The Hyundai Palisade 2020 resumes its well-known strategy of offering more for less and applies it to the mid-size SUV segment. Hyundai is on a roll in the field of sport utility vehicles. Everyone loves Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe has been redesigned, and the recent Venue is eagerly awaiting its chance to tackle the Nissan Kicks. And then there is the Hyundai Palisade 2020.
Unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2018, the Palisade takes the throne in the Hyundai SUV family. Larger than the Santa Fe and offering three rows of seats, the Palisade faces fierce competition in a segment where consumers want space and technology, but also comfort and refinement. Its main competition will come from the new Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot, the Volkswagen Atlas, the Chevrolet Traverse, the all-new Ford Explorer and the new Kia Telluride. The latter is essentially the brother of Palisade. They share the same engine and architecture, but their design and pricing structure varies.
If you are looking for a vehicle that can accommodate 8 passengers and cannot stand the idea of a minivan, the industry offers you several options. Car manufacturers have put a lot of effort into designing their three-tier SUV offer, and there are plenty of quality models available. The Hyundai Palisade 2020 falls into this category about waterproof car cover.
It’s not exciting or revolutionary, and if you’re familiar with Hyundai, you will not be surprised at all about how the Palisade behaves on the road or its interior style; but Hyundai designs quality products and there is no reason to change its proven recipe. The Palisade 2020 makes full use of this recipe. What we find in the Hyundai Palisade 2020 is above all an impressive price / quality ratio. We also find a quality interior that is both elegant and refined that would be comfortable in a vehicle costing tens of thousands of dollars more. We also have an engine that does the work, a powerful infotainment system, all the technologies you think you need and many features at a reasonable price. We do not get as much space as some of the direct competitors, though.
Again, it’s no different than Kona, Tucson or Santa Fe. None of these models beat their competition on pure versatility. They do very well in their segments because they give you a lot for your money with above average quality at all levels. When I entered the Palisade for the first time, my attention immediately turned to the quilted leather of the door panels and the top of the seats. Audi comes immediately to mind. It’s not too much, just elegant and luxurious. While these seats are not standard, they give a lot of credibility to the premium version Palisade Ultimate.
Exclusive 20-inch wheels
All-wheel drive is standard on the Palisade Preferred and is available with a $ 2,000 addition to the basic Palisade Essential. Hyundai believes that nine out of 10 buyers will opt for all-wheel drive and we believe them. There is no point in not having it, so we advise you not to be in the 10% that do not check the option. All Hyundai Palisade 2020 models feature a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The towing capacity is estimated at 5,000 pounds and an 8-speed automatic transmission manages the torque distribution. With regard to towing, the Palisade is among the leaders of its segment.
There are a variety of training modes to customize the behavior of the Palisade, but you will not really see the difference between Comfort and Sport modes. ECO and Smart options are also available, but leave it in comfortable mode and let the Palisade do what it does best. The Snow, Mud and Sand modes are available, and we’ve seen the difference it has made on a slippery surface. The Snow, Mud and Sand modes are available, and we’ve seen the difference it has made on a slippery surface. Most will not need to use Mud and Sand, however, as we imagine the Palisade owners will stick mostly to the highway and city boulevards, but the Snow mode will be convenient in the winter.
The Palisade is by no means fast, but it has a good passing power and a decent speed. Better yet, it is not too noisy when pushed and the gearbox is invisible in all situations. It is an SUV based on comfort and aims to eliminate the hesitation of the engine and the gearbox. It feels a little disconnected from the road, which is a bit surprising given that other Hyundai SUVs tend to be more sport-oriented in their respective segments. The Palisade is not at all dynamic and seems to leave this side of his personality to Kia Telluride.
On the road in the Hyundai Palisade 2020
The Palisade prefers to compare to the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder and other mid-size SUVs that rely on comfort to stand out. Navigating the long winding roads of Idaho, the Palisade being in control and confident. It seems to float on the road and the cabin worthy of a luxury utility vehicle adds to the feeling of tranquility in the cabin. The fact that the gear selector consists of a set of knobs gives a very streamlined design and contributes to the open and elegant feel in the cab.
The Ultimate’s 12.3-inch digital dashboard differentiates the high-end version of the Palisade family and gives a compelling reason to opt for the ultimate version. Family-friendly features, such as the Driver Talk feature that amplifies the driver’s voice in the third row, and the silent mode that turns off the rear speakers are nice additions. There is a ridiculous amount of cup holders, 16, but the Subaru Ascent has two more. There are also 7 USB charging ports spaced along the cab.
The space in the second row is abundant and better than the Atlas, the Highlander and the Pilot. The third row is more welcoming than the average, especially in terms of height, but the Pilot and Atlas do better. The loading capacity is not up to the standard of other models, however. We love the power folding seats, but they fold down to reveal a little more than 1,200 liters of space. The Atlas, the Pilot and the Highlander offer a lot more. With three rows of seats in place, the Palisade lacks around 20 liters to compete with the most spacious models in its segment. This is not a huge difference, but it puts the Palisade at the center of the pack in terms of versatility.
However, it remains roomy and leads the segment in many other important areas, including all the security and connectivity features you are looking for, a great towing capacity and a touch of extra refinement that makes it a bit more upscale than some of its competitors.
