We’re intimately familiar with the Hyundai Palisade here at Cars.com. When it debuted for the 2020 model year, it won our Best of 2020 award, and we subsequently bought one and drove it for a year. (In fact, we still own that Palisade as a support vehicle for our photo and video team.) We got a chance to experience the 2023 Hyundai Palisade’s mid-cycle refresh in person at the 2022 New York International Auto Show, and as long as it doesn’t literally stink — as our long-term Palisade unfortunately did — the updated Palisade should only strengthen its position in a competitive class.
On the outside, the new front grille’s styling is the standout change; it’s quite bold and a little jarring to someone like me who has seen a Palisade a lot, but it’s also not as angular as other recent Hyundai designs. Having also seen the restyled grille of the 2023 Kia Telluride, I think the Palisade got the better of the two facelifts.
Inside, Hyundai has only added to what was a strong formula. The new 12-inch touchscreen looks great, but frustratingly still offers only wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (smaller displays in Hyundai models offer wireless connectivity). Most USB ports in the Palisade are now USB-C ports for faster charging, though there is still a USB-A port in the center console. Other new touches include a new steering-wheel design, thinner air vents and a new “ergo driver’s seat” design, but the overall layout is very familiar and comfortable as long as you’re not a driver who likes to spread your legs, where they’ll bump against the wide center console.
Hyundai also added a brand-first rearview camera mirror to the Palisade, which turns the rearview mirror into a video display for showing what’s behind the car — but it wasn’t functioning in the show car when we got our chance to explore. I’m a fan of these systems when the traditional mirror is obscured, but I don’t use them all the time as the view triggers some motion sickness in me.
Third-row passenger comfort has been improved thanks to the addition of heated third-row seats, though overall room feels unchanged. That means adults can fit in the third row but won’t be thrilled by the prospect.
Other updates we couldn’t experience include the new “rugged-looking” XRT trim — seen already on the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs — and the new Tow mode added to models with all-wheel drive. The latter changes the eight-speed automatic transmission’s responses and reduces shifting frequency, which should help the Palisade tow better. The engine remains a 291-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6, and buyers can choose either front- or all-wheel drive.
We’ll have to wait to drive the updated Palisade to see how all these changes come together, but what we’ve seen so far is an improved and more modern SUV that remains a strong choice in a crowded class.
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Keyword: Up Close With the 2023 Hyundai Palisade