2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, which replaced the Santa Fe XL as Hyundai's flagship SUV, showcased an elegant and striking exterior design. It featured distinctive lines and shapes, from its prominent grille to its crisp shoulder lines and tasteful tailgate. The SUV's profile was visually interesting, highlighted by sculpted wheel arches and a continuous strip of glass surfaces that gave the impression of a floating rear roof. Inside, the Palisade was equally polished, with high-quality materials and finishes adorning every surface. The horizontally arrayed screen and beefy center console anchored the dash, while the second and third rows offered ample space and comfort.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a "modernist" and "reductive" design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. Despite its subdued Eiger Gray paint and subtle Black Exterior Pack, the test vehicle looked terrific with its silver 23-inch wheels. Inside, the Range Rover Sport featured a luxurious Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The cabin exuded understated luxury, with premium materials and a high-tech appearance. However, the rear seat was less hospitable, with tight legroom and hard front seatback panels.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, offered a balance of power and efficiency. The Palisade's EPA estimates were 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for FWD models and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for AWD models. The SUV handled nicely, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology. The SE Dynamic model boasted 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the SE P360 provided 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and tow 7,716 pounds. The SUV's fuel efficiency was impressive, averaging 22.3 mpg on the evaluation route and 25.1 mpg on a drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The Range Rover Sport featured a new vehicle architecture with a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness, adaptive damping air suspension, and various driving modes for both on-road and off-road performance.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled as a minivan replacement, offering comfortable seating and ample storage throughout the cabin. The third row provided easy access and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs were exceptionally comfortable. The front row featured multiple storage compartments, including two in the center console and a locking glove box. Luggage space measured 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both rows folded flat. The Palisade also had an underfloor storage compartment and roof rails for additional cargo.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel behind the wheel. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable inboard armrests. The test vehicle featured Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a massage feature. The rear seat, however, was less accommodating, with tight legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport also had a power liftgate, controls to lower the air suspension for easier loading, and a full-size spare under the cargo floor.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a standard display audio system on S and SEL models and a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen with Harman Kardon premium audio on Limited and Calligraphy models. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade also featured multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Limited and Calligraphy models added a surround-view monitor, head-up display, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport also offered impressive Meridian audio systems, a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features, including seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and a front crumple zone. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured numerous advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The SUV also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. However, the adaptive cruise control and steering assist were not as smooth or reliable as expected.