2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Acura MDX

In 2022, the Hyundai Palisade secured its flagship position within Hyundai's extensive SUV lineup, replacing the Santa Fe XL and emerging as a pinnacle of design and practicality. It displayed a striking exterior that set it apart from Hyundai's earlier, more derivative designs. The Palisade exhibited an elegant profile with prominent features such as its bold grille, distinctive shoulder lines, and tastefully designed tailgate. Its sculpted wheel arches and continuous glass strip around the tailgate lent it a sophisticated look. LED headlights, running lights, and taillights added to its visual appeal. Inside, the Palisade boasted a stylish and spacious interior. The dashboard featured a horizontally arrayed screen available in 8 inches for lower trims and 10.25 inches for higher trims, paired with high-quality materials. It offered flexible seating configurations, including a second-row bench or captain's chairs and a spacious third row. The top-tier Calligraphy trim impressed with its luxurious Steel Graphite paint and plush black interior.

In comparison, the 2023 Acura MDX Type S presented a more subdued yet equally appealing design. With its Type S badge, subtle design cues, and quad exhaust outlets, it maintained a refined yet sporty appearance. It featured chicane-design LED running lights, LED headlights, and taillights, along with 21-inch wheels that enhanced its stance. The cabin provided a luxurious experience with perforated Milano leather, aluminum trim, and a Sport Appearance package in the Type S model. The Type S Advance trim added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Despite its appealing aesthetics, certain design choices, such as the body tapering in at the doors and the extensive use of gloss black plastic on the dashboard, had room for improvement. The MDX Type S was noted for these thoughtful details though they sometimes resulted in functionality drawbacks.

In terms of performance, the 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine prioritized power and smooth natural responsiveness and features like gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing to enhance efficiency. Despite these advancements, its fuel economy stood at an adequate but not outstanding 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway for FWD models and 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway for AWD models. Its V6 engine delivered a satisfying baritone rumble, and the Palisade's handling was aided by a four-wheel independent suspension system, making it enjoyable to drive. The Palisade also offered a respectable towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

On the other hand, the 2023 Acura MDX Type S boasted a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that generated 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, providing more power compared to the Palisade. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The MDX Type S excelled at delivering power to the wheels efficiently, allowing for up to 70% of the engine's output to be directed to a single rear wheel. It also included an Integrated Dynamics System with various driving modes, including a unique Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these performance enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to offer a cohesive driving experience. Its transmission showed indecisiveness, and its brake system lacked predictable modulation. Additionally, the MDX Type S fell short in fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg during testing, which was disappointing for a vehicle of its class and power.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in terms of interior space and practicality. It provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with the third row offering ample space for adults on short journeys. The second-row captain's chairs were notably comfortable, and the front row boasted excellent storage options, including a well-designed center console and multiple cupholders and compartments. In terms of cargo capacity, the Palisade offered 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and an impressive 86.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded flat. Additionally, an underfloor storage compartment and 220-pound roof rail capacity added to its versatility.

The 2023 Acura MDX, including the Type S variant, provided a practical and luxurious interior. It featured three rows of seats with a flexible second-row setup, allowing for easy access to the third row and additional cargo space when needed. The triple-zone climate control system ensured comfort for all passengers. The Type S Advance trim included 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. However, while the seats were comfortable, they didn't offer the expected level of support for spirited driving. The cargo capacity of the MDX stood at 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat. Despite the clever design of the second row and convenient storage solutions like a sizable underfloor storage bin, the MDX's interior did sacrifice some storage potential due to design choices that prioritized style.

In the realm of technology, the 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's leadership. It featured a standard display audio system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on lower trims and a more advanced 10.25-inch touchscreen with a premium Harman Kardon audio system on higher trims. The infotainment system included numerous USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and multiple power outlets. Limited and Calligraphy trims also offered features like a head-up display, surround-view monitor, and Hyundai's Blue Link connected car services, enhancing convenience and connectivity.

Acura's 2023 MDX employed a sophisticated Digital Precision Cockpit, consisting of a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. The infotainment system, however, required the use of Acura's True Touchpad Interface (TTI), which had a steeper learning curve compared to traditional touchscreens. Despite its innovative intentions, the TTI received mixed reviews due to usability concerns and the space it consumed on the center console. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, and SiriusXM satellite radio, though voice recognition performance varied. Higher trims included a 10.5-inch head-up display, while the top-tier ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers delivered exceptional sound quality. However, some issues with traffic sign recognition and system responses occasionally arose.

In terms of safety, the 2022 Hyundai Palisade earned high marks with a comprehensive list of passive and active safety features. It included seven airbags, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Higher trims added advanced features like ultrasonic rear occupant alert and Highway Driving Assist. The Palisade received the highest rating of Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for both FWD and AWD models.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured the Acura Watch suite of safety and driver assistance systems. These included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and centering assist, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and traffic jam assist. The MDX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system in higher trims. However, issues with false lane-departure warnings and occasional collision warning errors were noted. Despite these minor shortcomings, the MDX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it earned four stars in frontal-impact protection for both the driver and front passenger.