2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade arrived as Hyundai’s new flagship SUV, a title previously rotated among models like the Santa Fe and Veracruz. Featuring a stunning design that stood out distinctly from earlier, less imaginative Hyundai offerings, the Palisade boasted elegant and striking aesthetics. Its prominent grille, crisp shoulder lines, and sophisticated tailgate highlighted a design language that mixed clean planes and curves, accentuated by the sculpted wheel arches. A particularly striking design element was the continuous glass strip from C-pillar to C-pillar, creating an illusion of a floating rear roof while making the D-pillar nearly invisible.

Inside, the Palisade didn’t disappoint either. It featured a horizontal array of screens, with an 8-inch screen standard for base trims and a larger 10.25-inch screen for higher trims. Premium materials adorned every surface, contributing to a polished, near-luxury feel. Seating arrangements included a roomy second row, offered either as a bench or captain's chairs, and a third row spacious enough for short adult trips or comfortably seating three children. The Calligraphy model was particularly stunning, with its Steel Graphite paint and black interior combination.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna fought against the minivan stigma with a design effort meant to evoke a sleek, bullet train aesthetic. Although some trims featured 18-inch wheels, the higher-end FWD XSE and Platinum models were fitted with 20-inch wheels, enhancing its upscale appearance. Toyota offered a variety of trims, from the base LE to the top-tier Platinum, and even introduced a 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim in 2023.

Inside, the Sienna’s interior storage was brilliantly conceived. The open cubby below the center console and the long shelf across the dashboard provided ample space for personal items. Seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, with the middle row capable of accommodating three car seats across when configured with a bench seat. The Platinum trim, tested with high-quality brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents, felt particularly premium. The second-row seats featured extending ottomans and could slide forward and backward, making the third row comfortable even for adults.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade came with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, capable of producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Although it was less fuel-efficient (19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for FWD, 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway for AWD), it offered a smooth and powerful driving experience without any turbo lag. Its four-wheel independent suspension system provided refined handling, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

Conversely, the 2023 Toyota Sienna was powered exclusively by a hybrid system, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors, yielding 245 net system horsepower. This powertrain, although not as robust as competitors, offered better fuel economy. However, the CVT often felt strained and made for a less satisfying driving experience. With various drive modes, including EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport, the Sienna felt nimble around town, thanks to its sound chassis and light steering feel. Its turning radius was notably tight for a vehicle of its size, and while its powertrain might not have been exciting, it sufficed for daily driving and long-distance cruising.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in its functionality and space utilization. The third row offered comfortable seating with easy access, and the second-row captain's chairs were extremely comfortable. With ample storage options throughout the cabin, from door panels to center console compartments, it was well-suited for family needs. In terms of cargo space, the Palisade provided 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 86.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded down. The added underfloor storage compartment and roof rails (capable of holding up to 220 pounds) further enhanced its practicality.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, being a minivan, was a marvel of space utilization. Its interior storage solutions, including the expansive open cubby and long dashboard shelf, were highly practical. It was lengthy at over 200 inches, with a 120.5-inch wheelbase, but its design maximized interior space. Behind the third row, the Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 101 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Unlike some competitors, the second-row seats couldn’t be fully removed or folded into the floor, slightly limiting its maximum cargo capacity. However, its third row offered genuine legroom for adults, a rare feature among three-row vehicles.

In the 2022 Palisade, Hyundai showcased its technological prowess. The base models came with an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the higher trims featured a 1920 x 720 resolution touchscreen paired with a 630-watt Harman Kardon audio system. This system included 12 speakers, QuantumLogic surround sound, and Clari-Fi music restoration technology. The Palisade’s infotainment system supported wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, satellite radio, and allowed for multiple device connections. Additional tech amenities included a rear-view monitor, surround-view monitor, head-up display, and Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system with remote functionalities.

Toyota, meanwhile, equipped the 2023 Sienna with its older infotainment interface, including core features such as SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, these functionalities required wired connections and the interface felt dated and somewhat clunky. The 9-inch touchscreen though functional, didn’t impress. The higher trims benefited from a JBL audio system, delivering solid sound quality. Despite the older tech, the physical buttons were appreciated for their usability while driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was packed with safety features, earning it top ratings. Standard passive safety features included multiple airbags, three-point seat belts for all seats, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, a crumple zone, and reinforced body sides. Active safety features comprised anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, vehicle stability management, and tire pressure monitoring. Advanced driver assistance systems included blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and many more. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna also came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna earned five stars from the NHTSA and the 2022 model received a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. However, Toyota avoided adding some of the more gimmicky features found in its competitors, focusing instead on core safety technologies.