2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, presented a striking presence on the road, enhanced by 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 added to its modern appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The Palisade's 20-inch alloy wheels, standard across the lineup in Canada, contributed to its premium feel, especially in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim with its new multi-spoke design. The introduction of the Robust Emerald colour added a subtle elegance to the palette.

Inside, the Palisade's Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a stylish and bright interior, thanks to the dual-pane sunroof. Premium Nappa leather was standard in this trim, while lower trims featured cloth or leatherette seats. The Palisade accommodated up to eight passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims. Heated and ventilated seats, along with a heated steering wheel, were standard, enhancing comfort for all passengers.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic colour of the Premier XT trim, offering a surprisingly appealing aesthetic. The Outback's trims varied in their use of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT trim featuring tasteful chrome accents. Wheel sizes ranged from 17-inch to 18-inch, with different finishes depending on the trim.

Inside, the Outback's top-trim model impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The Limited trims featured standard leather seating, while the Onyx and Wilderness trims used Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. The Outback's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel standard in Canada. The Premier XT trim offered additional luxury with ventilated front seats.

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 several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard paddle shifters, provided smooth gear changes. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, and the HTRAC system proved capable during off-road tests. The Palisade's towing capacity was impressive at 2,268 kilograms, and its fuel economy was competitive, consuming 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 9.5 on the highway.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a choice between a 2.5-litre flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower. The turbo engine, standard on the Wilderness trim, provided better performance and increased towing capacity to 1,587 kilograms. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Lineartronic CVT were standard, offering a smooth driving experience. The Outback's ground clearance was notable, with the Wilderness trim offering 24.1 centimetres for off-road adventures. The advanced X-Mode system further enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers and cargo. It could comfortably seat seven or eight, with generous legroom in all rows. 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 seats folded. The hands-free smart liftgate and HVAC vents in all rows added convenience, while the intuitive layout of controls made for an easy driving experience.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, provided excellent interior space. It offered more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Outback's cargo space was 923 litres with all seats in place and 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. Features like dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a power moonroof were standard on most trims, enhancing comfort and convenience for passengers.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system on higher trims. The Bluelink connected vehicle system allowed remote access to vehicle information and controls, enhancing convenience. The Palisade's digital instrument cluster and head-up display provided clear information to the driver.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered an 11.6-inch infotainment screen on most trims, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, while dated in appearance, provided essential features. The Outback's climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on most trims, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, thanks to its comprehensive Smart Sense suite of safety features. These included forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist systems provided additional support on the road, while features like safe exit warning and rear seat occupant alert enhanced safety for passengers.

The 2024 Subaru Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies was standard, offering features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The addition of a wide-angle camera improved pedestrian and cyclist detection, while the Premier XT trim included a driver-attention monitor and digital rearview mirror for added safety.