NEW CAR REVIEW: 2024 Hyundai Palisade XRT AWD - by David Colman

A Lot of Real Estate for the Money

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

In terms of price, size, horsepower, and packaging, the Palisade sits squarely atop all of Hyundai's many (Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson, Venue) SUV offerings. Gaining a foothold on the bottom rung of the Palisade range will set you back $38,045 for a front-wheel-drive version designated the SE. Five increasingly more expensive variants are available, with the top echelons belonging to the Calligraphy ($51,745) and the new-for-2024 Calligraphy Night Edition ($55,245). The 2024 Palisade we just spent a week testing was designated the XRT, a mid-range model that benefits from a ll-wheel-drive, but lacks the finer detailing and leather interior that are standard on the Calligraphy models. More importantly, the XRT Palisade, with a base price of $43,550, utilizes the same underpinnings and driveline you'll find on the much more expensive versions of this SUV.

For example, all Palisades utilize the same 291hp, 3.8 liter V6 which produces 262lb.-ft. of torque. This internal combustion engine, unfettered by the complexities of hybrid propulsion, sends its torque to all four wheels (HTRAC) through an 8-speed automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters. Thanks in part to a 13:1 compression ratio, 24 valves, and direct fuel injection, this sophisticated engine propels the 4,506 pound XRT through the standing start quarter mile in 14.8 seconds at 98mph. The 0-60mph sprint occupies just 6.4 seconds. The rush you feel when punching the throttle to complete a freeway on-ramp merge is always exhilarating.

While other versions of the Palisade offer seating for 8, the XRT lacks the second-row bench seat requisite for maximum head count. Rather, Hyundai substitutes a pair of comfy captain's chairs for row two in the XRT. The tight third row remains available for a threesome, so in a pinch you can haul a total of 7 passengers. Better yet, if you plan on stuffing cargo into your Palisade, you'll discover an immense and inviting loading zone. With all seatbacks up and occupied, you'll still have access to 18 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. Fold Row 3 flat, and storage jumps to 45.8 cubic feet, with minimal side intrusion from the wheel well enclosures. If you need to go for broke and bury all the back-row seats, you're left with an immense load portal measuring 86.4 cubic feet. Needless to say, my mountain bike slipped through the liftgate with absolutely no fuss. Hyundai makes the loading procedure easier than you might expect by providing seat drop buttons in the aft compartment.

Although no one buys a full-size SUV for its agility and handling, the Palisade acquits itself admirably when dealing with winding secondary roads like Coast Route 1 in California. Part of the surprising finesse is attributable to the beefy (245/50R20) contact patches provided by Hankook Ventus S1 tires (Noble2) that carry a TW rating of 500 and are mud and snow-safe as well. The other consideration factoring into the handling equation is the XRT's 8-inch ride height, which is identical to all other Palisade models. Now if you buy the XRT version of Hyundai's latest Santa Fe, the company extends ride height by an extra 1.5 inches compared to other Santa Fe models in an effort to maximize off-road obstacle clearance. But because the XRT Palisade makes no such claim to off road mastery, on-road behavior benefits from retention of the standard street ride height.

Note, however, that the relatively short sidewalls of the 50 series Hankooks magnify bumps and road imperfections. The overly firm spring rates Hyundai has chosen for the Palisade produce a choppy, bone-jarring ride no matter which setting you select from the multiple Drive Mode choices (Eco, Sport Smart). In order to minimize discomfort, we invariably chose Comfort Mode, but even in this softest of all possible configurations, we found ourselves often shaken, not stirred. After perusing the Owner's Manual, we discovered that if you chose the "Smart" Drive Mode, the Palisade will automatically reconfigure your Drive Mode "by judging the driver's driving habits (for example mild or dynamic) from the brake pedal depression or the steering wheel operation." But in Smart Mode, we were too Dumb to figure out where we stood with respect to the Palisade's AI ranking of our inputs.

Regardless of these finer points of the XRT's behavior, we concluded that if you plan on moving small athletic teams, pianos, or big slabs of lumber, the Palisade will oblige your needs with a panache and luxury unexpected of an SUV carrying a modest price tag of just $45,550.

2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE XRT AWD

• ENGINE: 3.8 liter V6, DOHC< 24-valve, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 291hp@5200rpm
• TORQUE: 262lb.-ft.@5200rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 19MPG City/24MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $45,550

HYPES: Lot of Real Estate for the Money

GRIPES: Ratchet Ride Quality

STAR RATING: 8.5 Stars out of 10

©2024 David E Colman