Millennial Mom’s Review: 2021 Hyundai Palisade

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I’m impressed by this three-row SUV. Please understand — that is something I never thought I would say. Ever. Hyundai has stepped up its game and, with this updated Palisade, nearly unrecognizable from previous three-row SUVs from Hyundai, the company has outdone itself.

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The tested version is the top trim, called Ultimate Calligraphy, so yes, it’s got all the coolest features, updates, seven seats, and more to love! It has a starting price of $54,699, and if I had that kind of money sitting around, I might be convinced to trade in my 2014 Honda Odyssey. Maybe .

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If required — and I definitely don’t hate the idea — one trim down from the Ultimate Calligraphy gets you an eight-seat option, as long as you don’t mind losing a few features, like the 12.3-inch full digital display instrument cluster.

If you’ve never been in a Palisade, like myself previous to this tested model, then you should probably know that it took some getting used to, which is why I did my best to capture my day-by-day thoughts and findings. If, however, you’re wondering how this beauty might compare on everyday commutes, check out Graeme Fletcher’s review (he’s also a fan).

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Day One: First Impressions

It is very large and in charge. It looks nice and I actually quite like the two-tone thing happening throughout the interior. The light-coloured seats and darker accents are pretty modern.

It’s a little higher than other SUVs I’ve recently sat in; in the driver’s seat, my feet don’t feel comfortably planted on the ground (yes, I’m short).

Great , yet another different method of changing gears; this time it’s buttons. What was wrong with an actual gearshift? I can accept new technology, but some things were pretty great to begin with, and the auto industry sometimes seems to follow the model, “If it ain’t broke, throw some new technology at it and wait for the costly repairs.”

There are a lot of buttons under the vents and I’ll deal with that later — too many distractions.

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Really smooth drive! Seriously. The gas and brake pedals are so controlled — not too heavy or light, fast or slow, jerky or anything else — which is extremely satisfying and welcoming.

I’m most amazed by this very smart, and extremely useful, little slide-out cupholder. Yes, I’m still easily impressed, but it really is the small things that matter most — well, that may not be true with cars, since the engine is not a small thing and matters a lot more. However, one day when you’ve got a larger item that you want to keep up front with you (and no drink), you’ll be thankful that there wasn’t a cupholder taking up valuable space.

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When you put your signal on (left or right) you get a little pop-up on the gauge cluster that gives you a peek of your side views and displays oncoming traffic — extremely cool. One point for technology.

Why are there so many different types of materials in the front, and all so close to each other? There’s one that looks like wood, one that feels like suede, another that has a ton of pinholes, plus two other textures that could have easily been the same, but that Hyundai chose to make different. There’s just a lot going on, and it’s a bit messy.

Day Two: Short Drive

What’s the point of this long, beautiful SUV when you can just get a minivan? Well, I basically answered the question in how I asked it. For those who want a cooler look than a minivan, this is it. It’s long and pretty spacious, though a bit smaller than a minivan, but maybe smaller is what you want. It is a three-row SUV, which means, unfortunately, you’re limiting your trunk space and getting a bit less legroom in the third row than in a minivan, but in comparison to some other three-rowers, this one has more trunk space to work with — it can’t fit as many economy-sized diaper boxes as a minivan, but maybe you don’t need diapers anymore.

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There’s heated and ventilated seating. I also figured out that the pinholes on the seats aren’t just decoration, they let the cool air flow through and freeze your bum if left at the highest setting, especially when you’re not particularly warm to begin with. I know it’s such a minor detail, but the buttons for the heated and cooling seating have little orange and blue lights, respectively, and I can appreciate a bit of added attention to detail.

I noticed the vents at the back, which is awesome because there are a couple SUVs that don’t have the vents in the third row, as if third-row passengers only sweat in minivans. I wish sedans would start finding a way to fit some extra vents in the back instead of a small one for the passenger in the rear-row middle seat, although it is the worst seat and I guess that person deserves it the most.

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A cute little beep warned me about an upcoming speed camera — not that I needed it, because obviously, I was already driving at the correct speed limit.

The head-up display is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Not only does it show your speed, but it also shows the speed limit, the directions from the navigation system, as well as the little notifications for blind-spot monitoring that appear on your side mirrors. It’s like a little condensed version of everything else that’s in various spots, on different screens.

Similar to the Kia Sorento, I think the Palisade has a pretty good combo of touch screen, knobs, and buttons — maybe a few too many buttons, but in its defense, they all make sense and are greatly appreciated, at least by me.

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The dash is pretty technically advanced but also simple to understand.

If you’ve ever struggled with parking, this may be the car for you. It’s pretty large and to me, should seem almost unparkable, but there are so many cameras around the Palisade that it’s almost impossible to not park perfectly, every single time.

I found the button on the side of the seat to lift and lower the legs, and the seat no longer feels too big, and my feet touch the ground. And now I wonder if I missed this button on other vehicles, and why don’t all SUVs have this function?

Day Three: Long Drive

If you’re wondering, the Palisade is equipped to fit four car seats: two in the second row’s captain’s chairs; and two on both ends of the third row. If needed, it can fit five booster seats within the two back rows; or just five people without booster seats, whatever you need.

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We, however, piled into the Palisade starting with me in the driver’s seat; a front-facing car seat and booster seat in the middle row for my two- and seven-year-old, respectively; and my husband and five-year-old (in another car seat) in the third row. Surprisingly, for a three-row SUV, there was a satisfactory amount of space for everyone, even in the third row.

The second row also has heated and cooled seats, but my second-row passengers can’t take advantage of that since they can’t feel it through the car seats. It’s unfair that the front and middle rows have heated privileges, as if people in the third row never get cold bums, but I assume that’s a wiring or tech issue.

At least the third row has vents. Every seat, except the middle one in the third row, has access to a personal vent, and I’m sure on the hottest days of summer, third-row Palisade passengers will be more than grateful to be in an SUV that lets them stay cool and point a fan directly at sweaty faces.

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The second row’s seats have a handy button on the top. With a simple and gentle touch, the second row’s chairs individually fall and move forward, allowing the third-row passengers to independently get out.

Final Thoughts

I’m against three-row SUVs because I generally can’t check off all my requirements in them, and something is always sacrificed, often trunk space. However, the Palisade comes dangerously close to changing my mind.

I think there’s a pretty good amount of space in the back seats, including the third row. It does limit trunk space, but if you don’t do much travel, then it could actually be a great choice for a family who is opposed to minivans, but requires more than two car seats.