2025 Hyundai Palisade Test Drive Review: Luxury At A Budget Price

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade is now coming into its sixth mannequin yr in manufacturing, having not too long ago obtained a facelift for the 2023 mannequin yr. A brand-new second-generation Palisade is simply on the horizon, however does that imply the present mannequin ought to be ignored? We not too long ago spent every week driving a 2024 Palisade Calligraphy, however because the 2025 mannequin is a full carryover, we shall be reviewing it with pricing for the 2025 mannequin yr. Our time with the Palisade included a visit from Central Florida all the way down to South Florida, the place we exercised this SUV’s unimaginable street manners. Regardless of being thought of “previous” by automobile life cycle requirements, the Palisade nonetheless looks like one of many freshest choices within the three-row SUV phase.

Although most consumers won’t shell out $50,600 for the highest Calligraphy mannequin, this model represents a formidable show of luxurious options that you just won’t discover on luxury-branded fashions that price considerably extra. For instance, the Calligraphy will get heated and ventilated rear seats – a function that isn’t obtainable on any BMW X7. If there’s one space the place the Palisade might enhance, it is underneath the hood, the place a 3.8-liter V6 produces a segment-average 291 horsepower. Since most household SUV consumers worth attributes similar to cargo area and facilities over uncooked energy, the Palisade continues to be among the many finest choices on this phase.

Exterior: Swish Class

Hyundai’s designers took components from different profitable SUVs and blended them right into a cohesive design that stands up by itself. The parametric defend grille was added within the 2023 facelift, giving the Palisade an imposing entrance finish that also appears to be like elegant. That grille is completed in black on most trim ranges, apart from the Calligraphy, which will get a chrome one. For 2025, Hyundai added a brand new Calligraphy Night time trim, which blacks out the grille, wheels, and different exterior accents. This trim appears to be like nice, however provides $3,500 on prime of the already dear Calligraphy.

18-inch wheels come customary on the SE and SEL trims, whereas the XRT upgrades to particular 20-inch black wheels. The SEL Premium and Restricted additionally get 20-inch wheels with a two-tone end, which look a bit like a ninja throwing star. Lastly, the Calligraphy trims experience on multi-spoke 20-inch wheels, completed in two-tone or all-black on the Calligraphy Night time. The Palisade’s shade palette is pretty restricted, with the choices together with Abyss Black Pearl, Sierra Burgundy (pictured), Hurricane Silver, Moonlight Cloud, Hyper White, Metal Graphite, and Strong Emerald (Calligraphy-exclusive). It is also value noting that the Calligraphy Night time restricted your shade choices to black or white.

Inside: Packed With Options

Relying on which trim degree you select, the Palisade can go from pedestrian to outright luxurious. Material seats are customary on the SE trim, however SEL trim via SEL Premium fashions all get H-Tex (faux leather-based). Stepping as much as the Restricted brings actual leather-based, whereas the Calligraphy will get Nappa leather-based that would not really feel misplaced in a luxurious automobile; it additionally will get a suede headliner and an ErgoMotion therapeutic massage seat for the motive force. The Palisade may be outfitted with heated and ventilated entrance and rear seats, plus a heated third row. Solely the Kia Telluride, this automotive’s company sibling, the Mazda CX-90, and the Toyota Grand Highlander provide ventilated second-row seats, however not a heated third row.

Each Palisade, no matter trim, will get a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although these telephone mirroring programs usually are not obtainable wirelessly. Regardless of that minor annoyance, the infotainment is remarkably straightforward to study and has loads of buttons and knobs. The SE and SEL trims embrace a easy 4.2-inch gauge cluster with a small helper display, whereas greater trims improve to a completely digital 12.3-inch cluster. Beginning with the SEL Premium, the gauge cluster features a Blind-Spot View Monitor that makes use of cameras to indicate what’s in your blind spots.

Cargo: Loads Of Area

Whereas the Palisade will not be the most important automobile in its class, it is on the bigger finish of the spectrum. Cupboard space with the third row up is a beneficiant 18 cubic ft, and that quantity opens to 45.8 cubes with the third row folded. On the Restricted trim and better, the Palisade will get a power-folding third row that makes it simpler to lift or drop these seats. With the second row folded, the Palisade boasts 86.4 cubic ft of area, which is lower than the Toyota Grand Highlander in addition to the GM trio (Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave – we examined the latter not too long ago, too).

Inside, there’s room for as much as eight folks, although the upper trims embrace second row captain’s chairs that reduce the occupancy all the way down to seven folks. Headroom is beneficiant in all three rows, and legroom is plentiful for the primary and second rows. The third row is giant sufficient for adults, however much less snug than some rivals on this phase.

Efficiency: Previous Faculty V6 Energy

With many mainstream autos shifting in the direction of turbocharging and hybridization, the Palisade stays comparatively old skool underneath the hood. A 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 is the one engine obtainable, producing 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. These numbers usually are not best-in-class, however they’re removed from the worst. An eight-speed automated transmission sends energy easily to the entrance wheels, or all-wheel-drive optionally. We recorded a 0-60 mph run in 6.97 seconds, which is on the faster facet for this phase.

Gas economic system within the Palisade is rated at 19/26/22 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed or 19/24/21 with AWD. As with the ability output, these gas economic system figures are on-par with what you’d anticipate from a big, V6-powered SUV. A few of the Palisade’s four-cylinder rivals outmatch it on environment friendly and hybrid choices far exceed it by way of mpg. We noticed 27 mpg on our freeway journey and 23.3 mpg mixed. A hybrid powertrain, which is rumored to reach on the next-generation mannequin, would take the Palisade from wonderful to good.

Driving Impressions: Quiet Household Hauler

It might not come from a luxurious nameplate, however the Palisade punches above its weight by way of consolation. Youngsters and adults can chill out throughout a street journey with minimal wind and street noise, and a gentle suspension that soaks up bumps. The driving assists could not provide hands-free driving, but it surely’s not removed from it. Hyundai’s Freeway Driving Help retains the automotive within the lane with minimal inputs, which means the motive force will get much less fatigued from retaining the automobile centered.

The steering, whereas not overly sporty, makes the motive force really feel engaged whereas driving. Sport Mode provides some heft to the steering, for drivers who wish to be barely extra concerned. Although the engine is not a powerhouse, it will get up to the mark with little fuss, and stays low within the rev vary due to a well-tuned automated transmission.

Pricing & Verdict: Price range Luxurious

Hyundai positions the Palisade not as probably the most inexpensive automobile in its class, however as a feature-packed, value-conscious possibility. The bottom SE begins at $36,800, not together with a $1,415 vacation spot charge. AWD provides $2,000, or it is customary on the XRT and Calligraphy Night time trims. We would not less than step as much as the extra well-equipped SEL for $39,550. The XRT is a sporty trying trim degree with extra black exterior accents, beginning at $42,650, however we predict the SEL Premium is the higher buy as a result of its further options at $44,150. This automotive begins feeling correctly luxurious beginning with the Restricted trim for $48,200, representing the most effective bang-for-your-buck with out being too dear. The Calligraphy is pricey, beginning at $50,600, but it surely contains luxurious options that might price much more from a premium automaker. 2025 provides the Calligraphy Night time trim, which appears to be like nice however will get even pricier at $54,100.

Even a number of years after its debut, the Palisade stays one of many strongest choices within the three-row crossover phase. We’re excited to see the next-generation mannequin, which ought to add a hybrid powertrain to the combo, fixing the Palisade’s most obvious weak level. In case you are procuring on this phase, the Palisade nonetheless deserves to be thought of, even with an all-new 2026 mannequin doubtless arriving someday subsequent yr.