a lot of compelling and popular crossover utility vehicles, from the compact Venue and Kona to the midsize Tucson and Santa Fe. So far this year, Hyundai's eight crossovers have accounted for 77% of the company's US sales. But its flagship utility vehicle, the Palisade large crossover, is what a three-row family hauler should be—prioritizing safety and ease of use, at a price point that is hard to argue with.

Updated for 2023, the Palisade competes with legacy nameplates like the Honda Pilot, Chevy Traverse, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Volkswagen Atlas, and they all chase the No.1 selling Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's chassis remains the same for 2023, shared with its platform mate, the Kia Telluride, but Hyundai has refreshed the exterior, interior, and technology features for the new model year.

Driving the new Palisade is a testament to solid build quality. Putting around downtown Asheville, North Carolina, highlights the contrast between the imposing road presence of the 16-foot-long crossover and its docile low-speed handling characteristics. Switching between the Smart and Sport drive mode produces an analogous gliding feel while the electric power steering weight got ever-so-slightly heavier and the gearbox held a gear lower.

Step on the accelerator and you'll quickly gain speed with little to no drama from the confident 3.8-liter V6 making 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque fed through an 8-speed automatic transmission. A hint of engine intake breathing is audible in the cabin. The brake pedal is light but stopping power is adequate and the pedal pressure is just right. The drive is smooth.

Even on a muddy, single-track off-road trail near the Biltmore Estate, the front-wheel-drive Palisade crosses rocks and ruts easily. Thanks to a new Frequency Sensing Valve system, the suspension adjusts from road to trail and back, with smooth transitions. The controls remained light and the locking center differential in the all-wheel-drive Calligraphy model that Autoweek tested wasn't necessary, save for a freshly wet mud bog.

A loss of traction from the front wheels was hard to predict, due to a lack of steering feel, but it was easy to correct with a brush of counter steer. The antilock brake system was prudent and intervened early and often during the slippery downward slopes, though it's important to remember the 4500-pound Palisade is not intended for ambitious off-roading. Still, off-road enthusiasts will find the Palisade more than capable for a washboard gravel road or dirt trail.