When you think of a luxury SUV, you’re probably picturing dollar signs and plenty of surfaces that aren’t family friendly. Who wants to clean up Cheerios off carpet that costs more than a year’s supply of Starbucks drinks?
Working families, worry no more. Hyundai brings you the Palisade, a pristine SUV that presents itself as luxury without the price tag. A no-nonsense three-row SUV, this newly-minted model enters the rough-and-tumble SUV market with plenty of standard features to please any (full) household.
Below you’ll find the important details you’ll need to know before considering the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. Everything from fuel efficiency numbers to engine types and safety features enter into the equation, so we’re here to help you figure out if a 2021 Hyundai Palisade fits your idea of your next new vehicle. Will you join the Hyundai family? Keep reading to find out more about the Palisade and its various features.
Performance Specifications
This brand-new SUV from Hyundai comes with a single powerplant. Customers will find a 3.8-liter V6 engine beneath the hood, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Equipped to put out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, this engine can push just the front wheels or all wheels at the same time. When properly equipped, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Available Colors
We didn’t forget about colors! Here are the shades you can paint your new 2021 Hyundai Palisade.
- Hyper White
- Lagoon Silver
- Rainforest
- Sierra Burgundy
- Becketts Black
- Moonlight Cloud
- Steel Graphite
- Typhoon Silver
Trimlines and Pricing
Hyundai offers a brand new trim level on the 2021 Palisade. Read below to find out more about new additions throughout the lineup.
SE
The base Palisade model starts at $32,525. It includes LED headlights, heated mirrors, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and power-folding second-row seats. Bench second-row seating means you’ll be able to seat up to eight passengers in this Palisade. This model rides on 18-inch wheels as well.
SEL
While second-row bench seating is optional for this model, the SEL and all higher trims feature second-row captain’s chairs. That will reduce the seating capacity by a single person. Features exclusive to this model include a sunroof, keyless entry and push button start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and plenty of safety features to keep you confident on the road. The SEL starts at $35,175.
Limited
For premium features such as a heads up display, automatic wipers, a dual-pane sunroof, upgraded leather seating, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, you’ll have to pay for the Limited trim. And it’s quite the jump, up to $45,125. Other goodies include ventilated front and rear seats, configurable ambient lighting, and additional adjustments for the driver’s seat. The infotainment screen grows to 10.3-inches on this model.
Calligraphy
All-wheel drive is standard on this top-trim, along with unique exterior detailing, a faux suede headliner, and quilted-leather door inserts. This luxury-mobile rides on 20-inch wheels, for a couple grand more than the Limited model. You’ll need at least $47,750 for this version of the Palisade.
Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2021 Palisade 5 out of 5 stars for the overall safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet rated the 2021 Palisade. However, the 2020 model was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Hyundai isn’t likely to make any changes that would ruin that reputation.
Hyundai wouldn’t offer you such a capable SUV without adding in room for plenty of driver aid systems. You can expect to find safety systems like a “rearview camera, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, driver drowsiness monitoring, and rear-seat alert.” Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and a surround-view parking camera system are also available, for a cost.
Fuel Efficiency
Even though Hyundai restricts you to a single powerplant, the Palisade’s engine puts up fair marks when it comes to fuel efficiency. Front-wheel drive models achieve 19 city and 26 highway EPA-estimated miles-per-gallon (MPG), according to Kelley Blue Book. All-wheel drive models only lose two points on the highway. Fueleconomy.gov reports the same numbers. These numbers are exactly where you’d expect to find a larger SUV with a V6 engine. So no surprises here — good or bad.
Competitors
Though still new to the dealership lots, the Palisade stands up to fierce competition. The Kia Telluride represents the closest thing to sibling rivalry. Competitors like the Honda Pilot, Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Explorer keep the pressure on the 2021 Palisade. However, that’s not to say the Palisade doesn’t dish out a few knockout features of its own.
For instance, KBB highlighted Hyundai’s efforts to compete not only on the dealership lot, but in the financing department as well.
“Competitive pricing,” they claimed, alone with a “welcoming interior, lavish feature list, pleasant road manners, top safety scores, [and] an unsurpassed powertrain warranty.” KBB gave the 2021 Palisade the edge it needs to stand out to prospective customers.
Besides nailing that hint-of-luxury-without-the-price-tag caliber, the 2021 Palisade also wowed experts when it comes to standard features. From creature comforts within to a slew of safety features without, the Palisade brings a hefty set of benefits to the table. If you’re not convinced, take it directly from Palisade owners.
“Hyundai says nearly half of Palisade buyers weren’t even considering a Hyundai product,” cites TorqueNews, “which proves the positive growth of Hyundai’s brand perception.”
Watch out Honda and Toyota! Hyundai might just nab that top SUV spot when you’re not looking.
Potential Drawbacks
As much praise as there is for the 2021 Palisade, there’s still a few tweaks to be made here and there. For instance, U.S. News called the Palisade’s fuel economy “mediocre.” Kelley Blue Book wanted more door pocket storage. The folks at Car and Driver were pestered by wind noise on highway drives. Edmunds found the handling was not “as crisp as with some rival SUVs.” But as many (small) gripes as there were on the 2021 Palisade, there are just as man praise-filled remarks — if not more.
The Last Word
Is it the right time to bring home your very own 2021 Hyundai Palisade? We encourage you to check out your local Hyundai dealer to test drive and experience this luxury-like SUV for yourself. Compare the numbers, feel the textures of the car, and most of all, measure how confident you feel behind the wheel.
We’ve got plenty more SUV reviews to guide you to the perfect set of wheels for your life. Stay tuned for more reviews on the latest models. The more informed you are about your car-buying decision, the better you’ll feel about the final results. And that’s what we’re here to help with!
Source: Hyundai
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