2024 Kia EV9 vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

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, gave the Palisade a stronger, more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille design. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The seating configurations allowed for flexibility, accommodating up to eight passengers in the lower trims, while higher trims offered luxurious features like heated and ventilated seats.

The 2024 Kia EV9, on the other hand, introduced a fresh design in the Kia EV lineup, with a blocky, digital clock-inspired exterior. Its lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights and the Digital Pattern Lighting Grille on higher trims. The EV9's interior felt airy and modern, enhanced by a two-tone color scheme and dual sunroofs. The SynTex seating surfaces were comfortable, and the vehicle offered a range of seat adjustments for added customization. The EV9's design was both futuristic and functional, with a focus on providing a spacious and comfortable environment for passengers.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than several competitors in its class, such as the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and it offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. The Palisade's towing capacity was impressive, able to haul up to 5,000 pounds, and it featured a dedicated Tow Mode for AWD models. Fuel economy was competitive, with FWD models achieving 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models offered slightly lower figures.

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 Light Long Range model provided the best range, with a 99.8-kWh battery offering up to 304 miles on a single charge. Higher trims featured dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems, with the Wind and Land trims delivering 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The GT-Line trim prioritized performance, offering 516 lb-ft of torque but sacrificing some range. The EV9's power delivery was smooth and refined, with adjustable regenerative braking and a one-pedal driving mode for added convenience. Fast charging capability allowed the EV9 to recharge quickly, reaching 80% in just 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers, with seating for seven or eight depending on the configuration. It provided 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third, surpassing competitors like the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 behind the second, and 86.4 with all but the front-row seats folded. The interior was designed for convenience, with HVAC vents in all three rows and a hands-free smart liftgate standard on most trims.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 39.5 inches of headroom, surpassing even the BMW X7 and Rivian R1S. Third-row legroom ranged from 30.8 to 32.0 inches, depending on the middle row's configuration. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims. Cargo space was competitive, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 with it folded, and 81.7 with only the front-row seats in place. The EV9's interior design focused on practicality, with a high and flat load floor for easy luggage retrieval and thoughtful storage solutions throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technology offerings, becoming the first Hyundai to feature WiFi hotspot capability as standard. A 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. Higher trims offered a premium Harman Kardon sound system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Palisade's remote accessibility features were noteworthy, with the Bluelink connected vehicle system allowing for remote vehicle management and the new Digital Key 2 Touch offering compatibility with Apple devices.

The 2024 Kia EV9 took technology to the next level with its 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, and higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system. The EV9's connectedness was a highlight, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store allowing for future upgrades and customization. This approach provided flexibility for owners, enabling them to enhance their vehicle's features over time.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard, and the Palisade offered advanced features like Highway Driving Assist II on higher trims. The Palisade had not yet been rated for 2023, but its predecessor earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the new model included additional safety enhancements.

The 2024 Kia EV9 came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with navigation-based capabilities and blind-spot collision avoidance. The Blind-spot View Monitor was available on higher trims, and the EV9 featured a range of collision avoidance systems. While the EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, it received the highest rating from Euro NCAP, indicating strong safety performance.