2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai had absolutely knocked the Palisade's styling out of the park. This vehicle could have worn a Cadillac logo, and shoppers wouldn't have blinked an eye. The Palisade stood out more than Caddy’s new XT6 3-row luxury SUV. Its bold, in-your-face styling was characterized by a massive grille and rakishly thin headlights. Interestingly enough, the upper headlight assembly was only part of the headlight puzzle. What appeared to be larger fog lights made up the rest of the headlights. With them on, there was a character line of LEDs that extended from the upper headlights down through the mid-level assembly. Hyundai was known for doing interesting things with chrome and vehicles' character lines, and this trend continued with the Palisade. It had a large chrome strip that ran from the base of the A-pillar up over both side door windows, and interestingly, finished right after the rear door. This visually broke up what might otherwise have been a very long design, but it did leave the Palisade looking a little busy. The cabin of the Palisade continued that upscale feel, but with more elegance and simplicity. It had a fully digital instrument panel, a large touchscreen that flowed seamlessly across the dash, and a center console bristling with controls that rose up along the centerline. The personalized ambient lighting system was a standout feature, though it was only available on the top-of-the-line Limited trim.

Volvo’s boxy sedans and wagons from the ‛80s and ‛90s always looked good, and modern Volvos had never looked better. The XC90 was proof that a big and tall SUV could exude as much beauty as a low-slung sedan. The classic silver vertical bars on the grille and the diagonal bar intersecting the Volvo logo got a blacked-out, honeycomb treatment on the R-Design trim. Along with black window surrounds, mirrors, a more aggressive chin spoiler, and bright 22-inch rims, they were jewelry fixed to an already handsome figure. The "Thor's hammer" LED headlights were now standard and cut a figure in the dark that instantly pinned this SUV as a Volvo. The arching shoulder crease that flowed from the taillights and ran the entire length of the vehicle emphasized width and stability. The Thunder Grey Metallic paint had a blue hue in person, contrasting beautifully with the beige-leather and aluminum interior. The XC90's cabin was a testament to simplicity and quality, with features like matte wood trim, wool fabric seats, and a leather-wrapped center console that draped up and around the gear shifter.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, making 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive (AWD) through an 8-speed automatic transmission, operated via a push-button shifter. The automatic transmission managed power well, and the V6 engine provided solid acceleration. The drive mode dial offered Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, and Smart modes, with Smart mode toggling between the other modes based on driving habits. In Comfort mode, the V6 and the transmission took a half-second to respond to acceleration, but Sport mode made the gas pedal twitchier and improved cornering. The Limited trim came with a self-leveling rear suspension, enhancing driving dynamics. Fuel economy for the Palisade FWD was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined, and with AWD, it was 19/24/21. In a week of combined city and highway driving, the observed fuel economy was 20.3 miles per gallon.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains in five states of tune, all with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The T5 models produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6, with a supercharger in addition to the turbocharger, delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Polestar tune boosted the T6 to 330 hp and 325 lb-ft. The T8 plug-in hybrid used an 11.6-kWh battery to provide up to 18 gas-free miles and produced 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. However, the hybrid system's added weight negated the speed promised by these high numbers. The T6 AWD was rated at 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the T5 AWD was rated at 20/27/23. The T8 plug-in hybrid had a combined rating of 27 mpg. The XC90's driving dynamics were not sporty, with lifeless steering and significant body roll, but it excelled in comfort and quietness.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade excelled in versatility and handling everything a family could throw at it. It offered 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with all rear seats dropped. The power-folding third-row seats could be individually dropped with the push of a button. Space in the third row was manageable for longer trips, and the second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of space and comfort. Each rear door had multiple cup holders, and the seatback pockets offered ample storage.

The 2020 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system initialized much faster and responded more quickly while switching to various menus. The system was well organized, but certain safety features were adjusted by swiping left from the main menu, which could be confusing. The XC90 offered seven seats as standard, with an integrated booster cushion for young children in the middle of the second-row bench. The first and second rows provided generous legroom and all-day comfort, while the third row was tight and suitable only for small children. Cargo space was up to 85.7 cubic feet with the last two rows folded, and sightlines from the driver's seat were good.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came with plenty of standard tech, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE trim had three front-row USB ports, two second-row USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SEL trim offered a $1,250 Driver Guidance package that included a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and the Driver Talk in-car intercom system. The Limited trim featured a Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers and Clari-Fi music restoration technology, a surround-view monitor, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 came standard with Volvo Pilot Assist, a semi-automated driving system that combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The R-Design trim featured a phenomenal Bowers & Wilkins stereo with 19 speakers and 1,400 watts of power. The portrait-oriented touchscreen made navigation easier, and onboard apps offered location sharing, voice memos, and media apps. The instrument panel could be reskinned to show the map between the two analog-style dials, but it lacked major reconfiguration options.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It came with a reversing camera, child-seat anchors, a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a driver-attention warning, and parking sensors. The digital instrument panel allowed for the Palisade’s unique blind-spot camera system, projecting live images on the instrument panel when the turn signal was activated.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 had top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, though the latter group's headlight test lowered its rating to a Top Safety Pick. It came with forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a driver-attention monitor, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic-sign recognition. Volvo's history of safety innovations, such as the boron steel roof and curtain airbags, continued to make the XC90 a leader in safety.