2021 Hyundai Palisade Long-Term Wrap-Up | Never lost its luster
Time is up on our long-term 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, and it’s simply in time, too, as we received 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 pleased a temper as when it joined Autoblog’s long-term check automotive fleet. Over the course of the yr, we put over 16,000 miles on this three-row household cellular, toting it everywhere in the Midwest and Southeast. The one skipped beat got here due to a rodent that determined the O2 sensor wires regarded tasty. That put our Palisade out of fee for about two months whereas we awaited appointments and elements from Hyundai — if we’d have had entry to it for these two summer time months, we’d’ve piled on much more miles.
Each 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 situations. At a sure level throughout our long-term check, Snyder determined he didn’t have sufficient Palisade in his life, and acquired 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 regarded like Hyundai’s first profitable shot on the large three-row crossover and SUV phase, and we wished to see if the automobile remained as spectacular over months because it was on the preliminary launch. We’re pleased to see that the luster hasn’t worn off, and we’re simply as smitten with this large hunk of Hyundai as we at all times have been.
Quite a few considerate options made long-term life with the Palisade straightforward and handy. Each time we’d hop out of the Palisade and into one thing else with out its cluster-positioned Blind-View Screens, it was a time of transition and wishing for a similar in no matter automotive we would’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 are not any vehicles in a pillar’s blind spot when merging on the freeway is nice peace of thoughts.
Need to fill this large three-row stuffed with associates? Straightforward, the single-tap button to immediately slide the captain’s chairs ahead and out of the way in which for third row entry is without doubt one of the greatest within the biz (although the precise area between seat and pillar could possibly be higher for entry). Plus, the electrical-folding third row is killer while you’re not within the temper to manually fold or yank up seats. That is one of the best combo of guide and electric-folding seats you may 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 received reward all year long. Cost ports are plentiful regardless of the row, and the wi-fi telephone charger labored properly for instances we forgot a cable or for passengers needing a fast juice-up. I even used the Palisade to maneuver from home to accommodate, 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 price it if you happen to’re already contemplating the almost-fully-loaded Restricted trim. Seeing and working your palms over the quilted leather-based on the doorways and seats is a deal with sometimes reserved for vastly costlier luxurious autos, so it made our sub-$50,000 Palisade really feel like a discount. These white leather-based seats (no, they by no means stank) remained largely white and true to their unique coloration all year long regardless of a lot of seat time in blue denims and different coloured pants. That is higher than previous Hyundai efforts. Now, it’s laborious to say what 5 years of wear and tear and tear would possibly do to them, however give Snyder a shout down the highway, and he may need a solution for you.
As for working 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 gas economic system is instantly attainable. A few of our extra lead-footed workers noticed gas economic system dip into the 15-17 mpg vary when the driving was solely brief journeys in and round city (this occurred lots as a consequence of social distancing from Covid holding us from touring longer distances). In blended driving, gas economic system was largely on level with the 21 mpg EPA-rated mixed determine. We suspect this can be what most house owners 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 sufficient and is probably the one facet of this automotive that doesn’t shoot above and past Hyundai’s competitors. Its engine observe is neither annoying nor nice, falling someplace within the center as “acceptable noise.” That stated, if you happen to ever do end up behind the wheel of an all-wheel-drive Palisade, we’re pleased to report you can nonetheless get a satisfying squeal out of the entrance wheels from a useless cease if you happen to flip traction management off. Depart it on, and the automotive will bathroom 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: Must you spring for the up to date mannequin? Styling could possibly be a deciding issue, as we’re break up as a workers on whether or not the brand new face is healthier or worse than the outgoing one. One other large issue is tech, because the 2023 Palisade is rocking new options like a digital rearview digicam mirror, auto-dimming aspect mirrors and a massaging driver’s seat. If any of these — or the numerous others that you just’ll discover detailed in our 2023 Palisade First Drive — are must-haves, then you must direct your consideration to the brand new mannequin. In any other case, the pre-refresh Palisade that we simply gave up remains to be a more-than-worthy storage candidate.
Under, you’ll discover some ultimate ideas from our editors on spending a yr with this large blue Palisade.
Street Check Editor Zac Palmer — “Cruising round within the Palisade is simply plain nice. With no youngsters, I actually haven’t any want for its dimension, however I developed a smooth spot for this SUV anyway. All the tech is splendidly executed to make lengthy highway journeys a cinch. The Harman/Kardon audio system is loads highly effective to jam out to, and I stuffed it stuffed with associates just a few instances, too. I am going to actually miss not having it round.”
Affiliate Editor Byron Hurd — “The ‘v’ phrase might be not the sexiest on earth, however the very first thing that at all times involves thoughts for me is the Palisade’s worth proposition; it is mainly unattainable to beat. The large Hyundai is just not thrilling, but it surely will get the job accomplished higher than absolutely anything else within the mainstream area. I might adore it much more with the oomph of a well-calibrated PHEV powertrain.”
DriftInsh24 Editor Joel Stocksdale — “I did not have as a lot time within the Palisade as a few of my colleagues, because of the aforementioned rodent incident. However once I was in a position to drive the Palisade, it satisfied me that it and its Kia sibling are nonetheless about one of the best three-row SUVs within the phase. It is fantastically quiet and comfy. The V6 is easy and highly effective. And that inside is excellent. It is adequate that the Palisade in its larger trims could be a powerful various to a few of the entry-luxury choices on the market, even when it wasn’t comparably extra inexpensive. If I had one grievance, although, it will be that it is on the thirsty aspect. I might like to see the turbo-hybrid powertrain from the Kia Sorento, et al, seem within the large Hyundai and Kia. It is confirmed to be wholesome sufficient and refined sufficient that it could possibly be an important choice to the Highlander Hybrid and Ford Explorer Hybrid. The plug-in model could be icing on the cake. However even with out a hybrid choice, the Palisade proved itself to be a killer all-around hauler.”
Shopper Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski — “After driving the Palisade 700 miles from Ohio to South Carolina then again once more, I walked away extraordinarily happy with how comfy and environment friendly the crossover was with 4 adults and all their stuff for a weeklong seashore trip. If I commonly hauled that many individuals in my day-to-day life, you possibly can wager the massive Hyundai could be on my procuring record.”
Senior Editor, Inexperienced, John Beltz Snyder — “Actual-world testimonial: My household purchased a Palisade as my spouse’s each day driver due to the experiences we had with this long-termer. We put it by what we thought could be an excessive use case — two youngsters in automotive seats, two canine and cargo together with canine crates, a Pack ’n Play, a stroller and every week’s price of bags on a 1,900-mile highway journey — however now we see that use case extra usually due to the liberty this automobile affords us to journey like that. And we nonetheless love the factor. I’ve even conversed with a reader who purchased a Palisade partly based mostly on our protection, who additionally loves it. I by no means thought one thing so sensible may really feel so good.”
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