5 Thoughts About the 2024 Hyundai Palisade
Author:
Jason Fogelson.
I spent a week with Hyundai’s flagship 3-row crossover SUV, the 2024 Palisade. I drove it in and around my small town in southeastern Michigan. I traveled highways, major roads, city streets, suburban byways, and even some gravel farm roads to get an all-around feel for the vehicle, which I hadn’t driven for a few years. The Hyundai Palisade debuted as a 2020 model and got a mild refresh for 2023. It’s the largest Hyundai passenger car to date. The Palisade comes in six trim levels, starting at $38,045 (including a $1,395 destination fee) for the SE and peaking at $55,245 (including the destination fee) for the Calligraphy Night trim. My test car was a Calligraphy model with an as-tested price of $51,745.
1. It’s Past Time To Stop Being Astonished by Hyundai
Anyone who turns up their nose at a 2024 Hyundai hasn’t been paying attention. Ryan Gosling isn’t on the Mickey Mouse Club anymore, and the Excel doesn’t represent Hyundai’s build quality. Hyundai has gone from a cheap bargain brand to a market leader with cutting-edge design, advanced safety, sophisticated technology, and innovative features. The Palisade is the Hyundai flagship. It competes on level ground with the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, not to mention its corporate relative, the Kia Telluride. The choice between competitors often comes down to taste, not quality or capability. Hyundai has pushed the class to make more luxury features available and to upgrade their standard equipment. The brand no longer has to undercut its competitors on price to compensate for quality failings, and it stands behind the Palisade with an impressive warranty. If you’ve never considered buying a Hyundai, you’re not approaching your automotive selection with an open mind.
2. Passengers Love the Palisade
A new restaurant opened in our area, finally revitalizing a long-vacant site. We invited our friends Perry and Diane to join us for a Saturday night out, and I volunteered to pick them up in the Palisade. I knew I could count on this discerning couple for good dinner conversation – and honest evaluation of the Palisade’s cabin. Perry can never keep his hands off of the knobs and buttons in the second row, and Diane won’t hesitate to call out an uncomfortable seat or challenging entry or exit. They both gave the Palisade excellent marks for luxury, comfort, and accessibility. I crawled around in the second and third rows on my own, and though I wouldn’t want to ride in the third row for long, it would be fine in a pinch for a short trip.
3. Some Controls Don’t Need Improvement
Hyundai is among many manufacturers that continually tweak basic vehicle controls. In the Palisade, the gear selector is a cluster of four push buttons (P, R, N, and D) on the left side of the center console. The arrangement is unobjectionable, but I worry it’s too easy to actuate accidentally. As a dog owner, I could picture an enthusiastic dog stepping through the gap between the front seats and mashing a button, engaging or disengaging the transmission unexpectedly. Maybe I’m a worrywart, and Hyundai’s got this all thought out – but I’m still concerned.
4. Naturally Aspirated Power Rules
The V8 is practically dead, and the V6 gets scarcer and scarcer as manufacturers move to turbocharged 4-cylinder engines in pursuit of fuel efficiency. So, it’s almost quaint that the Palisade uses a naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) V6 gasoline powerplant. The 3.8-liter Hyundai engine puts out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque with gasoline direct injection (GDI) running on the Atkinson Cycle with standard Idle Stop & Go. With front-wheel drive (FWD), the Palisade garners EPA-reported estimates of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, while all-wheel drive (AWD) models get 19/24/21 mpg. The joy of a V6 engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission warms my heart with seamless acceleration, no lag, and no thrashy sounds under heavy throttle.
5. Even Luxury Can’t Calm All Complaints
I can’t help but quibble. I was frustrated by the Palisade’s infotainment system, which insisted on returning to its neutral state with every startup. I’d like it to remember which section I used upon shutoff, especially if I start back up within minutes. Hey, Hyundai, I was using the map; I stopped for gas before reaching my destination – don’t you think I’d want to return to the map again? On the other end of the vehicle, if the second-row seats aren’t at the correct inclination, the power-folding third-row seats bind when you try to fold them flat. Then you must leave the tailgate area, adjust the second row, return to the tailgate and hope you’ve done it right. I know, poor me, troubled by the power-folding seats. But it bugged me.
The Takeaway
I look back at the 2024 Hyundai Palisade with admiration and respect. This good-looking SUV has a distinct appearance, genuine luxury, solid performance, and competitive value. If you’re shopping for a 3-row SUV, drive this one before you choose. Related:
2024 Hyundai Palisade: Choosing the Right Trim.
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