2023 Hyundai Palisade

The moment you open the door, it’s clear—Hyundai understood the assignment.

The door panels alone deserve attention: layered leather with intricate stitching, beautiful wood trim, thoughtfully designed chrome accents. Nothing feels random or overdone. It’s cohesive, elevated, and incredibly well executed.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Hyundai knows how to blend materials better than almost anyone.

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The 2023 upgrades really shine inside.

You get:

• A fully digital, customizable gauge cluster
• Heads-up display
• Large, intuitive touchscreen
• Seatbelt monitoring visuals (yes, I love this)
• Blind-spot cameras that appear in the dash when you signal

One thing I really appreciate is Hyundai’s decision to keep physical buttons for major functions like climate control. I was just in a Volvo XC90 and felt like everything was buried in the screen, this setup is far more user-friendly.

New for 2023, the climate control screen is upgraded and looks especially sharp in the Calligraphy trim.

Hyundai absolutely nails the family experience for the driver:

• Passenger Talk amplifies the driver’s voice through rear speakers (no turning around!)
• Quiet Mode mutes rear audio for car naps
• Rearview camera mirror gives an unobstructed view even with passengers or cargo
• Wireless charger + USBs everywhere

And let’s talk storage... because this is where minivan vibes (in a good way):

• Bridge-style center console with tons of open storage
• Collapsible cup holders for flexible space
• Wireless charging pad + USB
• Deep center console

Everything has a place, and that matters in day-to-day mom life.

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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

I successfully installed a forward-facing seat in the third row, which was encouraging. Rear-facing seats can work, but space is tight. This vehicle is:

• Great for two car seats
• Fine for older kids
• Not ideal for three car seats, especially rear-facing

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The Palisade offers 18 cubic feet behind the third row. Not the biggest in class, but it has a secret weapon.

Underfloor storage adds several inches of usable space, and I’ve successfully fit:

• Double strollers (Zoe Twin, Mockingbird)
• Large grocery hauls
• Family road-trip gear

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