2021 Hyundai Palisade Lengthy-Time period Wrap-Up | By no means misplaced its luster

Time is up on our long-term 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, and it’s simply in time, too, as we obtained to expertise Hyundai’s 2023 mid-cycle refresh for the favored three-row SUV simply a few weeks in the past. 

Our Palisade leaves us in simply as glad a temper as when it joined Autoblog’s long-term take a look at automotive fleet. Over the course of the 12 months, we put over 16,000 miles on this three-row household cellular, toting it all around the Midwest and Southeast. The solely skipped beat got here due to a rodent that determined the O2 sensor wires appeared tasty. That put our Palisade out of fee for about two months whereas we awaited appointments and components from Hyundai — if we’d have had entry to it for these two summer season months, we’d’ve piled on much more miles.

Every different journey to the dealership on this Moonlight Cloud Palisade was a scheduled one. We solely needed to have one oil change carried out, and past that, had Michelin X-Ice winter tires put in and uninstalled for the season adjustments. As Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder detailed in a single replace, these winter tires made our Palisade right into a killer snow machine in Michigan’s slippery circumstances. At a sure level throughout our long-term take a look at, Snyder determined he didn’t have sufficient Palisade in his life, and purchased one himself. We’ll let that endorsement communicate for itself.

We initially took on testing a long-term Palisade as a result of it certain appeared like Hyundai’s first profitable shot on the massive three-row crossover and SUV section, and we wished to see if the automobile remained as spectacular over months because it was on the preliminary launch. We’re glad to see that the luster hasn’t worn off, and we’re simply as smitten with this massive hunk of Hyundai as we at all times have been. 

Numerous considerate options made long-term life with the Palisade simple and handy. Every time we’d hop out of the Palisade and into one thing else with out its cluster-positioned Blind-View Monitors, it was a time of transition and wishing for a similar in no matter automotive we’d’ve been in. Even if you happen to don’t depend on them, having the ability to take a fast peek within the sprint to double affirm there aren’t any automobiles in a pillar’s blind spot when merging on the freeway is nice peace of thoughts. 

Want to fill this massive three-row filled with pals? Easy, the single-tap button to immediately slide the captain’s chairs ahead and out of the way in which for third row entry is likely one of the finest within the biz (although the precise area between seat and pillar may very well be higher for entry). Plus, the electrical-folding third row is killer if you’re not within the temper to manually fold or yank up seats. This is the most effective combo of guide and electric-folding seats you will get for velocity and ease of use.

There wasn’t a highway journey this Palisade didn’t appear prepared for, both. The variety of cubbies, pockets and spots to retailer gadgets obtained reward all year long. Charge ports are plentiful regardless of the row, and the wi-fi cellphone charger labored properly for occasions we forgot a cable or for passengers needing a fast juice-up. I even used the Palisade to maneuver from home to deal with, taking full benefit of the boxy SUV’s utility-focused proportions.

We’ve additionally concluded that popping the additional money for the top-tier Calligraphy is unquestionably value it if you happen to’re already contemplating the almost-fully-loaded Limited trim. Seeing and operating your palms over the quilted leather-based on the doorways and seats is a deal with usually reserved for vastly dearer luxurious autos, so it made our sub-$50,000 Palisade really feel like a cut price. Those white leather-based seats (no, they by no means stank) remained largely white and true to their authentic coloration all year long regardless of a number of seat time in blue denims and different coloured pants. That’s higher than previous Hyundai efforts. Now, it’s laborious to say what 5 years of wear and tear and tear may do to them, however give Snyder a shout down the highway, and he might need a solution for you.

As for operating prices, our greatest purely freeway journeys noticed us attain 25 mpg on a number of events. That’s 1 mpg higher than our 2021 Palisade was EPA-rated for on the freeway, so with a lightweight foot, the rated gasoline economic system is quickly attainable. Some of our extra lead-footed employees noticed gasoline economic system dip into the 15-17 mpg vary when the driving was solely quick journeys in and round city (this occurred rather a lot attributable to social distancing from Covid protecting us from touring longer distances). In blended driving, gasoline economic system was largely on level with the 21 mpg EPA-rated mixed determine. We suspect this shall be what most homeowners expertise of their day-to-day lives, because the 3.8-liter V6 doesn’t precisely encourage full throttle rips.

The engine’s 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque proved enough and is maybe the one side of this automotive that doesn’t shoot above and past Hyundai’s competitors. Its engine notice is neither annoying nor nice, falling someplace within the center as “acceptable noise.” That mentioned, if you happen to ever do end up behind the wheel of an all-wheel-drive Palisade, we’re glad to report that you may nonetheless get a satisfying squeal out of the entrance wheels from a useless cease if you happen to flip traction management off. Leave it on, and the automotive will lavatory down in an effort to save lots of you some rubber.

Now that this Palisade is gone, and the refreshed one is right here, the query stays: Should you spring for the up to date mannequin? Styling may very well be a deciding issue, as we’re break up as a employees on whether or not the brand new face is healthier or worse than the outgoing one. Another massive issue is tech, because the 2023 Palisade is rocking new options like a digital rearview digital camera mirror, auto-dimming aspect mirrors and a massaging driver’s seat. If any of these — or the various others that you simply’ll discover detailed in our 2023 Palisade First Drive — are must-haves, then you need to direct your consideration to the brand new mannequin. Otherwise, the pre-refresh Palisade that we simply gave up remains to be a more-than-worthy storage candidate.

Below, you’ll discover some remaining ideas from our editors on spending a 12 months with this massive blue Palisade.

Road Test Editor Zac Palmer — “Cruising around in the Palisade is just plain pleasant. With no kids, I truly have no need for its size, but I developed a soft spot for this SUV anyway. All of the tech is wonderfully executed to make long road trips a cinch. The Harman/Kardon audio system is plenty powerful to jam out to, and I stuffed it full of friends a few times, too. I’ll truly miss not having it around.”

Associate Editor Byron Hurd — “The ‘v’ word is probably not the sexiest on earth, but the first thing that always comes to mind for me is the Palisade’s value proposition; it’s basically impossible to beat. The big Hyundai is not exciting, but it gets the job done better than just about anything else in the mainstream space. I’d love it even more with the oomph of a well-calibrated PHEV powertrain.”

News Editor Joel Stocksdale — “I didn’t have as much time in the Palisade as some of my colleagues, due to the aforementioned rodent incident. But when I was able to drive the Palisade, it convinced me that it and its Kia sibling are still about the best three-row SUVs in the segment. It’s superbly quiet and comfortable. The V6 is smooth and powerful. And that interior is superb. It’s good enough that the Palisade in its higher trims would be a strong alternative to some of the entry-luxury options out there, even if it wasn’t comparably more affordable. If I had one complaint, though, it would be that it’s on the thirsty side. I’d love to see the turbo-hybrid powertrain from the Kia Sorento, et al, appear in the big Hyundai and Kia. It’s proven to be healthy enough and refined enough that it could be a great option to the Highlander Hybrid and Ford Explorer Hybrid. The plug-in version would be icing on the cake. But even without a hybrid option, the Palisade proved itself to be a killer all-around hauler.”

Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski — “After driving the Palisade 700 miles from Ohio to South Carolina then back again, I walked away extremely pleased with how comfortable and efficient the crossover was with four adults and all their stuff for a weeklong beach vacation. If I regularly hauled that many people in my day-to-day life, you can bet the big Hyundai would be on my shopping list.”

Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder — “Real-world testimonial: My family bought a Palisade as my wife’s daily driver because of the experiences we had with this long-termer. We put it through what we thought would be an extreme use case — two kids in car seats, two dogs and cargo including dog crates, a Pack ’n Play, a stroller and a week’s worth of luggage on a 1,900-mile road trip — but now we see that use case more often because of the freedom this vehicle affords us to travel like that. And we still love the thing. I’ve even conversed with a reader who bought a Palisade partly based on our coverage, who also loves it. I never thought something so practical could feel so good.”

Related video: