2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Lexus RX

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade had a striking and elegant exterior design that set it apart from earlier Hyundai models. 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, with sculpted wheel arches and a continuous strip of glass surfaces that created a floating rear roof effect. Inside, the Palisade was equally polished, with high-quality materials and finishes. 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 Lexus RX was shorter in height, broader in width, and longer in wheelbase compared to its predecessor. Its exterior design was modern and sleek, with a better-integrated spindle-style grille, upswept body sides, and a light-blade taillight design. The RX's interior was thoroughly modern, featuring fewer buttons and knobs, digital instrumentation, and a large touchscreen display. The cabin quality was high, with options for NuLuxe artificial leather, genuine leather, and simulated suede. The RX offered a range of trims, including the RX 350, RX 350h, RX 500h, and the upcoming RX 450h+.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine featured gasoline direct injection, dual variable valve timing, and Atkinson-cycle capability for improved efficiency. The Palisade's fuel economy was estimated at 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 well, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX 350 AWD accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, while the FWD model did it in 7.5 seconds. The RX 350 Luxury trim offered a smooth ride but displayed some body motion over uneven pavement. The F Sport Handling trim felt more secure, thanks to its adaptive damping suspension. Fuel economy was estimated at 25 mpg combined for the FWD model and 24 mpg combined for the AWD model.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and versatile interior. The third row provided comfortable seating and easy access, while the second-row captain's chairs were exceptionally comfortable. The front row featured ample storage, including two compartments in the center console and door panel bottle holders. 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 the second and third rows folded. The Palisade also featured a compact shift-by-wire setup and an intuitive mode selector for the AWD system.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable and modern interior. The RX 350 Luxury trim featured semi-aniline premium leather upholstery, ten-way power-adjustable front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The RX 350 F Sport Handling trim offered black NuLuxe simulated leather seats and Dark Graphite trim. The back seat was roomy and supportive, though taller passengers might find headroom tight. The RX offered improved cargo space, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess. The standard display audio system on SE and SEL models featured an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models had a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system. 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 rear-view monitor with parking guidance. The Limited and Calligraphy trims added a head-up display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, available with a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen display. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, and various connected services plans. The Intelligent Assistant natural voice recognition responded to commands and questions, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The RX also featured user profiles, embedded music streaming apps, and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system. Additional tech included digital instrumentation, Digital Latch door handles, a digital rearview mirror, and a color head-up display.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features. Passive safety features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and more. 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, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus RX came equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included advanced driving assistance systems such as motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve speed-reduction function. New semi-autonomous driving technologies included Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. During testing, LSS+ 3.0 proved impressive but had some flaws, such as unmarked adaptive cruise controls and issues with the HUD when wearing polarized sunglasses. The curve-speed reduction technology was also not predictive, leading to less smooth handling in curves.