<p class="ingestion featured-caption">The 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy and 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I recently drove the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy and Subaru Ascent Touring family SUVs.</li><li>The Palisade wins for its true luxury experience, smooth V6 power, and great cabin tech.</li></ul><p>American families used to buy <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/automobiles/27VANS.html">1.25 million minivans</a> every year.</p><p>But decades into their decline, they've been largely replaced by the three-row, midsize SUV as the vehicle of choice for families.</p><p>I recently had the chance to drive two of the most popular offerings to hit the market in recent years, the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hyundai-palisade-review-luxury-family-suv-cool-tech-safety-features-2024-6">Hyundai Palisade </a>and the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subaru-ascent-suv-review-great-family-suv-safety-tech-2024-5">Subaru Ascent</a>, to see how they stack up against one another.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subaru-ascent-suv-review-best-tech-features-2024-5">Ascent </a>is a capable family hauler with a well-designed cabin and a punchy turbocharged boxer engine that comes standard with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system.</p><p>But the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hyundai-palisade-suv-review-my-favorite-cool-features-safety-tech-2024-6">Palisade</a>, Hyundai's first effort at a three-row family SUV, is my pick. It's superbly executed, delivering a truly luxurious experience along with great cabin tech and a smooth V6 engine.</p><p>Here's a closer look at how the two stack up against one another.</p>