2021 Hyundai Palisade

First things first: excellent mom-bun clearance... and yes, that matters.

Even without all the upgrades, the base Palisade SE delivers where it counts:

• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision avoidance
• Backup camera

The touchscreen is intuitive, and I love how easy it is to access rear climate controls—no digging through menus while driving. Huge win for moms with kids in the back.

Visibility is also excellent—large rear windows and a generous third-row window make it feel like a big SUV without driving like a bus.

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If you care about cup holders and cubbies (and if you’re a parent, you do), this car delivers.

• Adjustable cup holders that fold in and out
• Tons of flat space for bottles, coffee, snacks, etc
• Deep center console with USB + 12V
• Overall: top-tier storage design

The side door cubbies are a bit shallow, but still usable. Overall? Storage gets a big thumbs up.

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Second-row highlights:

• Ceiling vents (we love to see it)
• Multiple cup holders (great for kids)
• USBs on the sides of the seats
• Rear climate controls

You can choose bench seating (8-passenger) or captain’s chairs (7-passenger). The bench is not three across compatible. So if you have three or more kids in carseats, I  wouldn't recommend the Hyundai Palisade, but there are plenty other mid size SUVs that would work for you! (VW Atlas, Chevy Traverse, etc.)

Another thing to note in the second row, the buckles are shallow and rigid which may make it difficult for booster age children to buckle. Scroll to the end to find our booster recommendations for the Palisade!

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Car Seat Setup:

This is where things get tricky.

• Second row: two lower anchors on outboard seats, three top tethers
• Third row: one set of lower anchors, two top tethers—but placement makes it nearly impossible to use two seats back there at once

In real-world testing with rear- and forward-facing seats:

• The third row is very difficult for large car seats
• Seat belt overlap and narrow seating create safety concerns
• Non-removable headrests complicate tethering
• Best suited for boosters or older kids, not multiple bulky car seats

If you have two kids, this can absolutely work. If you have three or more kids in big car seats, this would not be my top pick.

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With the third row up, space is tight—but there’s a hidden lower compartment that saved the day. I was able to fit my stroller by using that extra depth. It’s not minivan-level cargo, but it’s respectable for the class.

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