I drove Hyundai's $52,000 Palisade, and now I understand why people rave about the family SUV

Benjamin ZhangJun 1, 2024, 18:20 IST

A 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy SUV.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Hyundai Palisade SUV is a three-row family SUV that was updated with fresh looks in 2023.
I was impressed by the Palisade's smooth driving experience, luxurious cabin, and tech features.

Hyundai introduced its flagship Palisade SUV in 2019, competing against rival three-row family SUVs from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan.

Since then, the Palisade and its corporate sister, the Kia Telluride, have been sales darlings that critics love.

Hyundai updated the Palisade in 2023 to help it remain competitive with newer offerings from Honda, Mazda, and Chevrolet. The update included revised styling, new convenience features, and updated tech.

The updates seem to have worked. Palisade sales jumped 8% in the US in 2023 compared to the prior year.

I recently spent a week driving a 2024 Hyundai Palisade in Calligraphy trim with all-wheel-drive around suburban Atlanta.

The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The most noticeable update is the stylish chrome grille.

The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Like on the smaller Hyundai Tucson, the Palisade's headlights are on either side of the front grille.

The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade's rear-end received minimal changes.

The Hyundai Palisade CalligraphyBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The updated Palisade is half an inch longer than before, mostly due to the new front grille.

The Hyundai Palisade CalligraphyBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The only engine available on the Palisade is Hyundai's 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated Lambda II V6 engine.

The Palisade's 3.8 liter V6 engine.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade puts that V6 power to the pavement through Hyundai's HTRAC all-wheel-drive system.

HTRAC AWDBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The driver can choose from five drive modes using a rotary dial on the center console.

The drive mode selector dial.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

It's pleasant and refined to drive.

The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy's front seats are trimmed in Nappy leather.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade's cabin impressed as well.

The Hyundai Palisade's front dashBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The interior's fit and finish are excellent.

Ambient lighting in the Palisade.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Instead of a single panoramic glass roof like those found in the Subaru Ascent or Honda Pilot, the Palisade has two individual sunroofs.

The Palisade's dual sunroofs.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

In front of the driver is a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display.

The Palisade's driving positionBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The digital instrument display is also where the blind spot view monitor lives.

The Palisade's blind spot view monitorBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Also, in front of the driver is a color head-up display.

The Hyundai Palisade's HUD.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The leather-trimmed seats, exclusive to the Calligraphy trim, were soft and supportive.

The Palisade's leather-trimmed driver's seat.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The front dash is dominated by a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

The Palisade Calligraphy's 12.3-inch touchscreen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Calligraphy trim comes with front, rear, and side cameras.

The surround view camera's 360-degree viewBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade's rearview mirror is equipped with a smart rear-vision camera display, which comes in handy when the cabin is loaded up with cargo.

The smart rear view camera.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Right above the rearview mirror is a retractable panoramic mirror.

The Palisade's panoramic mirror.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Atop the center console is a stand-alone, touch-sensitive climate control screen.

The Palisade's climate control screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Instead of a shift lever, the Palisade uses push button controls to put the vehicle into gear.

The push-button shifter.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Open up the center console's sliding cover reveals a large story area.

The Palisade's cup holders retracted.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

A hidden storage area under the center console is perfect for bags or small purses.

The hidden storage area under the center console.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

I enjoyed the sound quality of the Palisade's surround sound system.

The Harmon Kardon stereoBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

All Palisades except the base SE trim come standard with captain's chairs.

The Palisade's leather captain's chairs.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The rear cabin climate and seat heat/ventilation controls are between the front seats.

The rear cabin climate control panel.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Instead of its traditional location next to the climate controls, the second USB-C plugs are placed on the back of the front seats.

The Palisade's seatback mounted USB plug.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade third-row bench seat has room for three.

The Palisade's third row.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

As with most third rows in this vehicle class, it's best reserved for short trips around town or for children.

The Palisade's third row gets USB-C chargers, power recline, and seat heaters.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade is equipped with Hyundai's smart hands-free tailgate.

The Hyundai Palisade CalligraphyBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Open up the liftgate, and you'll find a roomy cargo area.

The cargo area behind the third row of seats.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

There's also an additional underfloor storage area behind the third row.

Under floor cargo storage.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Here's the panel of buttons in the cargo area that fold away the second and third-row seats.

The electric folding second and third-row seats on the Palisade.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade boasts 45.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the third row folded.

The Palisade with the third row folded.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

In total, the Palisade boasts 86.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the front seats.

The Hyundai Palisade's second and third-row seats folded.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Palisade is equipped with a host of advanced safety features.

The Hyundai Palisade CalligraphyBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The verdict: It's one of the finest family SUVs I've ever driven.

The Hyundai Palisade CalligraphyBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

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I drove Hyundai's $52,000 Palisade, and now I understand why people rave about the family SUV

I recently spent a week driving a 2024 Hyundai Palisade in Calligraphy trim with all-wheel-drive around suburban Atlanta.

The most noticeable update is the stylish chrome grille.

Like on the smaller Hyundai Tucson, the Palisade's headlights are on either side of the front grille.

The Palisade's rear-end received minimal changes.

The updated Palisade is half an inch longer than before, mostly due to the new front grille.

The only engine available on the Palisade is Hyundai's 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated Lambda II V6 engine.

The Palisade puts that V6 power to the pavement through Hyundai's HTRAC all-wheel-drive system.

The driver can choose from five drive modes using a rotary dial on the center console.

It's pleasant and refined to drive.

The Palisade's cabin impressed as well.

The interior's fit and finish are excellent.

Instead of a single panoramic glass roof like those found in the Subaru Ascent or Honda Pilot, the Palisade has two individual sunroofs.

In front of the driver is a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display.

The digital instrument display is also where the blind spot view monitor lives.

Also, in front of the driver is a color head-up display.

The leather-trimmed seats, exclusive to the Calligraphy trim, were soft and supportive.

The front dash is dominated by a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

The Calligraphy trim comes with front, rear, and side cameras.

The Palisade's rearview mirror is equipped with a smart rear-vision camera display, which comes in handy when the cabin is loaded up with cargo.

Right above the rearview mirror is a retractable panoramic mirror.

Atop the center console is a stand-alone, touch-sensitive climate control screen.

Instead of a shift lever, the Palisade uses push button controls to put the vehicle into gear.

Open up the center console's sliding cover reveals a large story area.

A hidden storage area under the center console is perfect for bags or small purses.

I enjoyed the sound quality of the Palisade's surround sound system.

All Palisades except the base SE trim come standard with captain's chairs.

The rear cabin climate and seat heat/ventilation controls are between the front seats.

Instead of its traditional location next to the climate controls, the second USB-C plugs are placed on the back of the front seats.

The Palisade third-row bench seat has room for three.

As with most third rows in this vehicle class, it's best reserved for short trips around town or for children.

The Palisade is equipped with Hyundai's smart hands-free tailgate.

Open up the liftgate, and you'll find a roomy cargo area.

There's also an additional underfloor storage area behind the third row.

Here's the panel of buttons in the cargo area that fold away the second and third-row seats.

The Palisade boasts 45.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the third row folded.

In total, the Palisade boasts 86.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the front seats.

The Palisade is equipped with a host of advanced safety features.

The verdict: It's one of the finest family SUVs I've ever driven.