2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was a striking addition to Hyundai's lineup, taking over as the brand's flagship SUV. It replaced the Santa Fe XL and stood out with its elegant and distinctive exterior design. The Palisade's bold grille, crisp shoulder lines, and sculpted wheel arches contributed to its sophisticated appearance. The continuous strip of glass around the tailgate created a floating roof effect, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Palisade offered a luxurious experience with high-quality materials and finishes. The spacious interior featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a beefy centre console, and comfortable seating for up to eight passengers, making it a worthy flagship for Hyundai.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior design, maintaining the same look as the previous model year. It was available in four trim levels in Canada, all featuring standard all-wheel drive. The Santa Fe's wide grilles and thin LED headlights gave it a distinctive front-end appearance, but the overall design was more subdued compared to the Palisade. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a high-quality cabin with Nappa leather seats and a range of comfort features. The interior was dark and monotone, but the beige or grey options provided some visual contrast. The Santa Fe excelled in providing a comfortable and practical driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine choice was somewhat of a throwback in an era of turbocharged engines, but it delivered smooth and responsive performance without turbo lag. The Palisade's fuel consumption was estimated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.6 on the highway, and 11.1 combined. It featured a four-wheel independent suspension and could tow up to 2,267 kilograms with trailer brakes. The Palisade's handling was commendable, providing a comfortable and stable ride.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for added sportiness. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 1,587 kilograms with trailer brakes. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and it offered a comfortable ride.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space and versatility. It featured a spacious third row with comfortable seating and easy access. The second-row captain's chairs were exceptionally comfortable, and the front row offered ample storage options. Luggage space behind the third row measured 509 litres, expanding to 1,297 litres with the third row folded and 2,447 litres with both rows down. The Palisade's gear selector was a compact shift-by-wire setup, and the dual-panel sunroof enhanced the ambiance in the rear rows. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added luxury features like Nappa leather upholstery and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized rear-seat legroom and cargo space by offering a two-row configuration. It provided 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats as standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof spanned both rows, enhancing the cabin's openness.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a 1920 x 720 colour touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system included wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade featured multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system was standard on higher trims, offering remote engine start and vehicle monitoring.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Santa Fe offered wireless device charging on higher trims and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and voice recognition capabilities. However, voice commands for certain tasks required specific terminology, and the system struggled with background noise.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of safety features, including seven airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also featured advanced driver assistance systems like blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, and forward collision-avoidance assist. The Palisade received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, highlighting its strong safety performance.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a wide range of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Highway Driving Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane centring. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The Santa Fe's safety features provided peace of mind, with reminders for rear-seat occupants and safe-exit warnings.