2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting, and additional lower body trim. It featured unique 20-inch wheels and upgraded interior detailing, including a simulated suede interior headliner. These enhancements made the Calligraphy trim appear more luxurious than other Palisade models, drawing attention with its unconventional styling. Inside, the Palisade Calligraphy boasted a Beige over Navy Blue color scheme with premium Nappa leather and a suede headliner, offering a cabin that seemed more expensive than its actual price.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 presented a polished exterior with minimal character lines, utilizing a Parametric Pixel design that gave it a concept car-like appearance. The exterior featured numerous LED lights and aerodynamic wheels with ornamental designs. Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin was low-key and comfortable, with a "Living Space" design theme. It offered a Relaxation mode for the driver's seat and used sustainable materials, including recycled fibers and bio-materials. The interior was designed for comfort, with leatherette seats providing support and a moveable center console for added convenience.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The Palisade featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport, with AWD models adding Snow mode and a Lock function. The Palisade's suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive, though not necessarily fun. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and averaged 21.1 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came in two drive configurations, three trims, and three powertrains. The base model featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range lineup offered a larger 168-kW rear motor with 225 hp and a range of 303 miles. AWD variants had a dual-motor system with 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, but a reduced range of 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 offered four drive modes, including Sport, which added excitement but reduced range. It featured paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative properties and focused on reducing noise, vibration, and harshness.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious interior with eight-way power-adjustable seats for the driver and passenger, heated and ventilated front seats, and second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seat was more accommodating than most in its class, and the Palisade provided ample in-cabin storage space. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform, offered a longer wheelbase than the Palisade, maximizing interior space. It provided a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, with a passenger volume of 106.5 cubic feet. The Ioniq 5 featured a moveable center console and comfortable leatherette seats. The interior design focused on comfort and usability, with a modern take on the retro front bench seat allowing for easy entry and exit.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems, with an 8-inch or 10.25-inch touchscreen display. The 8-inch setup included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the larger screen required a wired connection. The Palisade Calligraphy featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Driver Talk intercom system. A head-up display and surround-view camera system were also available.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured advanced technology, including a high-voltage energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging and offered unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years. The Ioniq 5 included a redesigned Blue Link app, digital key, and over-the-air updates. It featured 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, finished with an anti-glare coating for clear visibility.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and multiple lane-keeping systems. It included a rear occupant alert system and active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, and its Highway Drive Assist provided excellent adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, with blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. It included Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. The Ioniq 5 also offered a head-up display with augmented reality overlays, though it could be distracting. Safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available, but Hyundai's track record suggested high marks were expected.