2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was a bold statement in the SUV market. Hyundai's designers achieved a near-luxury aesthetic with styling that could easily be mistaken for a Cadillac. The Palisade's massive grille and sleek, thin headlights offered a commanding presence. Interestingly, the headlight design was split, with larger fog lights completing the puzzle and creating a distinct LED line from the upper headlights to the mid-level assembly.

Another standout feature was the chrome strip running from the A-pillar over the side door windows, ending just after the rear door. This choice visually broke up the length of the vehicle, giving it a dynamic look despite making it appear slightly busy.

The interior of the Palisade continued the upscale trend, emphasizing elegance and simplicity. With a fully digital instrument panel, a large, seamlessly integrated touchscreen, and a feature-rich center console, the dashboard exuded luxury. The range-topping Limited trim particularly stood out with its personalized ambient lighting.

The Palisade came in three trims: SE, SEL, and Limited. The base SE offered a solid set of features, including a digital instrument panel, touchscreen infotainment system, and various driver-assistance technologies. The SEL added second-row captain's chairs and satin chrome finishes, while the Limited trim offered top-tier features like 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery with unique stitching, and advanced lighting systems.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe presented an acquired taste in design. Hyundai’s experimental approach resulted in distinctive styling elements like a unique grille shape, stacked lighting elements, asymmetrical fender stampings, and oversized rear skid plate trim. While these bold choices provided a dramatic look, they did not appeal to everyone.

Inside, the Santa Fe was characterized by a dual-cowl dashboard with diamond-textured speaker grilles and high-contrast interior colors. The materials quality slightly lagged behind the Palisade, with glossy plastics and stiff leather upholstery. However, build quality remained high, and the overall design had plenty of character.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came with a robust 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission and a push-button shifter, provided solid performance. The Palisade offered various drive modes, including Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, and Smart, which adjusted based on driving habits. The Smart mode, in particular, was adaptive and efficient, toggling between modes seamlessly.

The Limited trim featured a self-leveling rear suspension, enhancing cornering and overall ride quality. Fuel economy for the FWD Palisade was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined, while the AWD variant achieved 19/24/21 mpg. During tests, the Palisade delivered a combined fuel economy of 20.3 mpg.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine choices. The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 185 horsepower, felt underpowered for the SUV’s curb weight (3,591-3,946 pounds). The better option was the upgraded 2.0T trim, which included a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This power was available quickly, making the Santa Fe more responsive and better suited for higher altitudes.

The Santa Fe's 8-speed automatic transmission smoothly transferred power to either the front wheels or the optional AWD system. The AWD setup eliminated torque steer under hard acceleration, an issue with the FWD model. The Santa Fe boasted a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, and our test model delivered a combined fuel economy of 22.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 23 mpg.

Driving the Santa Fe, especially in the Limited trim, was a pleasant experience. It offered a smooth ride, decent handling, and responsive brakes, all contributing to its role as a dependable daily driver. The Santa Fe also performed well in moderate off-road conditions, although it lacked the driver engagement seen in the Palisade.

Versatility and space were crucial for the Palisade. It offered 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded, outpacing competitors like the Highlander and the Pilot. The power-folding third-row seats were a feature of convenience, though they operated slowly.

Space in the Palisade's third row was sufficient for longer trips, comfortably accommodating adults, which is not always the case in 3-row SUVs. The second-row captain's chairs provided additional comfort and accessibility, and the door pockets and seatback storage offered ample space for personal items.

The Santa Fe, on the other hand, focused on thoughtful interior details designed for family use. The five-passenger SUV featured creative storage solutions and stain-resistant fabric in models with cloth seats. Our test vehicle included eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, with additional thigh support and a heated steering wheel. The dual-zone climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer and maintained efficacy even with the panoramic sunroof.

The Santa Fe's back seat was comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and reclining seats. However, the Santa Fe's cargo space fell short compared to the Palisade, offering 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 71.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It did include large storage compartments under the cargo floor, and the hands-free smart liftgate was a practical feature.

Both the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe shined in terms of technological offerings.

The Palisade came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and multiple USB ports across all rows. The interface was user-friendly, featuring tactile buttons and a home button for easy navigation. The SEL trim offered an optional Driver Guidance package, adding a 10.25-inch screen with navigation and real-time traffic updates, as well as satellite radio and an in-car intercom system. The Limited trim's tech features included a Harman Kardon premium audio system, a surround-view monitor, and a head-up display.

Similarly, the Santa Fe's infotainment system was well-designed, with a high-mounted touchscreen, control knobs, and customizable menu buttons. All models came with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM, Blue Link connected services, and various convenience features. The Limited trim included an 8-inch display, navigation, surround-view camera, wireless charging, a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system, and a head-up display with blind-spot monitoring.

Safety was a priority for both vehicles. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the highest possible, and included numerous driver-assistance features. Standard features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and parking sensors. The digital instrument panel allowed for innovative safety features like a blind-spot camera system that displayed live footage of the vehicle's sides when the turn signal was activated.

The Santa Fe also boasted strong safety credentials, with a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It was equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a rear-seat reminder system. SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system. The Limited trim introduced an ultrasonic occupant alert system and a Blind-Spot View Monitor.