Hyundai used the New York auto show to unveil the three-row, eight-seat Palisade’s first major refresh since the SUV’s 2020 introduction. If anyone tells you there were lines at the Hyundai booth, they were probably talking about the Palisade’s new front fascia.
The Palisade’s nose sees the most obvious changes: All of the original model’s diagonal lines and curves have been converted to rigidly vertical cues, and the Palisade now greets the world with a big rectangular grille featuring a new pattern that reminds us a bit of the pixelated styling theme of the brand’s electric Ionic 5 electric crossover.
Out back, the primary change is to the bumper, with horizontal lines that emphasize the Palisade’s width. New 20-inch wheels exhibit a turbine theme with—you guessed it—largely straight lines.
Inside, the most obvious changes are a wider center screen (12-inches across, with 720p resolution), a strange new steering wheel, new upholstery patterns, and a reskinned instrument panel. But as with most mid-cycle updates, there are far more updates than initially meet the eye.
There are a lot of new bits and pieces here (many on the options list), so rather than try to create literary art, we’re just going to list ’em: A digital rear-view mirror (linked to a camera out back, so people and cargo in the back seats don’t block your view), seat heaters for the third row (kids these days have it so good), fast-charging USB-C ports in place of the old USB-As, a more powerful wireless charging pad, Hyundai’s first WiFi hot spot, and a digital key system (which lets owners use their phones to unlock and start the Palisade). The Bluelink app has been improved; among the updates, it now allows drivers to turn on seat heaters and coolers remotely and sends alerts if the windows are opened or the doors are unlocked.
There are several safety improvements, not least of which is the addition of side airbags for the second row, bringing the Palisade’s total airbag count to nine. The adaptive cruise control system is now linked to the navigation system, giving it the ability to slow for curves, and the collision-avoidance system has been enhanced to include steering assistance as well as automatic braking when backing up. Oh, and the Palisade has been fitted with one of Hyundai’s niftiest features: The ability to move the car forwards and backwards from outside, using the key fob—great for getting the big Palisade in and out of tight spaces.
There is also a new “dark-themed” XRT model, similar to the XRT models of the compact Tucson and mid-size Santa Fe. This trim includes off-road-themed styling elements and a dark finish for the grille and 20-inch wheels.
As for mechanical updates, that’s easy—aside from a new towing mode for the eight-speed automatic transmission, there are none. The 291-horsepower 3.8 liter V-6 engine is a carryover, as is the chassis configuration. That’s too bad; one of our complaints about the Palisade is its stiff ride, something we’d hoped Hyundai would address in the update, though we’ll wait to drive the 2023 model before rendering final judgment.
We’re not sold on the 2023 Hyundai Palisade’s styling, but then again, we weren’t the biggest fans of the outgoing model, at least not when compared to the Hyundai’s platform-mate, the handsome Kia Telluride. However, we’re pleased to see such a comprehensive list of useful updates—though we would like to see how much Hyundai will charge for these enhancements, and we won’t know that until closer to this summer when the 2023 Palisade goes on sale. We’ve always liked the Palisade for its generous equipment list and upscale interior, and it appears that Hyundai has given us even more reasons to sings its praises.
Keyword: 2023 Hyundai Palisade First Look: Playing the SUV Game Straighter