2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai's largest SUV, was a striking presence on the road, especially after its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, gave the Palisade a more commanding look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights enhanced its modern appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The Palisade's exterior was complemented by 20-inch alloy wheels, which, although not as visually striking as previous designs, conveyed a premium feel. The new Robust Emerald colour added a subtle elegance to the lineup. Inside, the Palisade's Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish and bright interior, thanks to a dual-pane sunroof and premium Nappa leather seats. The seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available for added comfort.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to shed its traditional minivan image with a design reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. Despite its minivan roots, the Sienna offered a smart choice for families with its larger cargo capacity and creative interior features. The Sienna's front-wheel-drive XSE trim featured 20-inch wheels, adding a sporty touch. The interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering ample storage solutions, including a large open cubby below the centre console and a long shelf across the dash. The Sienna's seating configurations allowed for seven or eight passengers, with the middle row supporting three-across car seats. The Platinum trim, although not available in Canada, showcased high-quality brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents, adding a touch of luxury to the minivan's interior.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain made the Palisade more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more so than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The eight-speed automatic transmission, paired with standard paddle shifters, provided a smooth driving experience. In Canada, the Palisade came with standard all-wheel drive, which proved capable 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 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and two front-mounted electric motors, plus a third rear-mounted motor for all-wheel drive trims. This setup produced a combined 245 horsepower, which was less impressive compared to its competitors. The Sienna's continuously variable transmission (CVT) struggled with acceleration, especially when compared to the more powerful Honda Odyssey. However, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering a nimble and enjoyable driving experience despite its size. The Sienna's light steering made city driving easy, and its tidy turning radius was a rare find in a minivan. While the Sienna offered multiple drive modes, the normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers and cargo. It could comfortably seat seven or eight passengers, with legroom measuring 1,052 millimetres in the front row, 1,077 in the second, and 798 in the third. The Palisade's passenger volume was 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 Palisade featured a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base trim, and its interior was designed with convenience in mind, offering HVAC vents in all three rows and multiple cupholders.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, with plenty of space for personal items. The Sienna's minivan platform made excellent use of space, offering 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row and 2,129 litres with the third row folded. Total cargo space was 2,860 litres, although the middle row of seats could not be removed or folded into the floor. The Sienna's second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and a long sliding track for added comfort. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, while higher trims included ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technology offerings, featuring a standard 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on higher trims, and the Palisade offered up to seven USB ports for device charging. The Bluelink connected vehicle system allowed for remote vehicle management, including starting the engine and adjusting seat settings.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna relied on an older infotainment interface, which included core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the interface felt outdated and required a wired connection for smartphone integration. The Sienna's 9-inch touchscreen was functional, and the 12-speaker JBL premium audio system provided good sound quality. Despite its older design, the Sienna's technology was reliable, with physical buttons offering a practical touch.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and came with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features. Standard features included forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go was included on all trims. The Palisade also featured safe exit warning and rear seat occupant alert.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. While it lacked some of the more gimmicky features found in competitors, the Sienna's safety features were comprehensive and reliable.