2025 Hyundai Palisade

If we were buying a midsize SUV, the Palisade would be among the first to go on the wish list. Last year, we gave it a Best Resale Value Award for its class. We’ve had a lot of owners send in reviews, and their reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Virtually every aspect of the Palisade is a winner. Hyundai launched the Palisade for the 2020 model year. It was great then, and it’s great now.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Hyundai Palisade.

The previously optional Premium package for the SEL trim is now bundled into a new SEL Premium trim. The top five trims (XRT, SEL Premium, Limited, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Night) all gain front parking sensors, self-dimming side mirrors, and a 360-degree camera system.

The Calligraphy version with all-wheel drive is a popular choice. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, we suggest taking a look at the well-equipped SEL Premium.

Other top-selling 3-row midsize SUVs include the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Grand Highlander, in ascending order of price above the Palisade.

Before buying a new Palisade SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Resale values are comfortably above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

In our experience, the Hyundai Palisade does an excellent job of providing a minivan-like driving experience in the form of an SUV. That’s not an insult — this is a comfortable family cruiser on city streets and highway road trips alike, with an ample 291 horsepower ready to be flexed. It’s the same lively yet refined engine in the Kia Telluride, while the Honda Pilot competes admirably with 285 horses. We’ve also found the Palisade’s handling, braking, and steering to be composed and confident. The automatic transmission, meanwhile, is blessed with a quick and smooth shift action, although we’d prefer a shift lever instead of the less intuitive push-button arrangement.

During our midsize SUV comparison test a while back, we noted the quietness of the Palisade in Calligraphy trim, thinking that this is how a Genesis 3-row SUV might be (Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury marque). While driving long freeway stretches, we liked to activate Highway Driving Assist to relieve some of the grind. Like most of the driver assistance systems in Hyundai/Kia/Genesis vehicles, we’re impressed by how well it works.

All-wheel drive is optional with the Palisade, providing reassurance in slippery conditions and making it a good choice for families living in the Snow Belt. And we appreciate the inclusion of a tow mode with this feature.

Fuel Economy

Many buyers take up the Palisade’s option of all-wheel drive, so they can expect to achieve 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s the same as the Honda Pilot and generally typical for the class. Front-drive versions add another mile per gallon.

The Palisade’s cabin looks and feels more expensive than it really is. There are smart design details, quality materials, and comfortable seats. Calligraphy trim raises the bar even higher with fine Nappa leather, and an Ergo-Motion driver’s seat (usually found in Genesis vehicles) that helps reduce fatigue during extended periods behind the wheel.

There’s so much space in here. Second-row legroom of 42.2 inches outdoes the Honda Pilot and is basketball-player-friendly. The third row enjoys 31.4 inches, which is more in line with the rest of the competition, while the Pilot throws in another inch.

Cargo space honors are pretty much shared with the Pilot. The Palisade has a useful 18 cubic feet behind the third row, opening out to a total of 86.4 cubic feet. If this is a crucially important aspect, the Kia Telluride (which shares a platform with the Palisade) has 21 cubic feet behind its rearmost seats, with a Pilot-matching 87 cubic feet maximum.

A big, bold grille stamps the Palisade’s on-road authority. The whole vehicle has a definite presence. For extra style, the top Calligraphy Night variant adds many exterior elements finished in black.

Roomy 3-row accommodation
The Palisade has spacious and comfortable seating for up to eight people in the base SE or as an option in the SEL. From SEL trim and up, there’s a standard pair of second-row captain’s chairs that raise comfort levels and make the third row more easily accessible, while bringing the occupant count down to seven.

Hands-free tailgate operation
Standard from the SEL trim level, we love the convenience of this feature, with its automatic opening and adjustable height settings. It’s complemented by a large aperture for easy loading and unloading.

Infotainment system
Every new Palisade SUV comes with a generously sized, high-resolution 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. We’ve found it to be a user-friendly system, including the voice recognition feature.

Blind-Spot View Monitor
In our opinion, you can never have too many safety features with a family vehicle. This one becomes standard in the SEL Premium, showing real-time video down the side of the Palisade (according to which direction the turn signal is set) for greater situational awareness than blind-spot monitoring alone.

Passenger Talk
Available from the SEL Premium level, this allows drivers to speak to passengers in the back through the audio systems — even if only to say: “No, we’re not there yet.”

Harman Kardon audio
We enjoy listening to Harman Kardon systems, which are often found in premium marques like BMW. This 12-speaker/630-watt surround-sound setup comes in at the SEL Premium level.

There’s just one engine in the Palisade lineup, a 3.8-liter V6 making a meaty 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This goes through an 8-speed automatic transmission to a standard front-wheel-drive setup, or an optional all-wheel-drive system (which is standard in the range-topping Calligraphy Night).

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

The Palisade enjoys class-leading warranties. Hyundai’s excellent coverage includes a 5-year/60,000-mile (whichever happens first) basic warranty, a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance plan.

Safety Ratings

The Palisade has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the institute’s second-highest accolade. It also took the maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.