What’s the Best 2023 Hyundai Palisade Trim? Here’s Our Guide

Among three-row SUVs, the Hyundai Palisade has always been a solid bet. Introduced for 2020, the Palisade's premium looks, useful features, and strong versatility are impressive (although perhaps not as much as its platform-mate, the Kia Telluride). For 2023, Hyundai updates the Palisade with new styling, technology, and safety features, in addition to introducing a new trim level. Let's review every 2023 Hyundai Palisade trim and decide which is best.

Certain core details are shared among the 2023 Palisade lineup. Every model is powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 producing 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. That's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional. Fuel economy comes in at 19/27 mpg city/highway with FWD, 19/25 mpg with AWD. Choosing AWD adds $1,900 to the price.

All have three rows of seats, with either seven- or eight-passenger capacity depending on configuration. Starting this year, every trim level has a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and built-in navigation. The 2023 Palisade earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA five-star overall safety ratings.

Starting at approximately $37,000, the entry-level 2023 Palisade trim covers the basics. The Palisade SE rolls on 18-inch wheels and has full LED headlights. Its acoustically laminated windshield reduces noise.

Inside, cloth upholstery covers the eight-passenger seating arrangement. None of the seats has power adjustment, but the second-row seats can be folded down using electric release levers in the cargo area. Air vents are provided in all three rows. There's a 4.2-inch information display in the gauge cluster and USB ports in the first and second rows.

Numerous driver assist and active safety features are standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, front automatic emergency braking, side and rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and automatic high-beams.

Stepping up to the roughly $40,000 2023 Palisade SEL brings upgrades. The taillights and exterior door handles gain LED illumination. Roof rails and a hands-free power liftgate enhance the Palisade's cargo capabilities.

Inside, the steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the seats are upholstered with leatherette, and seven- or eight-passenger seating is available. Comfort rises thanks to heating and power adjustability for the front seats, while two-zone automatic climate control maintains temperatures for those riding in back. Front-door laminated window glass quiets the cabin. Technology enhancements include a wireless charging pad in the front row, LED interior overhead lighting, and phone-as-key functionality.

The Palisade SEL is offered with a Premium package, which costs $4,950 and adds numerous features. Outside, those include 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, and windows treated to repel water and noise. Inside, the front and rear seats are heated and ventilated, and the driver gets a heated steering wheel. Third-row USB ports, a Harman Kardon audio system, and an all-digital gauge display are among tech enhancements. Camera-based blind-spot monitoring and an upgraded adaptive cruise control system join the list of driver assist features.

New for 2023 is the Palisade XRT, which goes for slightly more than $42,000. Hyundai positions it as the off-road-ish version of the Palisade, but there's nothing in the way of trail-oriented hardware—it all comes down to styling changes. The 2023 Palisade XRT receives a blacked-out theme, with dark hues applied to the grille, bumpers, roof rails, and lower door trim. It rolls on trim-specific black 20-inch wheels. A seven-seat layout and black leatherette upholstery are standard. The XRT trim is the first Palisade model that includes a sunroof; that feature is optional on the SEL.

The 2023 Palisade Limited makes a significant price jump to $48,500, but it's equipped to back that up. Unique 20-inch wheels and chrome lower door trim help it stand out.

Inside, the headliner is a melange cloth. The seven seats have leather upholstery details, and the driver's seat gains four-way lumbar adjustment and extendable under-thigh support. All three rows of seats are heated, as is the steering wheel, and the first- and second-row seats are ventilated, as well. Furthermore, the third row has power folding and unfolding functionality. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof lets more light in, while integrated rear-door window sunshades block it out. Water-repellent coating is applied to the front-door windows, and the second-row windows are acoustically laminated.

Many technology upgrades come on the Limited trim. Up front, the driver looks at a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and head-up display. A 360-degree camera system shows what's around the vehicle. In the third row, USB charge ports are added. Communication across the cabin is eased via the built-in intercom system, and overall audio improves thanks to the 12-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The Palisade Limited assists its driver with front parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, evasive emergency steering, and an improved adaptive cruise control system. Camera-based blind-spot monitors make it easier to see what might be hiding next to the Palisade.

At the top of the 2023 Hyundai Palisade range is the Calligraphy trim. At about $51,000, it doesn't cost much more than the Limited model. So what does the most luxurious Palisade come with? It gets turbine-style 20-inch wheels, a satin chrome grille, and body-color wheel arches and door trim. Furthermore, Calligraphy is the only trim offered in gorgeous Robust Emerald dark green paint. Upscale touches continue in the cabin, which has leather upholstery finished in a quilted pattern across the seats and door panels. A soft-touch microfiber headliner, improved second-row headrests, a two-tone leather steering wheel, and 64-color ambient lighting advance the luxury impression.

Other exclusive features aim to make daily driving a little nicer. One-touch up/down functionality is added to the rear windows, and reverse automatic emergency braking reduces the risk of backing into something. The techy digital rearview mirror, which uses a camera to see past blind spots, should help with that, too. Hyundai's Remote Smart Parking Assist system will wow bystanders, even if it's not actually very useful in practice.

Our recommendation in the 2023 Palisade range isn't exactly a trim level—it's the SEL with the Premium package. So equipped, the SEL model's price still undercuts the Limited trim while coming with most of the same appealing features. The Limited and Calligraphy grades keep some exclusive features, but those are mostly nice-to-haves, not need-to-haves. One need-to-have, however, is AWD, as it much improves the Palisade's driving manners—opt for it whether you take our recommendation on the 2023 Palisade SEL Premium Package, or not.