2025 Hyundai Palisade

Pros 

• All three rows offer ample space for adults. 
• Several high-tech features can be added or taken away. 
• The seats are comfortable, and the ride is enjoyable. 

Cons 

• Handling could be more consistent with other rivals.

How does Palisade like to drive? Even though the Palisade isn’t very efficient overall, its skilled and varied abilities more than makeup for it. It takes an average of 7.6 seconds for a three-row SUV to go from 0 to 60 mph. You are sure of yourself when you drive fast. When we tested the Palisade’s emergency brakes, they worked well and were solid. The brake pedal is easy to use, which makes stopping easy when you’re moving a lot. 

When you turn, the big Hyundai doesn’t look sloppy or out of place very often, but it’s not great at handling or turning. The Palisade is a nice car to drive in both cities and the country, in part because it has an eight-speed automatic engine that shifts smoothly.

How well does the Palisade make you feel? Some people like being alone and having some peace, especially since three-row SUVs aren’t usually used to carry six or seven people. The Palisade is great. The climate control is good and quiet, and there aren’t many noises from cars or the wind. 

When you’re going long distances, the front seats are the best combination of comfort and cornering support. These are things that nearly everyone ought to appreciate. The optional captain’s chairs in the second row are just as nice as the front seats of competing cars. The third-row seat cushion is also very nice; it has a lovely slope.

How is the inside? The Hyundai Palisade’s cabin is well-equipped and comfortable for all passengers, making it hard to tell the difference between near-luxury and luxury. Everything is easy to see and understand, but some of the buttons on the center stack are a bit out of reach. The extra surround-view camera system makes up for the fact that you can’t see much out the back, and the driving position gives you a great view of the front and sides. 

People in the back seats will also like the Palisade. There are extra captain’s chairs in the second row that can be quickly raised and taken down with the push of a button. The back doors also open wide. Once the work is done, the way to the third-row spot is clear.

How does the tech work? Most of Palisade’s high-tech tools that help drivers are very good. The steering assist system effectively kept the car centered in its lane, while the adaptive cruise control in our test Palisade performed excellently in traffic. The other driving aids are pretty calm, but the display for the turn-signal camera is silly and hard to use, and the blind-spot warning system can be too sensitive. 

There are many USB-C ports in all three rows and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone support is standard (though you can only connect your phone to one of the old USB-A ports). The main display is 12.3 inches in size, offering an intuitive design with effortless navigation. It offers several valuable features. 

Both the Limited and Calligraphy trim levels come with useful tools like a head-up display and a way for people in the back seats to talk to each other. The sound quality of the new 10-speaker system is good enough, but could be better.

How is the storage situation? There is a lot of space in the trunk—18 cubic feet behind the third seat and 87 cubic feet when both rows are out. The hatch hole is really big after that. There is also a handy storage area located beneath the floor. Like most trucks in its class, the Palisade can pull up to 5,000 pounds when fully loaded. 

Storing small items is incredibly convenient, thanks to a large center bin with a retractable cover, a second bin on the floor between the front passenger seats, and a standard center console. Even though the cups can be folded back, smaller bottles may still move around inside. It’s easy to find the seat mounts, and even the biggest car seats fit well.

How much fuel does it use? According to the EPA, the Palisade can get up to 22 mpg in the city and on the highway. We had the opportunity to compare it to our test vehicle during our real-world evaluation journey. Some competing SUVs use less gas. However, the V6 can be driven on regular gasoline, while some competing SUVs need premium unleaded to get the power and gas mileage ratings they advertise.

Should you pay the price for the Palisade? There may be no better deal in this class than the Palisade and its corporate twin, the Kia Telluride. Everything is great, from the quality of the basic and optional equipment to the fun of driving. The top trims are almost too good to be true, but even the base model has something extra. Overall, we like how the Palisade feels and how well it was made. Hyundai also has a great powertrain warranty that lasts for 10 years or 100,000 miles, a roadside assistance package that lasts for five years, and unlimited range.

The Palisade makes it hard to tell the difference between high-end and regular cars. There is a lot of quality and worth. This Hyundai will definitely stay at the top of its class for a long time because it has so many great qualities.

The SEL is a good deal because it has a low price and many great features. You can, however, pay a little more for the fully equipped SEL Premium trim, or you can stick with the base SE trim if you want a bench seat in the second row that can fit eight people.