2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Kia Sorento

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 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 glossy black and chrome grille. The Palisade's body-colour mirrors were equipped with features like heating and power adjustments, and the Ultimate Calligraphy trim included approach lighting. The 20-inch alloy wheels, standard across the lineup, contributed to the vehicle's premium feel, especially with the new multi-spoke design on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The introduction of the Robust Emerald colour added a subtle elegance to the palette. Inside, the Palisade's Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish and attractive interior, with premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof brightening the cabin. The seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims.

The 2024 Kia Sorento received its first major visual update since its 2021 debut, aligning its design more closely with Kia's other SUVs like the Telluride and EV9. The new front end, with a big, buff grille and vertically stacked LED projector-beam headlights, gave the Sorento a more robust and intimidating appearance. The rear updates were more subtle, with higher trims featuring pretty LED taillights. The Sorento's trims in Canada included LX, EX, X-Line, X-Line Limited, and the new X-Pro, each offering distinct visual elements. The X-Line and X-Pro trims, with their blacked-out wheels and earth-tone paint colours, presented a rugged and outdoorsy look. Inside, the Sorento featured a new dashboard design, with a vast horizontal expanse and combined gauge cluster and infotainment displays under a single pane of glass. The cabin materials were upgraded, with faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching adding a luxurious touch. The Sorento's interior offered a brown colour option, enhancing its character and upscale feel.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within its class, offering more power than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with standard paddle shifters, and in Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard. 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, with a 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 2024 Kia Sorento retained most of its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine was considered underpowered for the Sorento's size. The EX and higher models featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, generating 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged Sorentos offered lively performance, with zero-to-100 times in the mid-seven-second range. In Canada, all Sorentos came with AWD, with ground clearance varying by trim. The Sorento's handling was confident, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Pro trim, with its 17-inch rims and all-terrain tires, provided a smoother ride and better grip on loose terrain. The Sorento's towing capacity varied by trim, with the X-Pro rated at 2,040 kilograms (4,500 pounds). Fuel economy for the non-turbo powertrain was 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres combined, while the turbocharged versions achieved 10.3 L/100 km combined.

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. The passenger volume measured 4,397 litres, and the second-row seating featured a one-touch seat slide for easy access to the third row. The third-row seats were 60/40-split and folded flat, with power folding available on higher trims. 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. The Palisade's interior was designed for passenger comfort, with HVAC vents in all three rows and two cupholders per person. The centre console included a phone holder and space for a bag, while the controls were laid out intuitively.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable, with ample space in the first two rows and a tighter third row. The front seats offered 1,052 millimetres of legroom, while the second row provided 1,060 mm. The third row had 752 mm of legroom, which was more than some competitors. The Sorento's interior was designed for families, with optional captain's chairs in the second row for easier access to the back. The new dashboard design was ergonomic, with controls within easy reach and plenty of small-item storage space. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, offering 357 litres, but expanded to 1,090 to 1,274 litres with the third row folded. With all seats down, the Sorento provided up to 2,139 litres of cargo space. Higher trims featured a power liftgate for added convenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system as standard, 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. The Palisade offered multiple USB ports for charging devices and a wireless charger on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The driver enjoyed a 4.2-inch colour info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. The Palisade's remote accessibility features, powered by Hyundai's Bluelink system, allowed for remote vehicle management, including starting the engine and controlling heated or cooled seats.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays, with a 12.3-inch screen standard across all trims. The infotainment system, called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC), featured a user-friendly interface with prioritized features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system supported over-the-air updates. The Sorento offered USB-C outlets in all three rows and an auxiliary jack for older devices. Higher trims featured a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system. The X-Line Limited and X-Pro models included Digital Key 2.0, allowing for keyless access and driving via compatible smartphones or NFC smart cards.

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. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go, Highway Driving Assist I, and Highway Driving Assist II were available on higher trims. The Palisade also featured a full-display digital rearview mirror and a rear seat occupant alert system.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered an extensive suite of active safety features, with standard systems including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-following assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Sorento's adaptive cruise control systems were enhanced with machine-learning capabilities. The IIHS had not fully evaluated the 2024 Sorento, but it received "Good" ratings in some tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet evaluated the 2024 model.