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2025 GMC Acadia Review2025 Hyundai Palisade Review
The 2025 Palisade marks the end of the first generation for Hyundai’s hit vehicle. We look at interior quality, trim levels, and more in our review.
2025 Hyundai Palisade – hyundaiusa.com | Shop 2025 Hyundai Palisade on Carsforsale.com
What is New for the 2025 Hyundai Palisade?
Hyundai recently unveiled the much-anticipated second-generation Palisade at a press conference in South Korea. With this landmark model in the history of Hyundai set to launch in Korea first, North America gets one ostensible last rodeo with the current model before it’s likely to be sunset. Knowing this, the 2025 Palisade is a tribute act to the best specs and features that made it a powerhouse in its class. There is a mid-tier SEL Premium trim new for this year, but it’s clear the real fireworks are for next year.
Carsforsale.com Score
9.25/10
Powertrain
Score
8.5/10
Interior
Score
9.25/10
Technology
Score
9.5/10
Value
Score
9.25/10
The Breakdown
Great styling
Comfortable interior
Impressive tech
So-so fuel economy
No hybrid option
One of the best SUVs in the game
2025 Palisade Specs
- 291 horsepower from base engine
- 262 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 7 available trims
- 18 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 86.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 10-year powertrain warranty
- IIHS+ Top Safety Pick
2025 Palisade Powertrain 8.5/10
Assuredly, the second-generation Palisade will fix this, but the gen-I we’re stuck with for the 2025 model year is pretty uneventful in the powertrain department. It’s the same Lambda II-series 3.8-liter Atkinson cycle V6 engine and eight-speed automatic combo the platform’s used in North America since the very beginning.
The Palisade’s 291 horsepower is nice enough–good for zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds. But a combined fuel economy of just 22 MPG in front-wheel drive configuration and 21 with all wheel drive makes us wish for a hybrid variant. Other vehicles in this range, such as the Mazda CX-90 or Toyota Grand Highlander , offer comparable performance with significantly better gas mileage.
2025 Palisade Interior 9.25/10
The base SE trim settles for cheap and cheerful yet durable cloth. Starting with the SEL, Hyundai’s proprietary flavor of H-Tex vegan leather upholstery adds an up-market feel far beyond its price point. The Limited trim offers leather trimmed seating, while the twin Calligraphy and Calligraphy Night offer extravagant heated and cooled Nappa leather front and back seats.
The Palisade has a remarkably adaptable interior space with options like rear captain’s chairs for the SE and SEL trim, a rear bench elsewhere in the range, and a seating capacity of seven or eight. It also runs the full gambit from basic family hauler to full-scale luxo-barge inside.
Add ample storage space of 18 cubic feet behind the third row and 86.4 with the seats stowed, and the Palisade is just about perfect for most American families inside. With 42.4 inches of legroom in the second row and 31.4 in the third, there are no complaints there either.
2025 Palisade Tech and Features 9.5/10
In short, the Palisade’s interior is a masterclass in building a brand’s reputation for quality. A standard crisp-vibrant 12.3-inch infotainment screen and matching digital gauge cluster in upper trims make for a super sleek-looking driver’s area. Even on the base SE trim, niceties like Wi-Fi connectivity, a rear-seat quiet mode that turns down speaker volumes for young children, plus ten-spoke alloy wheels make for a premium feel.
Wireless charging and Hyundai’s Digital Key software, plus a hands-free power tailgate, become available at the SEL trim, as do a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo plus a sunroof. The XRT trim has been criticized in recent years for not matching the rugged body cladding and roof rack with fancy suspension or tires. Still, you could throw on a pair of BFG KO3s yourself if you’re so inclined. The limited trim adds a heads-up display and a second sunroof in the rear, like a true luxury SUV.
At the top, the Calligraphy trim adds LED exterior lights and exclusive exterior trim pieces to match the massaging front seats, a soft suede headliner, evasive steering assist, and a smart parking assist added to the driver assistant suite.
2025 Hyundai Palisade Trims & Pricing
SE – $36,800
A base trim in name only. Sure, you get cloth seats only. But you do get dual-zone climate control, the same 12.3-inch touch screen as the rest of the range, plus Wi-Fi, you won’t feel like you’re driving a base trim even slightly.
SEL – $39,550
The SL adds H-Tex vegan leather, heated front seats, a digital gauge cluster, and a 12-speaker premium audio unit championing the Premium package for just under $5,000 extra.
XRT – $43,650
What’s promised as an off-road trim nets you mean-looking body cladding, plus a roof rack. However, a stark lack of A/T tires and no suspension lift leaves a lot to be desired. Still, you can’t argue it doesn’t look nice. On looks alone, the XRTs still have some cred. But with Hyundai likely hoping off-road-minded folks buy the Santa Fe XRT instead, it makes sense the Palisade XRT is on the less aggressive side of the off-roading spectrum.
SEL Premium – $44,150
The one addition to the Palisade lineup this year adds 20-inch rims with black accents, blind-spot monitoring, a standard premium audio unit and second-row captain’s chairs
Limited – $48,200
This trim adds to the luxury with rain-sensing wipers, a head’s up display, and a heated third row to match the ventilated second row.
Calligraphy – $50,600
Plush, Napa leather seats plus velvety suede headliner fabric and a digital rear-view mirror make for the most sublime South Korean import without the Genesis badge attached to it.
Calligraphy Night – $54,100
Everything you get in the Calligraphy trim, plus blacked-out trim pieces inside and out, plus standard all-wheel drive to boot.
2025 Hyundai Palisade Overall Value 9.25/10
With a five-year 60,000-mile vehicle warranty and ten years plus 100,000 miles on the powertrain, there’s considerable dealership backing to go along with the Palisade’s considerable tech. It’s an SUV that’s top-notch safe, as confirmed by the NHTSA and IISH, with comforts and tech far beyond its price point. For most, it’s worth the marginal fuel economy.
They’ll teach college marketing courses one day, all about how Hyundai turned their brand around in a fashion not quite like any other in history. The gen-I Palisade undoubtedly played a key role in this taking place. As it prepares to bid farewell, now’s a great time to give credit where it’s due.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 9.25/10
2025 Hyundai Palisade Exterior – hyundaiusa.com | Shop 2025 Hyundai Palisade on Carsforsale.com
The only sin the 2025 Palisade ever committed was coming one model year shy of a comprehensive generational refresh. Compared to the Gen-II Palisade, with its optional hybrid drivetrain, you might be better off waiting just a little bit longer. Still, this year’s Palisade is a heavy hitter and arguably the king of its class.
2025 Hyundai Palisade FAQ
How much can the Palisade tow?
The Palisade can tow 5,000 lbs
Is the Palisade Hyundai’s biggest SUV?
Yes, the Palisade is Hyundai’s biggest SUV
Where is the Palisade made?
The Palisade is manufactured at Hyundai’s Ulsan Plant 2 facility in Ulsan, South Korea, and then imported to North America.
