| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
The spacious cabin offers comfortable seating for 8 | Feels somewhat luxurious, but isn't a real luxury SUV | The model year 2021 sees the introduction of the top-spec, barebones luxury offering Calligraphy trim |
Well-mannered driving dynamics and ride quality | Chrome heavy, futuristic looks can be polarising | A 10.3â touchscreen and a few driver assistance features have been made standard in the lower trims, namely the SEL Premium onwards |
Feature loaded, especially in the top trims | Not built to be too quick or agile | LED headlamps have also been made standard across the entire lineup |
$32,675
price291 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower262 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm
torque8-Speed Shiftable Automatic
transmission3.8L 6cyl FWD 8A
engine-
basic warrantyHyundai has been taking full advantage of the existence of Kia. Offering the Palisade, a fairly luxurious 8-seater alternative to the Kia Telluride, among others, Hyundai manages to cater to two different buyer groups with the same platform and almost the same car.
The Calligraphy trim looks like a winner right off the bat, offering class-exclusive features such as the hands-free smart liftgate, and that is just one of the more basic features on offer. Nevertheless, the Limited trim is actually the most value for money, offering premium bits and pieces such as the fully digital instrument cluster, leather seating, heads-up display, dual sunroof, and even 360-degree camera viewing. You can also save money and get the FWD drivetrain if it will remain chauffeur-driven.
Both offer reliable, refined mechanicals, not to mention plenty of interior room as well. However, the Palisade takes everything a notch higher than the Telluride, offering the basics of luxury and oodles of comfort, inviting comparisons with Genesis due to the sheer quality and value for money on offer. Starting at $32,000, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade also rivals the Honda Pilot and Chevrolet Traverse.
Right from the SE trim onwards, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade offers too much value for money. While this does look untrue as you go up the trim ladder due to the expensive pricing of features, you realize that the tech and creature comforts on offer are actually high in number, and the Calligraphy trim offers luxury that you wouldn’t expect in a Hyundai. The top-spec Calligraphy trim can only be had with the HTRAC AWD system, while the others trims are available in FWD variants as well.
|
Trim |
SE |
SEL |
Limited |
Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$32,675 |
$35,325 |
$45,275 |
N/A |
|
MSRP (AWD) |
$34,375 |
$37,025 |
$46,975 |
$47,900 |
|
Key Features |
18” Alloys |
In addition to or replaces SE trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces SEL trim features with: |
20” alloys |
|
LED Headlamps with DRLs |
7-passenger seating with second-row captains chairs |
Dual sunroof |
Quilted leather interior door panels |
|
|
8” touchscreen |
Heated front seats |
Heads-up Display (HUD) |
Ventilated front seats |
|
|
Heated outer rearview mirrors |
8-way power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support |
Surround View Monitor |
Heated 2nd-row seats |
|
|
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster |
8-way power-adjustable front seats |
|
|
Rear Occupant Alert |
Power tilt-and-slide sunroof |
Heated steering wheel |
Hands-free smart liftgate with auto open |
|
|
One-touch 2nd-row seat access |
Remote Start |
Nappa leather seating |
Self-leveling rear suspension |
Which trim should you buy?
The Calligraphy trim looks like a winner right off the bat, offering class-exclusive features such as the hands-free smart liftgate, and that is just one of the more basic features on offer. Nevertheless, the Limited trim is actually the most value for money, offering premium bits and pieces such as the fully digital instrument cluster, leather seating, heads-up display, dual sunroof, and even 360-degree camera viewing. You can also save money and get the FWD drivetrain if it will remain chauffeur-driven.
The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 which offers a very usable bend of performance, efficiency, reliability, and even hauling ability. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that can send the power to either the front wheels or all four, depending on your selection during purchase. The engine belts out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
|
Models |
2021 Hyundai Palisade |
2021 Kia Telluride |
2021 Honda Pilot |
2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$32,525 |
$31,990 |
$31,545 |
$29,800 |
|
Engine |
3.8L V6 |
3.8L V6 |
3.5-liter V6 |
3.6L V6 |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
8-speed automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
9-speed automatic |
|
Power (hp @ RPM |
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
280 hp @ 6000 RPM |
310 hp @ 6,800 rpm |
|
Torque (lb-ft @ RPM) |
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
262 lb-ft @ 4700 RPM |
266 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm |
|
0-60 MPH (seconds) |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.5 |
7.0 |
|
Quarter-Mile (seconds) |
15.4 |
15.4 |
15.7 |
15.3 |
|
Top-Speed (MPH) |
130 |
141 |
114 |
130 |
|
Towing Capacity (lbs) |
5,000 |
5,000 |
3,500 |
5,000 |
The 2021 Palisade shares its powertrain part-for-part with the Kia Telluride, although the Kia Telluride does have an inclination towards being the more driver-friendly vehicle. This is seen in the uninhibited top speed of 141 miles per hour. Both can two 5,000 pounds, which is class-leading and only matched by the Chevy Traverse, although the Trailering package needs to be equipped in both to achieve the best towing figures they have to offer. The Chevy engine is the most powerful of the lot and offers the best torque figures too.
Hyundai vehicles have always had a tendency to drive numb, with not enough communication relayed to the driver from the tires, brakes, steering, and sometimes even powertrain. While this has improved over the years, the 2021 Palisade is no corner carver. In its FWD guise, it can be quite unnerving to push around, and the AWD takes the fear of rollover away, but only ever so slightly.
When you aren’t looking for stupid levels of performance from a people-hauler like the Palisade, you would be very happy with the composure it offers. When driven around carefully enough, the Hyundai Palisade offers luxury car levels of comfort, with a softly sprung suspension that allows for decent handling at highway speeds too. It can get quite bouncy at very high speeds, but we believe it is apparent that the Palisade isn’t to be driven enthusiastically.
Seating 7 to 8 people is no biggie for most cars today, although the increase in weight must be matched by the subsequent availability of braking power in order to shed speeds effectively when at its maximum curb weight. The Palisade has 13.4” brake discs on the front wheels, and 12.4” rotors on the rear wheels, and they offer communicative bite and no discernible fade, bringing the 2021 Hyundai Palisade to a halt from 60 mph over a distance of 121 feet.
|
Models |
2021 Hyundai Palisade |
2021 Kia Telluride |
2021 Honda Pilot |
2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches) |
13.4 |
13.4 |
13.0 |
12.6 |
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches) |
12.4 |
12.0 |
12.6 |
12.4 |
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4,127 |
4,112 |
4,321 |
4,365 |
|
60-0 MPH (feet) |
121 |
122 |
N/A |
127 |
The Telluride uses smaller rear brake rotors for a poorer braking distance by a whole foot. The Chevrolet Traverse uses smaller brake rotors on both wheels, but offers good braking, as seen in its 127 feet stopping distance. Seeing as the Honda Pilot is lighter than the Traverse and houses better brakes, we wouldn’t be surprised if it does as well as the Kia and Hyundai with its braking figures.
When an engine is asked to haul people around, tow cargo around, and provide decent frugality, most of them fail. The 3.8L V6 in the Hyundai Palisade is left naturally aspirated for you to be able to optimize fuel usage as and when required. The grunt is uniform throughout the gears, and the heavier the cabin gets, the higher the RPMs required, despite the torque available. The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offers 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg out on the highways, leading to a combined figure of 22 mpg.
|
Models |
2021 Hyundai Palisade |
2021 Kia Telluride |
2021 Honda Pilot |
2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
19 |
20 |
20 |
18 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
26 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
22 |
23 |
23 |
21 |
|
Fuel Tank Capacity (Gallons) |
18.8 |
18.8 |
19.5 |
19.4 |
|
Range (City/ Highway/ Combined; Miles) |
357.2/488.8/ 413.8 |
376.0/488.8/ 432.4 |
390/527/449 |
349.2/523.8/ 407.4 |
We cannot pinpoint exactly why the Telluride offers slightly better fuel economy than the Palisade, but it shares the same size fuel tank too, offering better range on a full tank. The Honda Pilot engine is seemingly the most efficient, offering best-in-class figures for both highway and city usage, although it is matched by the Telluride in the city and the Traverse on the highway. The Pilot’s larger fuel tank gives it the longest range.
The Hyundai Palisade interior is easily the ultimate selling point in the 8-seater SUV. From the lowest (SE) variant onwards, it offers feature-loaded interiors, accompanied by the presence of so much space inside a very ergonomic cabin. In the Calligraphy trim, the 2021 Palisade steps up in terms of quality, with typical Hyundai upholstery quality being displayed in the weather seats and stitched surface around. The dashboard looks seamless and uncluttered, despite the number of functions that are on it.
|
Models |
2021 Hyundai Palisade |
2021 Kia Telluride |
2021 Honda Pilot |
2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
7/8 |
7/8 |
8 |
7 |
|
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
40.7/61.2/44.1 |
40.9/61.6/41.4 |
40.1/62.0/40.9 |
41.3/62.1/41.0 |
|
Second Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
40.1/60.8/42.4 |
40.2/61.2/42.4 |
40.2/68.0/38.4 |
40.0/62.2/38.4 |
|
Third Row (Headroom/Shoulder room/ Leg Room) |
37.8/55.2/31.4 |
38.1/55.3/31.4 |
38.9/44.6/31.9 |
38.2/48.5/33.5 |
|
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet) |
18.0 |
21.0 |
16.5 |
23.0 |
The available space in the Hyundai Palisade is very useful to seat as many as it does, but the optimization and usage of the space could have been better for a more accommodating third row of seating. Both the Hyundai and Kia 8-seaters offer the least third-row legroom, despite offering class-leading legroom in the first two seating rows. In the second row, the 2021 Palisade offers class-leading space by quite a margin. Standout interior features in the 2021 Hyundai Palisade:
Hyundai has offered industry-leading levels of refinement of technology, and that has been one of its major drivers towards its success. High-resolution infotainment displays are available from the lowest (SE) trim onwards. The 8” touchscreen in the SE looks as stylish as the 10.3” touchscreen in the higher trims, although the dual-display layout with the digital information display makes for a much more premium experience.
The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has integrated with technology all around, offering wireless charging, the necessary set of hands-free features, and a fluid user interface that is super easy to figure out. It also offers a segment-exclusive Driver Talk, a feature that lets the driver communicate with the second and third rows more easily, although it would be easier to just lower the volume and speak up. Highlights of the infotainment system include:
At first glance, the 2021 Palisade is very futuristic with its unorthodox headlamps and very contemporary grille. It is a result of the sensuous sportiness design language that the manufacturer chose to adopt recently, and the styling has been met with mixed reactions. The exterior can get very chrome-heavy in the top Calligraphy trim, and the overall design has its fair share of fans and haters. Nonetheless, the quality inside the Palisade might just be enough to make you ignore the exterior if you don’t like it.
|
Models |
2021 Hyundai Palisade |
2021 Kia Telluride |
2021 Honda Pilot |
2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lb) |
4,127 |
4,112 |
4,321 |
4,365 |
|
Length (inches) |
196.1 |
196.9 |
196.5 |
191.7 |
|
Width (inches) |
77.8 |
78.3 |
78.6 |
78.6 |
|
Height (inches) |
68.9 |
68.9 |
70.6 |
70.7 |
|
Ground Clearance (inches) |
7.9 |
8.0 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
114.2 |
114.2 |
111.0 |
120.9 |
Hyundai and Kia have done their best to make the Telluride and Palisade look different as a result of slightly different length and width, but the similarities are apparent in the height and wheelbase dimensions, not to mention the interior dimensions and the overall silhouette as well. The Chevrolet Traverse is the heaviest of the lot, but offers the least ground clearance, although it does provide the longest wheelbase by quite a margin. Standout exterior features of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade include:
An 8-person ferrying SUV requires plenty of safety features, tech, and safety-oriented design in order to ensure occupant safety. Since a collision can occur from any angle, the Palisade must be bolstered enough to handle those forces and dissipate them using its structure.
The NHTSA believes in the 2021 Palisade’s safety quotient, giving it a 5-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS has named 2021 inside a Top Safety Pick+, demonstrating great focus for occupant safety from Hyundai. The Palisade is made safer due to the driver assistance technology on offer. Notable safety features include:
These SUVs are siblings from Korea. Based on the same platform and sharing mostly the same mechanicals, the Telluride and Palisade are two sides of the same coin, offering what the other has to offer in a more purposeful package for the buyer. The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is clearly more suited for those who prefer the back seat, as it is doused with features for the same, whereas the sporty, off-road-ready looks of the Telluride suggest it is an option for those who love to drive.
The Honda Pilot is a value proposition and has always been one for its reliability. Back in the day, a fuss-free SUV that sat 7 and drove as lightly as a car was the pinnacle of value for money, but alas. The 2021 Hyundai Palisade with its features and overall usability, is the new-age value for money product, offering whatever it can at affordable prices.
While Chevrolet has upped its refinement and development in most products sold today, it would be hard to say that the bowtie brand can match the Hyundai in terms of the same. The 2021 Palisade displays perfection in its fit, finish design, upholstery, and even mechanicals like the engine and suspension. While we aren’t saying the Traverse lacks the comfort or the efficiency, or even the power, the Palisade simply does what it does with less effort, although that isn’t always preferred by every buyer.
The Hyundai Palisade is a stylish, feature-loaded, tech-savvy, and most importantly, safe option in the midsize SUV segment. It offers a decent room inside the cabin and a relatively small but useful cargo area that can be expanded when the seats aren’t all occupied. All things considered, it is hard to find fault in the Palisade, for it doesn’t do too much wrong.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #9 | 7.2 sec | - | - | |||
2021 Ford Explorer Ranked #1 | 5.9 sec | 14.4 sec | - | |||
2021 Honda Passport Ranked #2 | 6.1 sec | 14.7 sec | 112 mph | |||
2021 Kia Sorento Ranked #3 | 6.5 sec | 15.0 sec | 135 mph | |||
2021 Honda Pilot Ranked #4 | 6.6 sec | 15.0 sec | 113 mph | |||
2021 Toyota Highlander Ranked #5 | 6.7 sec | 15.3 sec | 114 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #6 | 19 mpg | 26 mpg | 22 mpg | 18.8 gal. | 357.2/488.8 mi. | |||
2021 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #1 | 29 mpg | 34 mpg | 31 mpg | 12.7 gal. | 368.3/431.8 mi. | |||
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ranked #2 | 28 mpg | 31 mpg | 29 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 369.6/409.2 mi. | |||
2021 Subaru Outback Ranked #2 | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 481/610.5 mi. | |||
2021 Kia Sorento Ranked #3 | 24 mpg | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | 17.7 gal. | 424.80/513.30 mi. | |||
2021 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #4 | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 gal. | 418/532 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #7 | 196.1 in. | 77.8 in. | 68.9 in. | 7.9 in. | 114.2 in. | |||
2021 Chevrolet Traverse Ranked #1 | 204.3 in. | 78.6 in. | 70.7 in. | 7.51 in. | 120.9 in. | |||
2021 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #2 | 199.4 in. | 77.5 in. | 69 in. | 8.8 in. | 115.3 in. | |||
2021 Ford Explorer Ranked #3 | 198.8 in. | 78.9 in. | 70.2 in. | 8.2 in. | 119.1 in. | |||
2021 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #4 | 198.5 in. | 77.3 in. | 70.6 in. | 7 in. | 113.2 in. | |||
2021 Kia Telluride Ranked #5 | 196.9 in. | 78.3 in. | 68.9 in. | 8 in. | 114.2 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #2 | 18 cu.ft. | 155.3 cu.ft. | 86.4 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #1 | 47.2 cu.ft. | - | 89.7 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Toyota Highlander Ranked #3 | 16 cu.ft. | 141.3 cu.ft. | 84.3 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Chevrolet Traverse Ranked #4 | 23 cu.ft. | 152.9 cu.ft. | 98.2 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Ford Explorer Ranked #5 | 18.2 cu.ft. | 152.7 cu.ft. | 87.8 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Ford Edge Ranked #5 | 39.2 cu.ft. | 113.9 cu.ft. | 73.4 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #1 | 86.4 cu.ft. | 18 cu.ft. | 86.4 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #2 | 68.3 cu.ft. | 51.9 cu.ft. | 68.3 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2021 Chevrolet Blazer Ranked #3 | 49.9 cu.ft. | 30.5 cu.ft. | 64.2 cu.ft. | 74 ft. | |||
2021 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #4 | 8.9 cu.ft. | 17.8 cu.ft. | 42.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Ford Explorer Ranked #5 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 18.2 cu.ft. | 87.8 cu.ft. | 74 ft. | |||
2021 GMC Acadia Ranked #6 | 16 cu.ft. | 12.8 cu.ft. | 79 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #2 | 5000 lbs. | 1605 lbs. | 4127 lbs. | |||
2021 Ford Explorer Ranked #1 | 5300 lbs. | 1425 lbs. | 4345 lbs. | |||
2021 Kia Telluride Ranked #2 | 5000 lbs. | 1664 lbs. | 4112 lbs. | |||
2021 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #2 | 5000 lbs. | 1700 lbs. | 4400 lbs. | |||
2021 Toyota Highlander Ranked #2 | 5000 lbs. | 1685 lbs. | 4145 lbs. | |||
2021 Ford Bronco Ranked #3 | 3500 lbs. | 1254 lbs. | 4286 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: July 28, 2024
I love the palisade it's a great family vehicle. It hold my big family with carseats . Kids have enough space to not fight with each other. I love the passenger talk to I no longer have to strain my voice to talk to the kids. The vented seat are awesome especially in this florida heat ð¥µ
