2021 Hyundai Palisade

Pros: Passenger and cargo room; long list of available features; nicely finished cabin

Cons: Some minor controls are a long reach; some control-button markings are hard to read

CG Says: The 2021 Hyundai Palisade adds a new topline Calligraphy model with faux-suede headliner, unique LED lights front and rear, and 20-inch wheels. Hyundai introduced this 3-row midsize crossover SUV last year. The Palisade replaced the Santa Fe XL as Hyundai’s largest SUV, slotting in above the 2-row Santa Fe, which was redesigned for 2019. The Palisade seats up to 8 passengers, and is four inches longer in wheelbase, three inches longer overall, and 3.6 inches wider than the outgoing Santa Fe XL. The sole powertrain is a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on all models, except Calligraphy where it is standard. Available family-friendly features include a Driver Talk function that allows the driver’s voice to be carried through the audio system’s speakers to the rear seating areas; rear occupant alert, a reminder that warns against accidentally leaving someone in a rear seat; Safe Exit Assist, a feature that sounds a warning if a door is opened when a car is approaching from the rear; and the ability to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Other available features include rear cross-traffic alert, brake auto-hold, self-leveling rear suspension, and rear sideview cameras that display in the digital instrument panel when the left or right turn signal is activated. The Hyundai Palisade competes against a highly competitive segment of 3-row “plus-size” midsize SUVs (including corporate cousin Kia’s excellent new Telluride), but it brings a lot to the table. The Palisade not only offers plenty of room for eight passengers (seven with the available second-row captain chairs), but also generous cargo space behind the third-row seats. Those virtues, plus a long list of thoughtful available safety and convenience features, makes the Palisade an especially strong contender in its class.