The Palisade is Hyundai’s biggest SUV. Even so, it’s categorized as midsize within the vast SUV market because vehicles labeled full size are monolithic. Palisade has three rows of seats with positions for up to eight passengers, and the third-row seats are not inhumane.
Speaking of inhumane, Hyundai makes it easy to avoid leather upholstery in the Palisade. The base SE model has cloth seats and the SEL, XRT and SEL Premium come with H-Tex leatherette (synthetic leather). A leather-wrapped steering wheel, however, is standard on all models except the base SE.
Maxing out Palisade’s seating capacity requires opting for the base SE model with its standard second-row bench, or the mid-level SEL Premium that has standard second-row captain’s chairs with the option of a bench. Otherwise, captain’s chairs are standard, and seating capacity tops out at seven.
Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims except the top-of-the-line Calligraphy Night Edition, which is AWD only.
Versatility, practicality, and capability are a given when it comes to SUVs, and why they’re so popular and have been for so long. SUVs run the gamut from mild to extreme all-terrain function and modest to supreme luxury levels. The Palisade seems to take some of this and some of that, in just the right proportions, and blend them into a terrific smoothie of an SUV.
Pricing starts at $38,675 for a front-drive Palisade SE, including a $1,475 destination charge. Considering the generous number of standard features Hyundai bestows on the Palisade, there must have been a big serving of value-for-dollar in that smoothie.
All 2025 Palisades are powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, joined to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Palisade is neither underpowered nor overpowered, and has an EPA rating consistent with other midsize SUVs in its class. With front-wheel drive: 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. AWD numbers are 19/24/21 mpg.
Palisade’s handling isn’t real sporty but I wasn’t expecting it to be. More important, there was no actual disappointment on winding roads. The Palisade also keeps calm and collected on the highway, even when faced with unfavorable road conditions such as snow or wonky pavement.
Palisade’s roomy interior has a high level of refinement usually found in more expensive SUVs. Styling and fit-and-finish are first rate. Seats are comfortable all around.
If you fold those nice third-row seats, 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space comes into play. With those seats upright, there’s still a serviceable 18 cubic feet.
2025 HYUNDAI PALISADE CALLIGRAPHY AWD
Base price: $52,600
Price as driven: $54,700
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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