2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its elegant and striking exterior design, marking a departure from Hyundai's earlier, more derivative designs. Its distinctive lines, prominent grille, and sculpted wheel arches contributed to a visually appealing profile. The continuous strip of glass surfaces around the tailgate gave the impression of a floating rear roof, enhancing its modern aesthetic. Inside, the Palisade offered a polished and near-luxury experience with high-quality materials and finishes. The spacious interior featured a horizontally arrayed 12.3-inch touchscreen and a beefy centre console, providing both functionality and style. The second-row seating options included a roomy bench or captain's chairs, while the third row accommodated two adults comfortably for short rides.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia boasted a bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck, giving it a substantial presence on the road. The Sequoia's interior shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, featuring leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. A massive 14-inch infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the Capstone's interior came in a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. However, some interior materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia's lineup included various trims, each offering unique features and capabilities, from the off-road-ready TRD Pro to the luxurious Capstone. Despite its bold design and upscale features, the Sequoia's interior space and comfort were compromised by its hybrid powertrain, affecting cargo capacity and third-row seating comfort.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, equipped with gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, provided a smooth and responsive driving experience 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. While not the most fuel-efficient in its class, the Palisade offered a satisfying engine note and a comfortable ride, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars. It could tow up to 2,267 kilograms with trailer brakes, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and an electric motor/generator. This setup produced an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly more than the previous V8 model. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms, making it a strong contender for those needing to tow heavy loads. Fuel efficiency improved, with a combined rating of 11.7 L/100 km in 4WD mode. However, the Sequoia's ride quality was affected by its suspension setup, which could feel busy and jittery on uneven surfaces. The regenerative braking system also exhibited inconsistent behaviour, particularly in urban driving situations.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled as a minivan replacement, offering comfortable seating and ample storage throughout the cabin. The third row provided easy access and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs offered comfort and convenience. The front row featured multiple storage compartments, including a centre console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,297 litres with the third row folded, and a cavernous 2,447 litres with both rows down. The Palisade's compact shift-by-wire gear selector and logically arranged controls added to its user-friendly design. Standard features included a sunroof, heated seats, and a hands-free liftgate, with additional luxury features available on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, while offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery and a premium audio system, faced challenges in terms of interior space. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting flexibility for third-row passengers. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, had limited legroom and thigh support. Cargo capacity was compromised, with only 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres with the seat slid forward. The Sequoia's adjustable cargo shelf provided some versatility, but overall, the hybrid powertrain's impact on interior space was evident. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia offered a range of features, including a panoramic moonroof and power-deploying running boards.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a standard display audio system featuring a 1920 x 720 colour touchscreen. Higher trims received a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers and Clari-Fi music restoration technology. The infotainment system included wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and satellite radio. Multiple USB ports and power outlets were strategically placed throughout the cabin, with a Qi wireless charging pad available on higher trims. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system offered remote engine start and vehicle monitoring, while a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided additional information for the driver.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. However, the system experienced some glitches during testing, affecting phone pairing and call functionality. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and safety. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions, adding to its safety credentials.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive suite of safety features, earning it a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Passive safety features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts, and active head restraints. Active safety and driver assistance features encompassed anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, and forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection. The Palisade also offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Highway Driving Assist on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a comprehensive package of driver-assistance features. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road sign recognition. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review, the Tundra, on which it is based, received high safety ratings, suggesting a strong safety performance for the Sequoia.