2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai’s largest SUV, showcased a more commanding presence with its updated styling. The new front fascia, featuring bold strokes and a squared-off grille, gave the SUV a stronger look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights enhanced its visual appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim added premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The interior of the Calligraphy trim was stylish, featuring premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, offering a bright and luxurious feel.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in multiple trims, maintained a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias. The XSE trim, known for its sporty vibe, featured a black metallic mesh front grille and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition offered off-road readiness with roof rails and a tow hitch. Inside, the Sienna provided practical features like a lower storage pass-through and powered side doors. The second-row captain’s chairs offered ample legroom, though the slide function was complex, and the seats couldn’t be removed, limiting cargo space.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than several competitors, though slightly less so than the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer. The eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard paddle shifters, provided smooth handling. The Palisade offered a comfortable ride and could tow up to 5,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While not designed for high performance, the Sienna offered a smooth ride with a CVT, though it felt sluggish during acceleration. The minivan excelled in city driving with modes like Normal, Eco, and EV. The steering was light and accurate, and visibility was excellent. However, the brakes were a bit grabby, and the ride lacked excitement compared to competitors with V6 engines.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered spacious seating for seven or eight passengers, with generous legroom in all rows. The third row was easily accessible, and the seats folded flat for increased cargo space, totaling 86.4 cubic feet. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all rows and a well-organized center console with ample storage options. Automatic dual-zone climate control was standard in higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna provided practical interior features, including a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered up to 40 inches of legroom, though the slide function was complex. The third row was accessible and offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was moved forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control and a rear liftgate with 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubes with the second row folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technology, featuring a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A premium Harman Kardon sound system was available, and the vehicle offered a WiFi hotspot. The Palisade included Hyundai’s Bluelink system for remote management and Digital Key 2 Touch for keyless access. The in-car intercom and rear-seat quiet mode added convenience.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, however, was equipped with older infotainment technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The backup camera quality was lacking, but the Sienna offered a WiFi hotspot and an optional JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter was available for charging devices.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was expected to maintain its high safety standards, with Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite offering features like forward collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist. The Palisade included new safety features like second-row side-impact airbags and a full-display digital rearview mirror.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came with Toyota Safety Sense, including lane departure alert and automatic emergency braking. The Sienna received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though its front crash prevention was rated as “Average.” The minivan featured numerous airbags and reminders for rear passengers.