What's the Best 3-Row SUV for 2024?
If you’re looking for a family vehicle that can shuttle you, your kids and all of the gear you need to run your life, a three-row SUV might be exactly what you need. These vehicles offer a compelling blend of interior space, features and technology for moving your crew in comfort, and they’re easier to park and drive than a traditional full-size truck-based SUV.
2024 3-Row SUV Challenge
Results | Winner | Real-World MPG | Cargo Space
There are many models in the three-row SUV class — and a lot of them are new or have been recently redesigned. To find out which one is the best for families, we brought together seven well-equipped versions priced from around $50,000 to $55,000. All of the SUVs in our test had all-wheel drive, but what was under the hood varied; four had V-6 engines, two had turbocharged four-cylinders and one was a gasoline-electric hybrid.
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Our judges for this comparison test were Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman, Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman and West Coast Bureau Chief Conner Golden. They drove each of the SUVs back to back on the same drive loop to assess overall driving performance, comfort, usability, interior quality and more. We also measured cargo space behind the second and third rows, rated child-safety seat fitment, scored safety features and value, and took the SUVs on a 250-mile drive route to test real-world fuel economy. Here’s how they finished after all the scores were added together:
1. 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Night Edition
2. 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium R-Line
3. 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited
4. 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line
5. 2024 Honda Pilot Elite
6. 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum
7. 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring
This was a closely grouped bunch, with just 68 points — or 7% of the 1,035 possible points — separating first from sixth place. While their overall scores were similar, the SUVs’ category scores were often quite different, which you can see in the below chart. For more details on where each SUV excelled — and where it came up short — check out the vehicle-specific sections below to see how it performed in the areas that matter most to you.
All of the categories were worth a maximum of 30 points except for driver-assist tech (15 points), cargo volume (60), real-world fuel economy (60) and value (120), with the latter three worth more points to reflect their importance in this vehicle class. The total of each SUV’s subjective scores was also doubled to give greater weight to our judges’ impressions in the overall tally.
7. 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring, 618 points (out of a possible 1,035)
The verdict: Standard AWD and the lowest as-tested price in our test are highlights, but while the Subaru Ascent’s smaller footprint might be appealing to some shoppers for its maneuverability, its snug cabin hurt it in a number of our scoring categories.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $49,931
- Powertrain: 260-horsepower, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with continuously variable automatic transmission
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 22.9, seventh place
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 22.5, sixth; 9.6, sixth
- Category wins: Driver-assist tech (four-way tie)
The Ascent was refreshed for the 2023 model year with updated styling and new features, but the SUV dates to 2019, its debut model year. It’s the biggest Subaru you can buy, with seating for seven or eight in its three rows, but a number of the other SUVs in our test were larger still, and they put their extra size to good use.
The Good
- Visibility: The Ascent didn’t have the highest visibility score, but it wasn’t far behind the test-leading Pathfinder, with our judges praising its outward views. “Visibility is excellent in the Ascent, with a tall seating position and a big, airy greenhouse,” Bragman said. Newman added that “on our twisty-road drive into the mountains, the Ascent’s triangular window panes near the side mirrors helped me better navigate the tight turns. It’ll also help in day-to-day driving by allowing you to see pedestrians at crosswalks.”
- Creative cupholders: Our judges also liked the location of the Ascent’s second-row cupholders. “For kids in car seats, the Ascent’s in-door bottleholders, which sit high on the doors, will make life easier,” Newman said.
- Low-end torque: The Ascent has one of the smaller engines in this test, but it is turbocharged and makes a healthy 277 pounds-feet of torque at a low 2,000 rpm. Golden noted the “excellent low-end and mid-range torque that feels more than capable of hauling a truckload of folks.”
- Easy-access Latch anchors: “The Ascent has three sets of lower Latch anchors, and they were all incredibly easy to use,” Newman said.
The Bad
- Smallish interior: When it came to front-, second- and third-row comfort, the Ascent scored lowest in all of them. “The second row is tight and cramped, and the third row is suitable only for children,” Bragman said. “The Ascent is on the small end of the segment and feels a class lower than everything else here.” Newman noted that the Ascent’s “captain’s chairs sit low, not offering enough thigh support so my knees were up high.”
- Cargo space: The story of limited room carries over to the cargo area, with space behind the second and third rows near the bottom of the group.
- Real-world gas mileage: You might think a smaller SUV that gives up some interior space would make up for it in other areas, like fuel economy, but you’d be wrong; the Subaru’s 22.9 mpg average on our real-world fuel economy drive was the lowest of the bunch.
- Interior quality: The Subaru’s cabin quality was also judged worst in the test. “Some materials feel cheap for the price, with a noticeable use of extended, undisguised plastic,” Golden said.
- Infotainment interface: The Ascent has a standard vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen in the center of its dash, but the system’s interface could be better. Bragman called it a “smartphone-like layout that is distracting and confusing to find what you need quickly, including all climate functions in the touchscreen.”
- Active-safety annoyances: “A number of the driver-assist systems are rather intrusive, including the lane departure assist and driver attention monitor,” Golden said. “Both are toggleable, but leaving them off also leaves bright-yellow warning lights on the dash.”
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6. 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum, 720 points
The verdict: With category wins for visibility and car-seat fitment, along with strong scores for second-row comfort and in-cabin storage, the Nissan Pathfinder did well in a number of areas important to families.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $54,290
- Powertrain: 284-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine with nine-speed automatic transmission; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 23.8, fifth (tie)
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 23.0, fifth; 9.1, seventh
- Category wins: Visibility, child-safety seats (three-way tie)
The Pathfinder was recently redesigned for the 2022 model year, but despite that, it was still one of the older SUVs in this test. Just like the Honda Pilot when it went through its latest redesign, the Pathfinder got boxier as part of its overhaul. Other significant changes included an all-new interior and a new automatic transmission, and while that interior was a highlight in this test, the powertrain could still use some work.
The Good
- Interior quality: The Pathfinder has “high-quality upholstery and soft-touch controls that at times feel closer to Infiniti than Nissan,” Golden said. Newman agreed, calling the cabin a “really luxurious interior, with quilted leather seats that are downright cushy. It’s also the only contender with a power-adjustable steering wheel.”
- In-cabin storage: The Pathfinder was a close second to the Pilot in this category thanks to some useful features. “In the front, there’s a large storage area under the gearshift for larger items like purses or bags,” Newman said. “In the second row, the center console is easily removable, creating a walkway to the third row.”
- Car-seat fitment: Along with the Pilot and Atlas, the Pathfinder got a perfect score in our child-safety seat fitment testing. “It earned all A’s in our Car Seat Check thanks to its wide seats that easily accommodated our variety of car seats,” Newman said.
- Ride quality: While the Toyota Grand Highlander’s ride quality was deemed best overall, the Pathfinder’s still received praise. “Ride quality is excellent; the Nissan feels smooth and comfortable,” Bragman said.
- Digital instrument panel: Our judges also liked the Platinum trim level’s 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. “The digital gauges are clear and easy to read at a glance; they aren’t a busy mish-mash of displays, lights and readouts,” Bragman said. Golden called the screen an “upscale and attractive configurable digital driver display that again feels like a feature beyond the Nissan badge.”
The Bad
- Rough engine idle: The Pathfinder’s V-6 engine earned praise for its power, but it was also dinged for a lack of smoothness and wound up tied with the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride for worst powertrain score. “The engine has an extremely rough idle, almost as if it’s misfiring or a balancer is out of whack,” Bragman said. Golden concurred, “Engine idle is noticeably rough and coarse, especially in Reverse.”
- Cargo room: The Pathfinder had the least amount of cargo room behind its third row, with just 9.1 cubic feet of space, according to Cars.com measurements, and its overall score, which accounts for measured cargo space behind the second and third rows, was the lowest.
- Dated infotainment: In contrast to the praise the Pathfinder’s digital gauge cluster received, the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system drew criticism. “You’ve got this luxurious interior, but the multimedia screen is on the smaller side and the user interface seems dated,” Newman said. “I struggled to use the native nav system and ultimately used wireless Apple CarPlay after struggling with it for too long.” Bragman added that it’s “poorly organized, contains a lot of questionably useful features and looks outdated.”
- Third-row troubles: “For such a luxurious SUV, the third-row seats feel thinly padded, making them not terribly comfortable,” Newman said. “Kids in car seats won’t notice this, but if you put teens or adults in the third row, chances are high that they will.” Golden felt similarly, saying the “third row isn’t as comfortable as the others, with odd head restraints and cramped quarters for both legs and shoulders.”
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5. 2024 Honda Pilot Elite, 743 points
The verdict: The Honda Pilot’s finishing position is a reminder of the competitiveness of the three-row SUV class. Redesigned for 2023, the Pilot had decent scores in many of the categories we judged but just one outright win for in-cabin storage.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $53,875
- Powertrain: 285-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 10-speed automatic transmission; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 24.8, second (tie)
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 22.1, seventh; 11.0, fifth
- Category wins: In-cabin storage, driver-assist tech (four-way tie), child-safety seats (three-way tie)
The Pilot was just redesigned for the 2023 model year and got a boxier, tougher look in the process. Despite its more rugged persona, it’s still quite family-friendly and was one of three vehicles in our test to get all of the available points in our child-safety seats category.
The Good
- Storage cubbies: “Honda carves out a ton of extra storage cubbies with its dual storage areas in the doors,” Newman said. Bragman agreed, “The cubby storage in the front door pockets is maybe the best in the test — there are lots of options and places to stash things throughout the interior, frankly.”
- Car-seat fitment: Not only did the Pilot get all of the available points in the child-safety seats category, but it was also able to fit three car seats across the second row. Now, it was the only SUV here with a second-row bench seat, but this is still an important attribute.
- Seating configurability: The middle seat in the second row is removable, however, and Honda has cleverly included a place to store it under the cargo floor. “This allows owners to have either an eight-seat or seven-seat SUV. Incredible flexibility,” Newman said.
- Underfloor cargo storage: When the removable middle seat is in use (or not in the SUV), there’s a lot of storage space under the cargo floor — the most of the SUVs in this test.
- Real buttons: In an era of widespread touch-sensitive controls, the Pilot’s physical buttons and control knobs are refreshing. The Honda has “easy, clear, hard-button controls that are easy to navigate,” Golden said.
The Bad
- Visibility: “Our testing loop challenged these SUVs with aggressively tight turns, and the Pilot’s large A-pillars combined with its sizable side mirrors made it difficult to see through those curves,” Newman said. The Pilot had the lowest visibility score in the test.
- Handling: The Pilot also had the lowest handling score of the seven SUVs. “It doesn’t do anything offensive, but it doesn’t have much feel to the boosted steering, and it feels every bit of its big-SUV bulk,” Bragman said.
- Cargo room behind second row: The Pilot is one of the bigger SUVs here, but with 22.1 cubic feet of measured cargo space behind its second row, it has the smallest cargo area.
- Tech already seems dated: The Elite trim level’s infotainment system uses a 9-inch touchscreen, but the system didn’t impress our judges. Both Bragman and Newman thought the touchscreen was small, while Golden said the “infotainment UI is clunky at times, with a number of strange menus that will likely go unused.”
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4. 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line, 756 points
The verdict: The Kia Telluride shares a lot with the Hyundai Palisade, but it didn’t have the Hyundai’s level of luxury or breadth of features — yet it was still nearly as expensive. While there’s still a lot to like in Kia’s three-row SUV, its mid-pack finish is partly a reflection of newer, more impressive competitors.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $54,540
- Powertrain: 291-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 23.8, fifth (tie)
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 24.4, fourth; 12.3, third
- Category wins: Vehicle UI, safety features (tie)
The Telluride is related to the Palisade, but their exterior and interior styling is different enough to disguise this fact from casual observers — and it may make one or the other more appealing to you. The SUVs also emphasize different things, with the Palisade being a bit more premium.
The Good
- Intuitive infotainment: The Telluride has a standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and the system impressed our judges. “I really like Kia’s approach to its multimedia system with a wide display that offers plenty of space for maps and more,” Newman said. “I also appreciate the physical buttons that duplicate many of the multimedia system’s functionality.”
- Front-seat comfort: The Kia’s Nappa-leather-trimmed front seats were judged a close second to the Palisade’s seats, but Bragman thought the driving position was better. “The dash is lower, providing a more panoramic view. You feel taller in the Kia.”
- Useful technology: The Telluride’s blind spot camera system — a feature that’s shared with the Palisade — also earned praise. “I continue to appreciate the side cameras that project in the digital gauge cluster when the turn signal is engaged,” Newman said. “It allows you to confirm that the lane is safe to merge into and allows you to see bikers, for instance. It’s not a new feature, but it’s such a good feature.”
- Top-notch trim: In SX-Prestige form, the Telluride has its share of upscale cues. “The premium, soft-touch microsuede headliner is noticeably cushy to the touch and further elevates the experience beyond both the price and badge,” Golden said.
- Charging solutions: The Telluride has six USB ports sprinkled throughout the interior, and the ones for second-row passengers are conveniently located on the front seatbacks.
The Bad
- Powertrain pessimism: Despite having one of the more powerful V-6 engines under its hood, the Telluride was tied with the Palisade and Pathfinder — which also have V-6 power — for the lowest powertrain score. “Power is merely adequate with only the driver in the car, and I can imagine it lugs when loaded down,” Golden said. “Power on paper is fine, but it’s peaky and underwhelming in any environment with elevation.”
- Car-seat fitment: The Telluride was also tied with the Grand Highlander for the lowest score in our child-safety seat testing, and we had issues with seats in both the second and third rows. “I struggled to install our forward-facing car seat with hooklike anchors in the captain’s chairs,” Newman said. “It was a combination of thick seat cushions and the position of the seat belt buckles that caused the issue.” In the third row, the seat belt buckle fell behind the booster seat, making it hard for a child to buckle themselves.
- Climate controls: All of the SUVs in our test have tri-zone climate control, but Golden lamented the Telluride’s lack of air conditioning controls for rear passengers. At this price, you should get some.
- Some lower-grade elements: While the Telluride’s interior controls have an upscale appearance, operating them can be less appealing. “The interior controls feel plasticky and cheap to use despite looking quite nice,” Golden said.
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3. 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited, 770 points
The verdict: The Toyota Grand Highlander is a comfortable, spacious and fuel-efficient three-row SUV, which is a bit of a rarity in this class. The gas-electric hybrid’s eco-minded outlook doesn’t diminish the driving experience, either.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $53,238
- Powertrain: 245-hp, gas-electric hybrid with CVT; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 35.1, first
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 26.0, second; 14.5, first
- Category wins: Braking, ride quality, quietness, real-world fuel economy, cargo volume (tie), driver-assist tech (four-way tie)
All-new for 2024, the Grand Highlander is larger than Toyota’s regular Highlander three-row SUV. The Grand Highlander also brings a unique powertrain offering to this comparison test with the gas-electric hybrid system under the hood of our Limited trim level. None of the other SUVs we tested even offer a hybrid powertrain, and it gave the Toyota some distinct advantages.
The Good
- Fuel sipper: The AWD Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined, and the SUV exceeded that estimate on our real-world fuel economy drive with a result of 35.1 mpg; that was more than 10 mpg better than the next most efficient Pilot and Atlas, which averaged 24.8 and 24.7 mpg, respectively, on our drive.
- Hybrid high praise: The Grand Highlander’s efficiency, however, didn’t come at the expense of the driving experience. “The hybrid powertrain is smooth, well blended, powerful and allows for silent operation in parking lots,” Bragman said. Golden added that the “smooth and highly efficient hybrid powertrain was the biggest surprise. Despite the naturally aspirated four-cylinder foundation, it was both powerful enough for the intended purpose and not intrusively thrashy like other Toyota four-cylinders.”
- Ride quality: The Grand Highlander’s ride quality also impressed and was one of the SUV’s multiple outright category wins. “Ride quality is outstanding, with a supple ride that just wafts the vehicle along in any situation, from around-town errands to highway cruising,” Bragman said.
- Cavernous cargo area: With the most cargo room behind the third row (14.5 cubic feet), and the second-most cargo space behind the second row (26 cubic feet), the Grand Highlander puts its size to good use.
- Visibility: Even though the Grand Highlander is big, visibility is relatively good, with it scoring just below the top-rated Pathfinder. “Outward visibility is excellent, with a high seating position and a low dash and steering wheel allowing for an easy view over the hood,” Bragman said.
- Smaller-items storage: Our judges liked the storage shelf above the glove box that has a nearby charging port and the SUV’s console bin. “Smart interior packaging with cavernous storage is impressive, especially the deep well in the front center console capable of swallowing a liter-size metal water bottle,” Golden said.
The Bad
- Handling: The trade-off for the Grand Highlander’s comfortable ride quality was a handling score that was tied with the Pilot and Ascent for lowest in the test. “This is the least athletic vehicle here, with slow turn-in, a lot of push in corners and lots of body roll,” Bragman said.
- Safety features: Our Limited trim level was missing some safety features like a 360-degree camera system and head-up display that were present in other SUVs in our test. The Grand Highlander Platinum comes with these features, but that trim starts at nearly $60,000 (including destination) and is only offered with the Grand Highlander’s performance-oriented Hybrid Max powertrain.
- Car-seat fitment: The Grand Highlander tied with the Telluride for the lowest score in our Car Seat Check. The seat belt buckles in the second row are floppy, making them harder for kids in booster seats to use; in the third row, the fixed head restraints prevented the booster from sitting flush against the seat. The third-row buckles are also surrounded by seating material, making them harder to access.
- Value: The Toyota tied with the Pathfinder for the lowest value score. It was missing features like a panoramic moonroof, rearview camera mirror and key-fob-based remote start that were present in other SUVs in our test, but its mid-pack pricing couldn’t make up for the lower level of equipment.
- Multimedia malaise: With a 12.3-inch touchscreen, the infotainment system’s display is nice and large, but the system itself is difficult to use. “The multimedia system is awful, with no home screen, lots of oddly empty real estate, and its insistence on creating profiles and getting data connectivity,” Bragman said.
- Third-row access and comfort: Reaching the Grand Highlander’s third row is challenging, and comfort is compromised. “The third-row seats are low to the floor, leaving the passenger in a less-than-ideal seating position with their knees up in the air,” Newman said.
- Some cheap-feeling trim: “Second-row materials quality drops off dramatically; it’s all hard plastic behind the driver and front passenger,” Bragman said. Golden called the cabin “bland.”
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2. 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium R-Line, 774 points
The verdict: Many of the things we’ve liked about the Volkswagen Atlas over the years are still present in the 2024 model, like its generous interior room, but the SUV’s new infotainment system is a significant blemish on the overall experience. When you weigh everything, though, the VW’s positive traits far outweigh its shortcomings, resulting in a strong second-place finish.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $55,405
- Powertrain: 269-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with eight-speed automatic transmission; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 24.8, second (tie)
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 28.5, first; 13.3, second
- Category wins: Second-row comfort, third-row comfort, powertrain, handling, cargo volume (tie), child-safety seats (three-way tie), driver-assist tech (four-way tie)
The Atlas has been refreshed for the 2024 model year with new styling on the outside, a revised interior and a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The changes might seem somewhat modest overall, but our judges had some pretty strong feelings about the updated Atlas — both good and bad.
The Good
- Space for days: Interior room has been a hallmark of the Atlas since its debut, and the 2024 version continues that legacy. “The second row is absolutely huge, with tons of legroom, and the third row is the best in the test, with real room for full-sized adults and super-easy ingress and egress,” Bragman said. The Atlas had the top scores in our test for both second- and third-row comfort.
- That includes cargo room: That Atlas had the most measured cargo space behind its second row at 28.5 cubic feet, and its 13.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row was second only to the Grand Highlander’s 14.5 cubic feet.
- Big doesn’t mean bumbling: The Atlas is one of the bigger SUVs here, but it doesn’t feel like that from the driver’s seat and earned the highest handling score. “It is far more nimble and athletic than any other vehicle here except the Subaru,” Bragman said. “Brakes feel strong and progressive, and the VW drives like a much smaller vehicle than it is.” Golden said the Atlas’ “above-average handling and dynamics recall some of Volkswagen’s past glory.”
- Peppy performance: If you’re concerned a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder isn’t up to the task of moving a big SUV, don’t be: The Atlas can move, and our judges rated its powertrain tops in the test. “Acceleration is brisk, with plentiful power from the turbocharged four-cylinder engine,” Bragman said. Newman added: “The Atlas moved swiftly from a stop and easily tackled the mountain course that we put it through.”
- Car-seat fitment: With a perfect score in our Car Seat Check, the Atlas is also designed to carry your smallest passengers. “The installations went smoothly thanks to easy-to-access Latch anchors and a roomy interior,” Newman said.
The Bad
- That infotainment system: All three of our judges had issues with the Atlas’ infotainment system, which consolidates a number of vehicle functions into a 12-inch dashboard touchscreen and a touch-sensitive panel below it. The result was the lowest UI score in the test. “The multimedia system, which also incorporates all climate and other controls, is a massive pile of steaming hot garbage,” Bragman said. “It’s difficult to use, completely unintuitive, hard to find what you need and poorly organized. It doesn’t even entirely light up at night, leaving volume and temp controls in the dark.”
- Noisy interior: The Atlas’ only other loss was for cabin quietness, which it just doesn’t possess. “Tons of road noise reverberated around the Atlas on our drive route,” Newman said. Bragman said “it feels like VW left out all the sound insulation; the cabin is simply loud as hell — especially on the highway.”
- Front-seat comfort: While the Atlas’ second- and third-row accommodations earned high marks, our judges didn’t rate the front seats as highly. “The stiff and flat front seats were not as comfortable as I’d hoped,” Golden said, and Bragman said the “seat bottoms are oddly bolstered in an unpleasant, fake-sporty way.”
Research the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas | Search Inventory | Car Seat Check
1. 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Night Edition, 788 points
The verdict: The Hyundai Palisade had only a handful of outright wins, but it was competitive in numerous subjective categories and also won our value scoring thanks to its impressive roster of features for the money. If you’re looking for some luxury in your next family vehicle, the Palisade is a must-see three-row SUV.
Our Test Vehicle
- As-tested price: $55,600
- Powertrain: 291-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission; AWD
- Observed fuel economy (mpg): 23.9, fourth
- Cargo space behind second and third rows (cubic feet): 11.2, third; 11.2, fourth
- Category wins: Front-seat comfort, interior quality, value, safety features (tie)
First introduced as a 2020 model, the Palisade was significantly refreshed for the 2023 model year with updated front-end styling and new features that included available heated third-row seats and a rearview camera mirror. In many other ways, however, it’s still the same three-row SUV that’s impressed us over the years, including taking the top spot in our 2020 3-Row SUV Challenge.
The Good
- Classy interior: The Palisade Calligraphy Night Edition’s interior is a highlight, and its quality was judged best in the test. “The whole interior just looks dynamite, with quilted trim and ‘tuxedo-stripe’ panels that look like they’ve been lifted out of a Mercedes-Maybach,” Bragman said.
- Comfortable, too: With the top score for front-seat comfort, the Palisade’s bucket seats were lauded not only for how they felt, but also the material covering them. “Front-seat comfort is fantastic, and I love the fact that it has upscale fabric instead of leather — that’s just a really unique touch,” Bragman said.
- Easy-to-use tech: “The Palisade has some of the best UI in the business, with dedicated buttons for almost everything but a wide, easy-to-use touchscreen for everything else,” Bragman said. It was second only to the Telluride in our UI scoring.
- In-cabin storage: With a wealth of storage areas in the front center console, the Palisade was just behind the Pilot in our scoring for in-cabin storage. “The cupholders can be retracted to create a sizable storage cubby; the center console is deep; and there’s an additional storage area under the gear selector,” Newman said. “Perfect for purses.”
- Value: The Palisade was the most expensive vehicle in our test with an as-tested price of $55,600, but it wasn’t much more than the Atlas, and it was within a few thousand dollars of some of the others. Combined with its wealth of features and strong warranty coverage, the Palisade ended up with the highest score in our value category.
- Powered up: “I really appreciate the convenience of having power-folding second- and third-row seats, with the buttons conveniently positioned in the cargo area,” Newman said.
The Bad
- Powertrain: Numbers don’t always tell the whole story, and even though the Palisade and Telluride both have the most horsepower and the largest V-6 engines, they tied with the Pathfinder for the lowest powertrain score. Golden said the Hyundai “struggled at elevation and didn’t inspire confidence that it wouldn’t feel significantly burdened with more than three passengers.”
- Cut the cord already: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still wired-only in the Palisade (and the Telluride, too), while the competition mostly supports both wired and wireless connectivity.
- Pushing our buttons: Hyundai has used a push-button gear selector in the Palisade since its debut, but it’s still not the most intuitive thing to use.
- Second-row Latch access: “The captain’s chairs’ inner Latch anchors are somewhat difficult to use because of crowding by the seat belt buckle and seat cushioning limiting access,” Newman said.
Research the 2024 Hyundai Palisade | Search Inventory | Car Seat Check
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