2020 Hyundai Palisade

The 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 trim comes out to be shy. Most of the drool-worthy features begin from the middle trim “SEL”. The top-trim “Limited” has been outfitted with everything from Hyundai’s stable that sets it on top of this segment as no other manufacturer offers these many features. The story might change with the new Kia Telluride though. Till then, the Palisade is the crown bearer in this regard.

Trim	SE	SEL	Limited
MSRP (FWD)	$31,550	$33,500	$44,700
MSRP (AWD)	$33,250	$35,200	$46,400
Key Features	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
	8.0-inch infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay	Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink	10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation

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”. Unfortunately, these packages are not compatible with the base trim as well. Hence, if you opt for the middle trim “SEL”, you can get any of the below-mentioned packages fitted in it at a nominal price. 

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

We Recommend

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 Palisade is not a very exciting vehicle to drive and its engine is the one to be blamed. With a nominal 3.8L, V6 engine propelling its wheels, the Palisade is focussed more towards a calm and composed ride quality. This V6 unit produces 291 HP of power at 6,000 RPM and throws a force of 262 lbs-ft on the crank. Though slightly underpowered, it comes out of a reliable manufacturer and promises a long life too.

While the numbers might seem intriguing for a $30k SUV, let’s not forget that the Palisade is massive and you would need a lot more than just 291 horses to get it moving. Performing those overtaking maneuvers won’t pose any threat but you’d surely miss the punch out of it at higher speeds.

Models	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
MSRP	$31,550	$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
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	9-Speed Shiftable Automatic
Power (hp)	291 @6,000 RPM	291 @6,000 RPM	280 @ 6,000 RPM	310 @ 6,800 RPM
Torque (lbs.-ft.)	262 @ 5200 RPM	262 @ 5200 RPM	262 @ 4,700 RPM	266 @ 2,800 RPM

Both the Koreans (Hyundai and Kia) share the same powertrain and also express the same performance figures too. The Traverse is the most powerful vehicle of the lot and the Honda Pilot is the exact opposite with the least power in it. That said, this could turn out to be a whole different story once the weight factor is considered too.

Acceleration

Flat-footing the Palisade’s accelerator will breach the 60 MPH mark in 6.9 seconds. Unfortunately, we cannot comment on the quarter-mile timings here as it is yet to be tested for the same. While its acceleration figures are just mediocre for a petrolhead, it is still faster than many other rivals in its segment. 

Models	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride FWD	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
0-60 MPH (Sec)	6.9	7.2	5.9	7.1
Quarter mile (Sec)	15.3	15.4	14.4	15.5
Engine	3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6	3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6	3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6	3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6

The Honda outshines the competition with a wide margin here. While other SUVs tread around the 15-second mark for the quarter-mile timings, the Pilot clears it in under 14-and half seconds which is commendable. The Traverse accelerates to 60 MPH before the Telluride but then the Chevy’s heavyweight slows it down to the quarter-mile mark.

Braking

Unfortunately, we do not have the braking details of the Hyundai Palisade. However, judging by its sister - Kia Telluride’s performance, we think that the Palisade’s performance will not be bad either. Especially considering the fact that the Palisade weighs over 100 lbs less than the Telluride.

Model	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride FWD	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
Brake Front(in)	13.4	13.4	12.6	12.6
Brake Rear(in)	12.0	12.0	13.0	12.4
Curb Weight(lbs)	4231	4354	4036	4362
60-0 MPH (ft.)	129	120	158	197

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. 

Ride and Handling

The Palisade is a massive SUV and this factor gets even more evident once you get behind the steering wheel. The steering feedback is soft and negligible. You won’t feel any connection with the road, however, navigating this mammoth is fairly easy. The outward visibility is very good and the chunky A-pillars have also been placed very carefully that do not hinder your view.

The suspension is inclined towards the softer side. While it is a boon for those who are biased against harsh driving, the petrolheads are certainly not going to like it. But that’s alright, the Palisade is a luxurious commuter and it executes its duties fairly well. On a straight line, the car feels planted and most of the external noises are subdued. Come to the twisties and the Palisade gets upset. You’ll be thrown around the cabin if you try to push it hard. That said, we think Hyundai has nailed the ride quality of the Palisade. 

The Palisade is not the most impressive when it comes to fuel economy figures. It can manage only 19 miles in a gallon of fuel in the city. This number escalates to 26 MPG when on the highway. However, if your Palisade is mated to an All-Wheel-Drive system, the highway mileage gets reduced to 24 MPG. That said, we had expected better than this especially considering that Kia 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	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
MPG (City) FWD	19	20	20	18
MPG (City) AWD	19	19	18	17
MPG (Highway) FWD	26	26	27	27
MPG (Highway) AWD	24	24	26	25
MPG (Combined) FWD	22	23	23	21
MPG (Combined) AWD	21	21	21	20

The rivals offer better figures here. In fact, the Chevy Traverse is the heaviest vehicle in this comparison and yet it offers a better fuel economy than the Palisade. The Pilot is the most economic vehicle of the lot. The Telluride takes second place and the Hyundai is overshadowed by everyone else here.

Hyundai has blessed the Palisade with top-notch quality seats. They are large, wide and offer supreme comfort. The bolsters are equally capable too. The top-variant features leather-wrapped seats which feel more premium than the cloth-wrapped ones on the other two variants. Further sweetening the deal is the wide adjustability traits of the Palisade. They are electrically powered and can be adjusted into 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 of seats is 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 tainted with a less-legroom mindset. However, the Palisade falls into the exception category. It features a good 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.

Model	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
Passenger capacity	7	7/8	8	7
Front (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 (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 (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

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. However, do not underestimate these numbers as Hyundai has cleverly sculpted the interior layout of the Palisade’s cabin.

Interior Features

There are a ton of features that set the Palisade a class apart from the rest of the lot. Some of those drool-worthy features are:

• Nappa leather-wrapped seating surface
• 8-way powered driver and passenger seats
• 4-way lumbar support for driver seat
• Heated and Ventilated seats (first two rows only)
• Dual-zone climate control with air-ionizer
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink
• Rear window defroster with timer
• Steering wheel mounted paddle shifters
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system

Please note that these features are offered as standard in the top trim only.

Infotainment System and Features

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. It is a full resolution unit. For the “SEL” trim, Hyundai offers this unit as an option in the Driver Guidance Package. Both these units work fine and the transition between the menus is also fluid. 

The top-trim also flaunts a better sound system as well. It comes with a Harman Kardon 630-watt, 12-speaker unit which sounds ballistic. The treble and base both are equally matched and there is no distortion even at fair volume levels.

As for the features, there is also another display tucked neatly between the meter console. Well at least for the base trims, SE and SEL. Because come to the top-trim “Limited”, the whole meter console is then replaced by a 12.3-inch multi-function display. It caters to the driver’s needs and even offers vital information about the vehicle.

Some features of the infotainment and other tech-savvy features are mentioned below:

• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Multiple Bluetooth connection up to two devices
• Surround-view monitor
• Wireless charging pad
• Heads-up display
• Driver Talk-in intercom

Cargo Capacity

Though large enough for passenger space, the 18.0 cu.ft of cargo capacity goes against Palisade’s persona. It is less and doesn’t quite match up with the segment. However, if you need more space than this, you can always fold both the second and third rows down-flat, with the touch of a button, to unveil a massive space of 86.4 cu.ft.

Though the segment offers better space at the back, the Palisade’s numbers aren’t bad either. Hyundai has cleverly made use of the space and it looks bigger than what the numbers suggest. The tailgate lifts high and wide. The rear suspension can also be lowered a bit, in case you want a more “convenient” loading/unloading height.

Model	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
Volume (with all rows upright) (ft cube)	18.0	21.0	16.5	23.0
Volume (with third row folded) (ft cube)	45.8	46.0	46.8	57.8
Volume (with second row folded) (ft cube)	86.4	87.0	83.9	98.2

The Traverse, with its unmatched dimensions, takes the prize here. It is the largest of the lot and this clearly accounts for its largest cargo space among the rivals. The Telluride, surprisingly, offers more space at the back with all the rows upright than the Palisade, despite sharing their underpinnings. The Pilot, being the smallest of this lot, takes a hit in this regard.

We believe you would expect us to go blabbering around typical Hyundai’s Fluidic 2.0 design language here. However, that’s not the case anymore. The Palisade is completely different from the rest of the lineup. 

As most of Hyundais follow a more conservative design language where they tend to blend each and every component into the other just to deliver a “fluidic” feel, the Palisade takes a completely different route. It is massive, high-set and features a wide track-width. Each and every part can be distinguished pretty well. 

The front grill of the Palisade is surprisingly massive, very unlike Hyundai. 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 Palisade are no different than a typical SUV silhouette. The upright C-pillar and large doors extend all across the height of the SUV. The large wheel arcs also extend a rugged feel to the spectator and is again very American-like.

The rear of the vehicle is equally eye-catchy too, 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	Hyundai Palisade	Kia Telluride	Honda Pilot	Chevrolet Traverse
Curb weight(lbs)	4231	4354	4036	4362
Length(in)	196.1	196.9	196.5	204.3
Width(in)	77.8	78.3	78.6	78.6
Height(in)	68.9	68.9	70.6	70.7
Ground clearance(in)	7.9	8.0	7.3	7.2
Wheelbase(in)	114.2	114.2	111.0	120.9

The 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 even bigger than anyone else here and the Pilot sits at the other end of this comparison. The Korean twins are in the middle with the Telluride just inching ahead of the Palisade.

Exterior Features

Some of the key highlights of the Palisade’s exterior are:

• LED Headlamps with DRLs
• Side mirror approach lights
• Heated, body-colored exterior mirrors
• Satin chrome accent front grill
• Intermittent rear windshield wipers 
• Dual-Panel Sunroof
• Roof Rails
• Proximity key entry with push-button start

Hyundai has never taken things lightly when it comes to the safety of its occupants. 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 of 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)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Driver Attention Warning
• Safe Exit Assist (SEA)

2020 Hyundai Palisade vs Kia Telluride:

Began the journey together, almost, the Korean siblings had to face each other at some point. Both these SUVs share most of the components so there is barely any difference in their build qualities. 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. 

2020 Hyundai Palisade vs Chevrolet Traverse:

If you think the Palisade is big, then you should really check out the Chevrolet Traverse. It is just massive in size and covers up a lot of road. It is also the heavier one of the two and behaves like it too. 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.

2020 Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Pilot:

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. It is the smallest one in dimensions as compared to others and is also one of the most fuel-efficient one. It also flaunts a slick transmission which is fairly intuitive too. 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 up to 8-people engulfed in luxury and comfort, and that’s what it does the best too. If your search included a handsome urban-style SUV with a massive 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 poor fuel economy, we think that Palisade is the one to go for. Although, before making a decision, we’d check out the Kia Telluride too.