The small and stylish Elantra sedan has been a staple in Hyundai’s lineup for more than three decades. New to the three-row crossover SUV segment in 2020, Hyundai Palisade is further establishing the brand’s ability to deliver style, value comfort and peace of mind with one of the best warranties available in the industry.
The Elantra’s base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine sends power through a continuously variable automatic transmission tuned for optimal fuel economy, attaining 35-37 mpg combined. Value is a strong point, starting at around 22K for the entry level trim. There is wriggle room to stay under $30K to upgrade to Limited trim or get the hybrid engine option with EPA-estimated 54 mpg in combined driving if it’s fuel efficiency you’re seeking. Limited editions truly blur the lines between the luxury and non-luxury segments. Elantra Limited features two display screens and adds adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and a voice activation system that responds well to web searches and climate control commands. The turbocharged 201-hp Elantra N Line (also available in manual transmission) is yet another choice, still under $30K, if you appreciate more power.
Hyundai sustains its value proposition at the other end of the spectrum with the Palisade, a large SUV with a V6 engine that runs on regular gas and delivers 21 mpg combined on the all-wheel drive family mover. Price starts at $37,725 and ranges up to the Calligraphy trim at $51,185. Similar to the Santa Fe and Tucson XRTs our Palisade test vehicle with XRT trim had a dark theme across the grille, lower door trims and 20-inch wheels, complemented by a black roof rack and black faux leather seats inside.
Like the smallest member of the Hyundai family, Palisade is also equipped with plenty of advanced driver assist features and similar available add-ons. The updated 2023 Palisade brings revised front-end styling with LED daytime running lights nicely integrated into the front bumper and new multi-spoke wheels. Inside is a new instrument panel design, a more powerful wireless charging pad. A digital key system now works with both Android and Apple phones.
The Hyundai warranty program—five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain— further sweetens the value proposition across all of its new vehicles.
