The Battle Of The Three Row Crossovers: 2023 Chevrolet Traverse High Country AWD Vs Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD

                                                               Chevy Traverse                                                                     

                                                                Hyundai Palisade

Highlight: Both models are only available with a 6-cylinder engine.

Test Vehicles MSRP:

Chevy Traverse:   $54,745

Hyundai Palisade: $52,395 

Seating Capacity:

Chevy Traverse: 7 with the standard bucket seats 

Hyundai Palisade: 7 with the standard buck seats

Standard Safety Features:

Chevy Traverse: ABS; stability control system; a radar activated cruise control system; rear camera; a rear cross traffic alert system; a lane change alert system with side blind zone alert; a forward collision alert system; a lane keep assist system with lane departure warning; a front pedestrian braking system; automatic high beam alert system; a safety alert system; a remote vehicle start system; and an OnStar safety system

Hyundai Palisade: a compact spare tire; rearview monitor; a tire pressure monitor system; blind spot collision warning system; rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist; parking distance warning system -reverse; parking distance warning – forward and reverse; parking collision avoidance assist reverse; forward collision avoidance assist with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection system; lane keep assist system; lane following assist; a highway driving assist system; a remote vehicle start system; a trailer sway assist system; and a BlueLink Connected Services

                                                     

                                                    

Standard Equipment:

Chevy Traverse: 20-inch wheels; an 8-inch infotainment screen; a navigation system; a power heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; an automatic climate control system; heated and ventilated front seats; heated second row seats; wireless phone charging; a three-zone ventilation system; a dual sunroof; a power handsfree rear tailgate; a power adjustable and folding sideview mirrors; power folding split bench rear seats; and a smart slide second row seat

Hyundai Palisade: 20-inch wheels; privacy glass; a dual panel sunroof; silver roof rails; a handsfree smart liftgate with an adjustable height setting; trailering package; premium Nappa leather seats; power front seats; massage-like driver’s seat; thigh cushion extension; bolster seatback and cushion; heated and ventilated front seats; memory operated driver’s seat; heated second and third row seats; sliding second row seats; one-touch second row slide seats; second row power folding seats; third row power folding/unfolding bench seats; underfloor storage compartment; 12-inch touchscreen navigation; a heads up display system;  a manual operated second row sunshades; wireless device charging; a dual automatic temperature control; a leather wrapped steering wheel; paddle shifter; heated steering wheel; and a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel

Optional Features On Test Vehicle:

Chevy Traverse: not equipped with rear park assist ($50 credit)

Hyundai Palisade: carpeted floor mats

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle:

Chevy Traverse: a 10-speaker AM/FM/HD Bose audio system with SiriusXM

Hyundai Palisade: a 12-speaker AM/FM/HD Harman Kardon audio system with SiriusXM

Apple CarPlay/Android:

Chevy Traverse: Yes 

Hyundai Palisade: Yes

Voice Activated Commands

Chevy Traverse: Yes 

Hyundai Palisade: Yes

Bluetooth Connectivity:

Chevy Traverse: Yes

Hyundai Palisade: Yes

USB Connectivity:

Chevy Traverse: Yes 

Hyundai Palisade: Yes

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty:

Chevy Traverse: 3 years or 36,000 miles

Hyundai Palisade: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty:

Chevy Traverse:  5 years or 100,000 miles

Hyundai Palisade:10 years or 100,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower:

Chevy Traverse:   3.6-liter, 6-cylinder/ 310-horsepower

Hyundai Palisade: 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder/ 291-horsepower

Recommended Fuel:

Chevy Traverse: Regular 

Hyundai Palisade: Regular

Standard Fuel Mileage:

Chevy Traverse: 17-city/25-hwy 

Hyundai Palisade: 19-city/25-hwy

What’s New:

Chevy Traverse: After undergoing a major refresh in 2022, with the exception of a few new color and content changes, the brand’s three-row large crossover is literally a carryover for the 2023 model year.

Hyundai Palisade: The first-generation Palisade receives its first midcycle refresh. This year’s model adorns a new vertical-like grille, a larger 12-inch infotainment screen, new seating surfaces, a massaging-like driver’s seat, heated third-row seats and several other updates.

                                                

Why:

Chevy Traverse:

More horsepower

OnStar’s signature service

More of a contemporary exterior design

Traditional gear shift selector

A host of standard safety driving aids

A longer vehicle equals more legroom and cargo storage, when third row seat is in use

Hyundai Palisade:

A remote parking feature which allows one to pull in and out of tight spaces using the keyless remote

Piano-like gear selector

Nappa leather seating surfaces

Driver’s seat with an almost massage-like feature (Hyundai refers to it as an Ego Motion seat)

A one touch slide second row seat, making it easier to access third row seats

Rear heated third row seats

A host of standard safety driving aids

A longer bumper-to-bumper new vehicle warranty and powertrain warranty

A 5,000 lb towing capacity

Approximately $2,350 less

But:

While both vehicles offer a peppy 6-cylinder engine, neither one has followed the Toyota Highlander, offering a hybrid engine, which ups the ante in the mpg department. Ironically, Ford’s rear wheel drive Explorer hybrid gas mileage is literally on par with the gasoline only Palisade and Traverse.

                                                   

                                                     

Verdict:

While both front-wheel drive, three-row crossovers are essentially people movers, many buyers see the Chevrolet Traverse and the Hyundai Palisade as being the perfect alternative to the shrinking minivan segment. In many ways, the vehicles are alike, offering bench or bucket second row seats, bench third row seats, easy-to-operate folding second and third row seats, sliding second record seating, an easy-to-use infotainment center, an all-wheel drive configuration, a car-like ride and one powertrain, a 6-cylinder engine. Upon closer examination, one will immediately realize there are several specs and features that could sway buyers to opt for one model over another.

Unlike the Hyundai Palisade, the Chevy Traverse offers more of a modern and youthful themed exterior design, when compared to the wide-mouthed vertical-like, Toyotaish Tundra grille plastered on the more sophisticated, but traditional-styled Hyundai Palisade.

Moreover, both carmakers sent over their top-of-the-line vehicles to review, the Palisade Calligraphy seemed like it was designed with luxury in mind Inside the cabin, the vehicle was outfitted with a piano-like gear selector, a rotary dial driving mode selector, a digital gauge for the instrument panel and a new 12-inch infotainment screen and what the automaker term as an ergo-motion driver’s seat, which adds additional comfort, and heated third row seats. The Palisade Calligraphy also drips in Nappa leather seats.

On the other hand, the Traverse High Country interior design team opted to stick to the traditional gear selector, when the vehicle was refreshed during the 2022 model year. The Traverse has a remote garage-like sliding door storage area, which is hidden behind the infotainment system. And the utility vehicle is covered with what seems like cowhide leather, which is designed for those who love extremely firm, but non supportive seating.

More importantly, the Chevy Traverse scores points over the Hyundai being that its slightly longer, which equates to more legroom and cargo interior space, when the third-row seating is in use. Yet, the Palisade lose points in those areas but shine in terms of the towing power. In fact, the Palisade has the ability to tow 3,500 lbs more than the Traverse, bringing the total towing capability to 5,000 lbs, despite the Chevy pushing out more horsepower.

Added to that, the Hyundai offers the brand’s signature remote parking system, which allows the driver to squeeze the vehicle in and out of tight spaces, where one literally can’t open and/or close the door. Chevy doesn’t offer this feature.

And lastly while the base Chevy Traverse has a slightly lower starting price than the base Hyundai Palisade, when we compared the top-of-the-line models, the Traverse stickers over $2,300 more than the Palisade despite the vehicle having a shorter bumper-to-bumper and new powertrain warranty.

Overall both vehicles are great. Its a matter of style, features, warranty and price that could sway buyers to lean toward the Traverse or the Palisade for those in the market for an upscale three-row crossover.

Competition: Ford Explorer Platinum; Honda Pilot Elite; Kia Telluride SX Prestige; Mazda CX-9 Signature; Nissan Pathfinder Platinum; Toyota Highlander Platinum; and VW Atlas SEL Premium R-Line