Hyundai Palisade vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade underwent significant design changes while maintaining its recognizable identity. It featured a more upright and squared-off profile, with a bold front lighting design that included rectangular slashes flanking a massive grille. The interior was softened with flowing shapes and simple lines reminiscent of mid-century modern furniture, creating a refined and relaxing atmosphere. The top-spec Palisade Ultimate Calligraphy model boasted high-quality materials and texture variance, while the off-road-oriented Palisade XRT Pro offered durable materials. The 2026 Palisade was longer and had a stretched wheelbase, accommodating seven or eight passengers depending on the configuration.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car. It featured a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and integrated the previous grille insert into the bumper. The Bolt EV returned as an EUV body style, prioritizing utility and interior space over a sporty stance. The interior received a more dramatic makeover with a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin had hard plastic surfaces, with thin padding at touchpoints. The RS trim offered Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, while the rear seating area had hard plastics and lacked padding for door armrests.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, slightly less than the previous 3.8-litre V6. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Palisade offered a refined driving experience with a comfortable ride, thanks to its suspension system with self-leveling shocks. The brakes were upsized for improved stopping distance, and the vehicle had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The HTRAC AWD system provided power to the front wheels under normal conditions and could divert power to the rear wheels when needed. The Palisade XRT Pro had off-road upgrades, including all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance. A hybrid powertrain was also available, combining a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with electric motors for a total output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and requiring fewer rare earth minerals. It had a motor from the Chevy Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. One-pedal driving was available, and the ride was firm but not overly stiff. The Bolt was agile on curvy roads, thanks to its low centre of gravity. It offered a range of up to 422 kilometres on a full charge, with a charging speed of 150 kW, allowing for a quick recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade offered spacious seating with captain’s chairs in the middle row and a third row suitable for occasional adult use. Passengers had access to USB-C charging ports, cupholders, and air vents. The interior featured sliding rails for the second and third-row seats, allowing for flexible passenger or cargo space. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated second-row seats were standard, with ventilated front seats available on higher trims. The Palisade provided up to 540 litres of cargo space with the third row forward, and a maximum of 2,455 litres with seats folded flat.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt could hold up to 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and there was ample storage for personal items up front, including a large bin with dividers, a floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard onboard navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy model offered a 12-inch head-up display and integrated front and rear dashcams. An in-car intercom and Rear Seat Quiet Mode were standard, along with a UV-light cleaning system. The Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality and was standard on higher trims.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging as a backup power source.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade had not yet received safety ratings from NHTSA or IIHS, but the previous version performed well. It offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Ultimate Calligraphy model added evasive steering assist and an upgraded Highway Driving Assist II system.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to perform well based on the 2023 Bolt EUV. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available for an additional cost.