2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD: The Brand’s New 8-Passenger SUV/Crossover

Highlight: The Palisade shares a platform with its Korean twin, the Kia Telluride.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $47,495 (Base model: $32,645)

Seating Capacity: 7 to 8

Standard Safety Features: ABS; airbags; an automatic headlight system; an automatic brake hold feature; a rearview camera; a radar activated cruise control system; a lane keep assist system; a forward collision warning system; a driver attention warning system; a trailer sway control system; an electronic stability control system; a vehicle stability management system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a hillstart assist control system; a rear parking distance warning system; and a compact spare tire

Standard Equipment (SE): 18-inch wheels; an 8-speed automatic transmission; a start/stop engine fuel saver system; privacy rear glass; rear spoiler; trailering package; cloth seats; manual operated front seats; second row sliding seats; second row power folding seats; rear seat bench seat center armrest); underfloor storage compartment; quiet mode rear seats; manual operated seats; a leather wrapped steering wheel; a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; piano keys gear selector; driver selector mode: comfort, eco, sport and smart; and an electronic brake

Standard Equipment (Limited): 20-inch wheels; driving modes; LED exterior lights; premium rear accent lighting; a blind spot collision alert system; side mirrors with LED turn signal indicators; premium front grille design; rain-sensing windshield wipers; dual panel sunroof; silver roof rails; a handsfree opening liftgate; Nappa leather seats; power front seats; heated/ventilated front seats; second row captain chairs; third row power reclining rear seats; 10-inch infotainment screen; navigation system; HD radio; 630-watt Harman-Kardon, 12-speaker audio system; 360-degree surround monitor; HUD (heads up display) system; an in-car wireless charging system; heated steering wheel; a dual zone automatic temperature control system; genuine leather wrapped dashboard; a push button start system; manually operated rear side window sunshades; 64 color choices of ambient lighting; a blind spot collision avoidance assist system; a rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist system; parking distance warning (front); a safety exit assist system; and a highway driver assist system

Options On Test Vehicle: carpeted floor mats

Other Trim Level: SEL

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: AM/FM  

Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes

USB Connectivity: Yes

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder/291-hp

Towing: 5000 lbs

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Standard Fuel Mileage (Non AWD):
19-city/26-hwy

What’s New: This is the brand’s first fullsize, three-row crossover.

Why: Hyundai no longer has to rely on the Sante Fe XL to meet the needs of consumers who were in need of a spacious three-row vehicle. Finally, the Palisade, which is only available with a vary capable 6-cylinder engine, can be configured as a  front wheel drive and an all-wheel drive crossover.

The three-row vehicle, which is available with a lot of outlets for mobile devices,  rides like a car. Its roomy and can seat up to eight, depending upon the seating configuration. Middle row buckets are available on select trims, which brings the seating capacity down from 8 to 7. 

The all-new Palisade is available in a variety of trims too. We spent time behind the wheel of the top of the line Limited trim.

For a price point just shy of $48,000, the brand’s new well-equipped flagship crossover, which was easy to navigate, was outfitted with such standard features as a forward collision avoidance brake system to 20-inch wheels to a 10-inch infotainment screen to a wireless phone charger.

Our vehicle even included a heads up display system to a piano key-like, electronic gear shifter. The traditional gear shifter can be found in Hyundai's twin, the Telluride.

Also the design team at Hyundai and Kia did a great job differentiating both the Palisade and the Telluride. The Palisade big bold grille wears the Hyundai emblem proudly, while the cat-eyed LED headlights lights are neatly embedded into the front side of the hood.

But: The bold signature grille is somewhat polarizing! And the styling seems to target a more conservative buyer, as opposed to the more youthful looking Telluride.

Verdict: While Hyundai is the last to the party, as it relates to offering a large three-row crossover, with the ability to carry up to 8 people, based upon the package they put together it was well worth the wait. 

In fact, in comparison to the competition, the pricing is right and the feature-rich crossover is what we’ve come to expect from the Korean brand. Hyundai has a history of providing a lot of bang for one's bucks. This new Hyundai continues to follow the brand's line of thinking.

For buyers seeking a car-like riding SUV-crossover, with traditional SUV-type styling, the Palisade is worth checking out. A more youthful looking version of Palisade can be found from its Kia sibling, the Telluride.

Competition: Chevy Traverse; GMC Acadia; Ford Explorer; Honda Pilot; Kia Telluride; Mazda CX-9; Mitsubishi Outlander; Nissan Pathfinder; Toyota Highlander; and VW Atlas