2023 HYUNDAI PALISADE: IS IT A LUXURY SUV?

Some might argue that the 2023 Hyundai Palisade brings enough to your drive to be considered a luxury SUV. This midsize three-row SUV is among the top choices in its class, but that class does not include the word “luxury.” Still, the top trims of this Hyundai SUV might have enough equipment to put the Palisade into the luxury SUV world.

How could the 2023 Hyundai Palisade be confused with a luxury SUV?

This Hyundai SUV’s top two trim levels, Limited and Calligraphy, could easily propel it into the luxury market. The Limited trim brings you:

  • Leather upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front and middle-row seats
  • A power-folding, heated third row
  • Digital gauge cluster
  • Head-up display
  • Dual-pane sunroof
  • Hyundai’s Driver Talk in-cabin intercom
  • 630-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system

The Calligraphy trim builds in the Limited model with:

  • Specialized front and rear styling elements
  • A special grille insert
  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • Puddle lamps
  • Premium Nappa leather upholstery
  • Quilted leather door panels
  • Synthetic-suede headliner

These two trims bring a full package of standard safety equipment, including rear occupant alert, safe exit assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Certainly, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade at these trims has some features you won’t find in smaller luxury SUVs but similarly sized luxury models.

 How does the Palisade compare to the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

If you want to see an apples-to-apples comparison, the closest we can get is the 2023 versions of the Hyundai Palisade and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. U.S. News & World Report ranks these two midsize SUVs at the very top of their respective classes.

The base version of the GLE 350 comes standard with:

  • Parallel and perpendicular parking assist
  • Pre-Safe system – tightens seatbelts, closes windows and sunroof

These features aren’t found on the top trims of the Palisade. As we move up through the trims of the Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV, we find items you’ll never see in a 2023 Hyundai Palisade. Some of these items include:

  • Airmatic air suspension
  • Soft-close doors
  • 20-inch AMG alloy wheels
  • 22-inch wheels
  • Power-assisted rear door sunshades
  • Fender flares
  •  Chrome exhaust ports
  • AMG Ride Control+ with roll stabilization
  • Improved transmission, suspension, brakes, and steering

The Hyundai SUV has more power than the base GLE 350

Every 2023 Hyundai Palisade uses the same powertrain. This is another hint that this Hyundai is not a luxury SUV. This powertrain is a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The system delivers 291 horsepower and includes three driver-controlled driving modes.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine attached to a 9-speed automatic transmission to send 255 horsepower to the wheels. One step up to the GLE 450 4Matic, and you’ve got more power than what’s found in the Palisade. The GLE 450 uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine and a mild hybrid system to return 362 horsepower.

Is the 2023 Hyundai Palisade more affordable than a base-level luxury SUV?

The Hyundai three-row midsize SUV has an MSRP of $48,900 at the Calligraphy trim. Turning to the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, we see a starting price of $57,700, making the Hyundai SUV more affordable.

Overall, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade may not be a luxury SUV, but it certainly has luxurious qualities at the higher trim levels. Learn more about this high-end Hyundai SUV in the video below:

Related

Many Midsize SUVs Fared Poorly in the New Rear Seat Crash Test

The post 2023 Hyundai Palisade: Is it a Luxury SUV? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

Read the original article from MotorBiscuit

2023-05-28T01:11:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd