2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Ford Bronco

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, framed the updated headlights, giving the SUV a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The Palisade's body-colour mirrors, heated and powered across all trims, added a touch of sophistication, especially with the approach lighting on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The 20-inch alloy wheels, standard in Canada, contributed to its premium feel, and the new Robust Emerald colour option for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim added a subtle elegance to its appearance.

Inside, the Palisade's Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a stylish and attractive interior, brightened by a dual-pane sunroof. The use of premium Nappa leather and horizontal quilting on the dash gave it a luxurious feel reminiscent of high-end brands. The seating configurations allowed for flexibility, with second-row captain's chairs standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy and available on the Urban trim, while the Preferred and Urban trims offered a bench configuration. The Palisade's interior was designed for comfort, with heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and ample space for passengers, making it a welcoming environment for all occupants.

The 2023 Ford Bronco was offered in nine distinct trim levels, each showcasing a blend of retro-cool styling and modern engineering. Its blocky, upright shape, wide horizontal grille, and large round headlights were unmistakable, even from a distance. The Base trim had a primitive charm with steel wheels and minimal adornment, while the Raptor trim stood out with its wide stance, elevated height, and massive tires. The Heritage Edition trim added a nostalgic touch with a white grille, roof, and wheels, along with unique plaid seat upholstery. The Bronco's styling was not just for aesthetics; it had functional elements like cleats above the headlights for securing cargo and tree limb-lifter cables, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Bronco continued its rugged theme with a broad dash and sealed switches and buttons, allowing for easy cleaning after off-road adventures. The interior materials prioritized durability over luxury, with marine-grade vinyl upholstery and drain plugs in the floor. The Bronco's interior was designed for practicality, with sturdy handholds, a grid-like mesh on the seat backs for attaching accessories, and a heated steering wheel available as an option. While the materials were not as refined as typical SUVs, they provided a reassuring heft, and the Bronco's interior was noticeably quieter than a comparable Jeep Wrangler.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than competitors like the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more so than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with standard paddle shifters, and in Canada, it came with an all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain. The HTRAC AWD system proved capable during a muddy off-road test drive, although the Palisade was not designed for rock-crawling. It offered a comfortable ride, competitive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), and a dedicated Tow Mode for optimized shifting. Fuel economy was rated at 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.5 on the highway, and 11.2 combined.

The 2023 Ford Bronco offered three engine choices. The base model featured a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, available with a seven-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. An optional twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 engine increased power to 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with the automatic transmission. The top-tier Bronco Raptor boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. All Broncos came with a four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain and a two-speed transfer case. The base engine was adequate for most on- and off-road adventures, while the Raptor's EcoBoost engine offered exhilarating power. The Bronco's ride quality was bouncier than typical family SUVs but more stable than a Jeep Wrangler, and it tracked straight on highways. Despite its high-riding dimensions, the Bronco felt confident on curving roads, and maneuvering the larger four-door model was aided by several cameras.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with 1,052 millimetres of legroom in the front row, 1,077 in the second, and 798 in the third. Its passenger volume measured 4,397 litres, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's second-row seating featured a standard one-touch seat slide for easy access to the third row, and ingress/egress handles facilitated entry. The third-row and second-row bench seats had 60/40-split configurations, folding flat manually in the Preferred trim or with power folding in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy. Cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, 1,297 litres behind the second row, and 2,447 litres with all but the front-row seats folded flat. A hands-free smart liftgate was standard on all but the base Preferred trim. The Palisade's interior was designed for passenger comfort, with HVAC vents in all three rows, two cupholders per person, and a well-organized centre console.

The Ford Bronco's boxy shape provided ample interior space, especially in the four-door model, which was more suitable for regularly shuttling passengers. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required some effort, while the four-door allowed for easier entry. The Bronco's interior featured practical storage solutions, including netted door pockets, a rubberized tray for phones, and accessory rails atop the dash. Cargo space in the two-door model was up to 634 litres behind the rear seats and 1,481 litres with them folded, while the four-door offered 1,008 litres and 2,197 litres, respectively. However, the rear seats did not fold flat with the cargo floor, creating a step-up that hindered sliding longer cargo or sleeping comfortably. The Bronco's design allowed for easy removal of fenders and doors, enhancing its off-road versatility.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a new 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system as standard, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. The Palisade allowed for up to two devices to connect via Bluetooth simultaneously and offered USB charging ports in all three rows. A wireless charger was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The driver enjoyed a 4.2-inch colour info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy models. An in-car intercom and a colour head-up display were also available. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, standard on all trims, provided remote accessibility and management features, including remote start presets and seat heating or cooling.

The Ford Bronco utilized technology to enhance its off-road capabilities, with G.O.A.T. drive modes that optimized engine and suspension settings for various terrains. Camera views provided visibility in tight spaces, and the Trail Turn Assist feature allowed for sharp turns by braking the inside rear wheel. The Bronco's infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Ford’s SYNC 4, and FordPass Connect. A wireless charging pad was optional, and most Broncos came with an eight-inch touchscreen, with a 12-inch display available for easier use.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It came with Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims, as was adaptive cruise control with stop and go. Highway Driving Assist I was standard on Urban models, while Highway Driving Assist II was standard on Ultimate Calligraphy. A full-display digital rearview mirror and safe exit warning were also available.

The Ford Bronco received partial crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with the four-door model earning four stars for frontal crash protection and three stars for rollover protection. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" rating in most crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. The Mid package added blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and rear parking sensors. The High package offered front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system, while the Luxe package included adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.