2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more daring models. While it maintained an attractive appearance, it lacked the standout features seen in other vehicles from the brand. The SUV continued with the same design as the 2022 model, available in four trims in Canada: Preferred, Urban, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy, all featuring standard all-wheel drive. The U.S.-spec Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint, had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $51,606, including destination charges. The Santa Fe's wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights were its most distinctive styling elements, while the interior, particularly in the Calligraphy trim, offered a high-quality but dark and monotone look. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with standard heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. Available in Canada in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, the Palisade's pricing started at $57,431, including destination charges. The U.S.-spec Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in Night Edition, featured a luxurious interior with an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated design elements. The Palisade's interior exuded a luxury SUV feel, with features like a dual-panel sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The configurable storage options and comfortable second-row seating, with captain's chairs standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy, added to the vehicle's appeal. The third-row seat offered more comfort and roominess than many of its rivals, and the hands-free power tailgate provided convenience, although it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission contributed to a smooth driving experience, with no low-speed clunkiness. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector offered four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. While the non-turbo version could tow up to 907 kilograms, the turbo model increased towing capacity to 1,587 kilograms, provided trailer brakes were used.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard all-wheel drive in Canada and a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms made the Palisade a capable performer. The SUV offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine provided satisfying acceleration, and the transmission consistently found the right gear. The Palisade's suspension offered a firmer ride, yet it remained comfortable, with excellent outward visibility and a standard top-down surround-view camera aiding in city driving. The Palisade displayed unexpected athleticism on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes. However, real-world fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded storage to 2,041 litres, with additional underfloor storage available. The Santa Fe's interior featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and rear window sunshades. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were highlights, though the driver's seat height adjustment and wide centre console posed minor inconveniences.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with artificial leather upholstery in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated outboard rear seats were standard, along with a dual-panel sunroof. The Palisade's configurable storage options included a console-top tray, a large storage bin, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with captain's chairs standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The third-row seat provided more comfort and roominess than many rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate added convenience, though it could be turned off if not needed. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,297 litres with the third row folded and 2,447 litres with the second row folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch colour LCD display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and BlueLink connected services. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added wireless charging and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system offered clear graphics and logical home screen icons, though voice recognition capabilities were mixed, particularly for music requests and cabin temperature changes.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection, while wireless charging was included in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The voice recognition system worked well within the native Hyundai technology, though it struggled with specific music requests. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services offered remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, and more. The standard 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system provided excellent sound quality, and additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, a semi-autonomous remote parking system, and an excellent head-up display.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a generous collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. Highway Driving Assist was standard, with lane-change assist included on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensing for alerts. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the 2024 calendar year, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.