Hyundai Palisade 2022 Review

Comparing the Palisade with the Telluride is a nice way to understand what differences the parent company wants to establish between Hyundai and Kia. The Palisade offers pretty much the same characteristics but wraps them in an elegant design with tasteful use of accessories and materials which gives a great impression. The competent engine and the roomy cabin help that a lot.

Even though Hyundai has produced SUVs for a long time, and some of them turned out to be quite successful, its field of expertise is city cars. The Palisade was built with a conservative approach, using a typical powertrain for its category and offering unremarkable performance. The good part is that, since the dynamics will not call your attention, you can focus on the people traveling with you.

Engine and gear

The only engine available is a 3.8-liter V6 with natural aspiration. It makes 291 hp of power and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is always paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission which offers paddles on the steering wheel for manual shifts.

Suspension

The front suspension uses a strut layout while the rear one uses a multi-link arrangement.

Handling

Composed ride with no highlights. The transmission works smoothly on even surfaces but struggles to find the right gear at hill-climbing, which affects handling quality.

Vibration and Ride

Adequate for its category, although unsurprising. The specialized press has complained about the excess wind noise generated at highway speeds.

One of the biggest perks of being a modern vehicle is the possibility to receive the latest electronic systems. The Palisade makes great use of that, featuring a long list of standard items plus another long list that becomes available especially on the upscale trim levels. It 

Brakes

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade is equipped with disc brakes on all wheels, the front ones of the vented type. They all have ABS, Brake Assist, Electric Parking Brake, and Hill Hold Control.

Airbags

The standard equipment list includes front and side airbags for driver and front passenger with dual-stage deployment, knee airbags for the driver, and curtain airbags for the first and second seat rows. There is also an occupancy sensor to prevent unnecessary deployments.

Electronics

While the standard equipment list includes automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and many other features, upscale trims receive even more items whether as standard or optional.

Lights

Even the base trim level features LED headlights with projector beam and LED taillights. The former have automatic activation of the high beam function.

Traction control

This SUV includes electronic traction and stability controls, steering assist, cruise control, and lane-keeping assist.

There is little to say about the powertrain: the only option is a modern V6 which runs smoothly and makes average mileage. The problem appears when we remember that there are no electrification options whatsoever especially considering that Hyundai has already developed dedicated models.

Engine size

The only engine available is a 3.8-liter V6 good for 291 hp of power and 262 lb-ft of torque.

Gas per mileage consumption

The EPA indicates 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and combined mileage of 22 mpg.

While much of the Palisade’s project is shared with the Kia Telluride sibling, the Hyundai brand makes itself present on details such as the elegant design, the décor with light colors, and an overall premium feeling which would not be out of place in a Genesis car. There is plenty of room for everyone and a great equipment list.

Driving seat

The driver enjoys plenty of room and a cutting-edge infotainment system that offers navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio. The available Blue Link app allows them to lock and unlock remotely and start the engine using Alexa or Google Assistant.

Dashboard

The elegant design of horizontal lines uses a floating center console and a large screen for the infotainment system – if you do not want to use it by touching the screen, you can also use physical buttons and knobs. An 8” screen is standard but may be upgraded with a 10.3” unit on some trims.

Passenger seats and extras

SE and SEL trims carry up to eight passengers while Limited and Calligraphy offer more comfortable second-row seats at the expense of taking a total of seven. They all enjoy plenty of room, though; the door storage areas may be small, but there is more space below the central console and underneath the floor. You can equip the Palisade with up to seven USB ports.

Overall height and space

With an overall height of 68.9 inches, the 2022 Hyundai Palisade offers 155.3 ft³ in its cabin. It seats up to eight people accommodated in three rows of seats.

Trunk space

The base volume is 18 ft³. If you fold down the third seat row, it increases to 45.8 ft³. Finally, folding down the second seat row as well takes the cargo area to 86.4 ft³.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade has been widely acclaimed by the specialized press for its great value. The available trim levels allow potential buyers to take a no-frills SUV or something much more deserving of the premium image Hyundai is trying to build – the Calligraphy flagship could easily belong to the Genesis lineup. A common point for the four trims is the excellent warranty plan.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade is available in the following trim levels:

Essentially, the differences from one trim level to another are mostly concerned with content. However, once you observe the steep difference between the bottom two and the top two, you will understand that Hyundai wants to appeal to value-oriented customers and premium ones almost independently.

AWD/FWD

The standard layout is a front-wheel drive, but it can be upgraded with an all-wheel drive on all trim levels for an extra cost of $1,700.

Warranty

Hyundai has class-leading coverage among generalist brands. The limited warranty is of five years or 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty for the first owner is of ten years or 100,000 miles. There is also complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.