2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE

LOOKING FOR A LUXURY SUV WITH NON-LUXURY PRICES? CHECK OUT THE PALISADE

Hyundai is not usually a brand you think of when the subject of luxury vehicles comes up but the top trims of the 2024 Hyundai Palisade may just change your thinking a bit.

The interior of the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy is not only roomy but features styling touches that give the cabin the look and feel of a vehicle priced thousands of dollars higher.

Tech features are not only generous but are easy to operate off a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation. No need to take a deep dive to select your drive mode. Simply spin a dial on the center console to select Comfort, Eco, Sport, or Smart mode.

Smart — not to be confused with Smart (adaptive) Cruise Control —eliminates the need to make adjustments on the fly. When in Smart mode and pressing the accelerator pedal to make a pass, you get the extra power from Sport automatically. Revert to cruising through the neighborhood and you automatically fall back to Comfort or Eco mode. Snow/tow mode also is available on all-wheel-drive Palisades.

The Palisade was first shown at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show and was shipped to showrooms as a 2020 model. It is the South Korean automaker’s largest vehicle yet with three rows of seating that accommodate seven or eight passengers (depending on whether bench seats or captain’s chairs are used for the second row).

The Calligraphy trim was added in 2021, and a special Calligraphy Night Edition that features unique black wheels and black accents throughout the exterior is new for 2024

This review is based on the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy with AWD that carries a starting MSRP of $53,435 including the destination and delivery fee. The Calligraphy Night Edition ups that to $55,245. That’s a pretty hefty jump from the $38,045 for the entry level SE trim with front-wheel drive but the comprehensive list of standard features eliminates the need for optional packages unless you really want to trick out your vehicle.

The Palisade is also offered in SEL, XRT, and Limited trims with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

All Palisades come with a 3.8-liter V6 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection capability. Fuel economy is so-so for the segment (19 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 21 combined) and power is adequate for everyday driving (291 ponies, 262 pound-feet of torque).resulting in sub-7 second) zero-to-60 mph times.

Standard goodies on the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy include 20-inch alloy wheels;  roof side rails, and LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights.

Comfort and convenience features Smart (adaptive) cruise control, a 12.-inch instrument cluster, a head-up display, dual automatic temperature control, digital rear-view mirror, keyless entry and push-button start, Nappa leather seating surfaces. a memory function for the driver’s seat, power third-row seats, second-row captain’s chairs, ventilated front and second-row seats,  heated seats in all three row, hands-free power liftgate, and USB ports for all three rows.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Harman-Kardon premium sound system, a wi-fi hotspot, Hyundai’s BlueLink communications, and wireless phone charger are among standard tech features.

A surround-view monitor heads the list of safety features. Other safety systems include lane-keeping and lane-following assist, blind-spot warning, forward collision avoidance assist, driver attention warning, blind-spot view monitor (activated by the turn signals), parking distance warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist.

The Hyundai Palisade gets a new trim level (SEL Premium) and minor updates to features on the 2025 model.

My test 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy did get one extra item. Carpeted floor mats added $215 to run the final total to $53,650.

What I liked about the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy: The plush, attractive interior is simply gorgeous and further blurs the line between luxury and non-luxury vehicles. The Calligraphy offers a long list of standard equipment and you can work through infotainment features without requiring IT training. There are knobs to adjust audio volume as well as surf the radio dial! The 18 cubic feet of cargo area behind the third row handles most routine tasks. Fold the third row and capacity opens up to 45.8 cubic feet. Safety ratings are excellent with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety making the 2024 Palisade a Top Safety Pick.

What I didn’t like about the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy: It’s a bit on the thirsty side. The cabin overall is roomy, but young kids won’t take long to outgrow the far back third row.

Would I buy the 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy? I have no need or desire for a three-row SUV but any family that wants to avoid settling for a minivan should take a long look at the Palisade. The higher trims challenge luxury class options.

2025 HYUNDAI TUCSON

MID-CYCLE REFRESHING UPDATES

HYUNDAI’S  TOP SELLING SUV

Hyundai is refreshing its best-selling vehicle for 2025, giving the Tucson SUV an updated interior with new controls for the infotainment system (knobs for adjusting the sound and surfing the radio dial — hallelujah!) and enhanced safety features that include a system that monitors the driver’s attention.

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson remains part of the model’s fourth generation and offers buyers a variety of trims and drivetrains that figure to keep the Tucson among the top 3 sellers in its class.

Hybrid (HEV) and plugin (PHEV) models joined the portfolio as part of that redesign of 2022. Our attention today, however, is focused on the gas-powered fleet that was launched for the 2005 model year.

All gas-powered Tucsons get a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at a modest 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, but it isn’t going to embarrass you getting off when the light turns green. Fuel economy is rated at 24 miles-per-gallon city, 30 highway, and 24 overll.

Both hybrid models offer more in the way of fuel economy power, of course, especially the N Line hybrid reviewed here last April.

The Limited trim sits at the top of the 2025 portfolio for all Tucsons. The SE trim serves as the entry level model and the SEL, SEL Convenience, and XRT trims fill out the lineup for gas-powered Tucsons.

They come with either front-wheel or Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic automatic Shiftronic transmission with manual gear selection capability. HEVs and PHEVs get a 6-speed automatic Shiftronic transmission and feature standard HTRAC AWD.

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited this review is based on comes with a long list of standard equipment that left carpeted floor mats as the only desired option.

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson falls in the compact SUV but that doesn’t mean “cramped.” The stylish cabin offers over 41 inches of legroom for both front and backseat riders while leaving 38.7 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row. Fold those second-row seats and the cargo area expands to a capacity of 74.8 cubic feet.

Inside that cabin are comfort and convenience features like push-button start, leather seats with a memory feature for the driver, dual climate control with rear vents, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation for infotainment features, Bose Premium sound system, wireless device charger, Hyundai’s BlueLink system, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Standard features on the stylish exterior include 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, a power liftgate, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights.

A surround view monitor and Smart (adaptable) cruise control top the list of standard driver aids for the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited.

Other standard safety features include a blind-spot monitor and collision alert, lane-keeping and following assist, forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, reverse parking collision assist, parking distance warning (front, rear, and side) and forward attention warning.

Starting MSRP for the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited with AWD is $41,190 including freight charges, a slight increase from the $39.655 for the 2024 Tucson Limited AWD.

As noted, my test 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD had only the floor mats as an extra, making the final bottom line $41,400. 

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited with FWD starts at $39,690 including the freight charge.

Other FWD Tucson trims start at $29,750 (SE), $31,610 (SEL), $34,060 (SEL Convenience), and $34,055 (XRT). AWD adds $1500 to each price.

What I liked about the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited: Exterior styling is very appealing. With so many standard features there is little need for options. The interior is roomy. The infotainment system is user-friendly enough (see a couple glitches below), including knobs for adjusting sound volume and surfing the radio dial. The cargo area is spacious

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited:  It could stand a little more pop in the way of performance. Hybrid and plug-in models have a definite advantage in power. Two small  complaints: response when switching to AM radio band is delayed while it “searches” for stations and the clock is eliminated in one of the audio screens.

Would I buy the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Limited? Definitely would recommend a look. The Tucson has come a long way since its launch almost 20 years ago. US News & World Report rates it No. 2 in its analysis of reviews of 19 compact SUVs.