2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following its 2022 updates, remained largely unchanged. In Canada, it was available in Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line trims, with the R-Line versions offering sportier styling. Prices ranged from $36,675 to $47,175, plus a $2,050 destination charge. The U.S. specification test vehicle was similar to the Canadian Highline R-Line trim. Despite offering six exterior colours, four interior colours, four alloy wheel designs, and three upholstery types, choices were limited by trim level, complicating the selection of a preferred combination. The test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, a combination exclusive to the Highline R-Line trim in Canada. Standard features included keyless entry, remote start, and an 8-way power driver’s seat. The Highline R-Line trim was favoured for its sporty look and 20-inch wheels, with adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its appeal. Inside, the Tiguan offered an upscale cabin with quality leather, artificial wood trim, soft-touch materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof, all contributing to a solidly assembled feel.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. In Canada, it was offered in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, priced at $57,431 and $61,031, respectively, including a $2,000 destination charge. The test vehicle was the U.S. equivalent of the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featuring a decadent artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, metal speaker grilles, and sophisticated interior design, giving it a luxury SUV feel. The Palisade's interior was well-appointed, with premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated outboard rear seats. The Calligraphy trim also included an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. Configurable storage options and a hands-free power tailgate added to its practicality. The Palisade offered a spacious and comfortable cabin, with excellent second-row comfort and a more accommodating third row than most rivals. Cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the second and third rows folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system was standard, offering Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes. The AWD system featured Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings, with the ability to send up to 50% of power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan's fuel economy was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though the test vehicle averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, but passing and high-rev situations revealed its limitations. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan offered rewarding dynamic qualities, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and a compliant ride. Road noise was present, but visibility was excellent, aided by thin windshield pillars and variable-assist steering.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance. Driving modes included Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for even power distribution. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, with the transmission always in the right gear. The AWD system adeptly managed power distribution on dirt and gravel roads. The Palisade's fuel economy was rated at 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres, though the test vehicle averaged 15.0 L/100 km. The suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding city driving. The Palisade displayed unexpected athleticism on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes. Overall, it was a pleasure to drive, with the only downside being its real-world fuel economy.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with certain configurations featuring a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, so opting for a two-row model provided one of the largest cargo areas in the compact SUV class. The test vehicle's front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was generous, though the centre armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a usability issue, with reflective gloss black plastic hampering functionality. The touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls were distracting, and the Climatronic Touch panel was poorly positioned. Despite these drawbacks, the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings, generous legroom, and a cavernous cargo area. With AWD, the Tiguan offered 1,064 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade provided a well-appointed interior, with artificial leather in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. Standard features included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated outboard rear seats. The Calligraphy trim added an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. Configurable storage options included a console-top tray, a large storage bin, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with a rear climate control panel and USB charging ports. The third row was more comfortable and roomy than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate was convenient, though the smart tailgate feature could be irritating. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the second and third rows folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on R-Line trims. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system included a touchscreen display, with a 6.5-inch screen on lower trims and an 8-inch screen on others. The top-of-line test vehicle included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, Car-Net connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive Car-Net Hotspot and Plus Speech add-ons.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable, while wireless charging was included in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The voice recognition system worked well, though it struggled with specific music requests. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard, with a three-year subscription included. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, a semi-autonomous remote parking system, and an excellent head-up display.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist. Front Assist included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, while Side Assist added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System helped avoid secondary impacts. The IQ.Drive package, standard on most models, included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology worked well, with minimal false alerts. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact test.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) was standard, providing a hands-on driving system for highway travel. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensing for alerts. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.