2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade emerged as a flagship SUV for Hyundai, replacing the Santa Fe XL and standing out with its elegant and striking design. It featured a distinctive exterior with a prominent grille, crisp shoulder lines, and a unique floating rear roof design. The Palisade's LED lighting elements and 18-inch alloy wheels added to its sophisticated appearance. Inside, the Palisade offered a polished and near-luxury interior with high-quality materials, a horizontally arrayed screen, and spacious seating arrangements, including captain's chairs in higher trims. The fit and finish were impressive, making the Palisade a worthy flagship for Hyundai.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator maintained its luxurious appeal with a triple-black Reserve model, featuring black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The Navigator's interior was upscale, with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, although some chrome plastic switchgear detracted from the luxury feel. The cabin was spacious, with power-deploying running boards for easy access and Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats. The Navigator's interior offered comfort and utility, with generous storage space and a clean look, thanks to covered cupholders and a wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered a smooth and responsive driving experience without turbo lag, thanks to its direct injection and dual variable valve timing. The Palisade's fuel efficiency was moderate, with EPA estimates of up to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for FWD models. It featured a four-wheel independent suspension and a self-leveling system in higher trims, providing a comfortable ride. The Palisade could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The Navigator's fuel economy was rated at 18 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 15.6 mpg. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Excite mode for spirited driving, but its ride quality was inconsistent, with a truck-like feel over smaller bumps. The nearly three-ton curb weight challenged the brakes on mountain roads, and the SUV's size proved cumbersome in tight spaces.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space and functionality, offering comfortable seating in all three rows. The third row was easily accessible, and the second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and headroom. The Palisade offered 18.0 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The interior featured a compact shift-by-wire setup, intuitive controls, and luxury features like a dual-panel sunroof and Nappa leather upholstery in higher trims.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator prioritized functionality with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. The Navigator's front seats offered 30-way adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, although finding the perfect position was challenging. Storage space was generous, with large trays and covered cupholders. The extended-length Navigator L model provided significantly more cargo space, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and luggage.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a range of features. It offered a standard display audio system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while higher trims featured a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon audio system. The Palisade included multiple USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display in higher trims. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system provided remote engine start and vehicle monitoring.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system for rear passengers. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, and Alexa Built-in. The Navigator's digital assistant excelled in voice recognition, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System delivered impressive sound quality. However, the wireless smartphone charger tended to overheat devices.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including seven airbags, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned top safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with advanced driving assistance systems, including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise hands-free driving. BlueCruise allowed hands-free driving on designated highways but required driver intervention in certain situations. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.