2024 Kia EV9 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 modern appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The Palisade's body-colour mirrors were heated and powered across all trims, with approach lighting included in the Ultimate Calligraphy. In Canada, 20-inch alloy wheels were standard, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim offering a new multi-spoke design. A new colour, Robust Emerald, was introduced for the Ultimate Calligraphy models, adding a subtle elegance to the palette.

Inside, the Palisade's Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish and attractive interior, brightened by a dual-pane sunroof. Premium Nappa leather was standard, while lower trims featured cloth or leatherette seats. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy and available on the Urban trim. Heated and ventilated seats were standard across various trims, ensuring comfort for all passengers. The interior design drew inspiration from luxury brands, with horizontal quilting and dash lines reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz. The Palisade's spacious interior and thoughtful features made it a comfortable and accommodating choice for families.

The 2024 Kia EV9, on the other hand, marked a bold step forward for Kia's electric vehicle lineup. Its exterior design was distinctly Kia, with a blockier, digital clock-inspired look. The EV9's lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights and the "Digital Tiger Face" grille. The top Land trim offered additional lighting options, including a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille. The EV9's interior was equally impressive, with a spacious third row that provided ample headroom and legroom. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with various seating configurations available. Cargo space was competitive, with a high and flat load floor for easy access.

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 featured paddle shifters, and in Canada, all-wheel drive was standard. The HTRAC all-wheel drive system proved capable during off-road testing, although the Palisade was not designed for rock-crawling. It offered a comfortable ride and competitive towing capacity, with the ability to haul up to 2,268 kilograms. Fuel economy was rated at 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.5 on the highway, and 11.2 combined.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrain options, starting with the Light trim's single motor, rear-wheel-drive setup producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Wind model featured a larger battery for an extended range of 489 kilometres, while the top Land trim offered all-wheel drive with dual motors, delivering 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The EV9's range varied from 370 to 489 kilometres, depending on the trim and configuration. During testing, the EV9 GT-Line provided smooth power delivery and good handling, with adjustable regenerative braking for a natural driving experience. The EV9 also featured fast charging capability, with the ability to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered generous interior space, comfortably seating seven or eight passengers. Front-row legroom measured 1,052 millimetres, with 1,077 millimetres in the second row and 798 millimetres in the third. Passenger volume totalled 4,397 litres, and 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 HVAC vents in all three rows ensured passenger comfort. The centre console provided ample storage, with a phone holder and space for a bag.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 1,004 millimetres of headroom and 783 to 813 millimetres of legroom. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with various seating configurations available. Cargo space was competitive, with 572 litres behind the third row, 1,231 litres with the third row folded, and 2,313 litres with only the front-row seats in place. The EV9's high and flat load floor made loading and unloading easier. Up front, the EV9 featured a "floating" centre console with limited flat surface space, but second-row passengers enjoyed additional storage options.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and more. A premium Harman Kardon audio system was standard on higher trims, and up to two devices could connect via Bluetooth. The Palisade also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on select trims, along with an in-car intercom and a colour head-up display on the Ultimate Calligraphy. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system provided remote accessibility and management features, including remote start presets and seat heating or cooling.

The 2024 Kia EV9 took technology to the next level with a three-screen curved display, featuring a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 5-inch Climate Display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless charging pad. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system and a head-up display. The EV9's connectedness was a highlight, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store allowing owners to purchase additional features and upgrades. This "future-proofing" approach provided flexibility for buyers and enhanced the EV9's appeal.

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, lane-keeping assist, and more. 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. Higher trims offered additional features like Highway Driving Assist II and a full-display digital rearview mirror.

The 2024 Kia EV9's safety features were comprehensive, with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance standard. The Blind-spot View Monitor and reverse parking collision avoidance assist were available on higher trims. While the EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, it received the highest rating from Euro NCAP. The EV9's safety features and advanced driver-assistance systems provided peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.