2023 Genesis GV80 vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, 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, gave the Palisade a stronger, more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The 20-inch alloy wheels, standard across the lineup in Canada, contributed to the Palisade's premium feel, especially in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim with its new multi-spoke design. The interior of the Ultimate Calligraphy model was stylish and bright, thanks to the dual-pane sunroof, and featured premium Nappa leather seats. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims, providing flexibility for accommodating up to eight passengers.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 exuded sophistication and grace with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille, presenting a stately appearance. The Prestige trim tester featured 22-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its elegant look, especially with the matte Brunswick Green paint job. Inside, the dark green quilted leather seats and the dash with thin horizontal air vents, metal, and matte wood trim created a luxurious atmosphere. The centre console, with its three large dials for infotainment, transmission, and drive modes, added to the GV80's unique interior design. While the 14.5-inch infotainment screen seemed somewhat out of place, the spacious and luxurious interior made the GV80 a pleasant place to spend time.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 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, with standard paddle shifters, provided smooth gear changes. In Canada, the standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system, demonstrated its capability during a muddy off-road test drive. While not designed for rock-crawling, the Palisade offered a comfortable ride and competitive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). Its 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 Genesis GV80 came with standard AWD and offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The GV80's performance was not particularly athletic or nimble, with a 0-100 km/h time of around five and a half seconds. However, it excelled at highway driving, with smooth power delivery and shifts, and an electronically controlled suspension that adjusted to road conditions. The GV80's active noise cancellation contributed to a quiet and comfortable highway commute.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers and cargo, with seating for seven or eight. It provided 1,052 millimetres of legroom in the front row, 1,077 in the second, and 798 in the third, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's passenger volume measured 4,397 litres, and its cargo space ranged from 509 litres behind the third row to 2,447 litres with all but the front-row seats folded flat. The hands-free smart liftgate, standard on all but the base trim, added convenience. The Palisade's interior featured HVAC vents in all three rows, two cupholders per person, and a centre console with a phone holder and storage space.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 compensated for its lack of driving excitement with luxury features and utility. Standard heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel provided comfort, while the Ergo driver's seat helped reduce fatigue. The GV80's Nappa leather seats were sumptuous, and the available third row, though limited in legroom, offered additional seating options. The GV80 featured a standard tri-zone climate control system and an available 21-speaker Lexicon sound system. Its cargo space was among the largest in its class, with 988 litres behind the second row and 2,378 litres with the seats folded. The GV80's towing capacity was 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds) with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a standard 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. The premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard in higher trims. The Palisade offered remote accessibility and management features through Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, allowing remote control of heated and cooled seats and other functions. The Palisade's technology suite included a 4.2-inch colour driver info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims, along with an in-car intercom and a colour head-up display.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster. While the infotainment screen was slightly out of reach, the dial provided a tactile interface, albeit with a learning curve. The GV80 offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, though not wirelessly, and featured wireless charging, multiple USB ports, and a 110-volt outlet. The GV80's remote smart parking assist allowed the vehicle to park itself without the driver inside, adding a unique technological touch.

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, along with adaptive cruise control. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist I and II provided additional safety and convenience features, and the rear seat occupant alert used an ultrasonic sensor to monitor the back seats.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Blind-Spot View Monitor system provided a video feed of the car's blind spot in the digital gauge cluster. The GV80's Highway Drive Assist used multiple systems to provide a hands-on/eyes-up driving aid, though it had some difficulty in bright sunlight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the GV80 a full five-star overall safety rating, and the IIHS rated it Good for crashworthiness and Superior for front crash prevention.