2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, framed the updated headlights, giving the SUV a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were featured across the lineup, with LED taillights standard on SEL and higher trims. The top Calligraphy trim stood out with premium rear accent lighting, a unique glossy black and chrome grille, and a wider rear spoiler. The new XRT trim featured a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels, adding to its rugged appeal. The interior of the Calligraphy-trimmed Palisade was stylish and bright, thanks to the dual-pane sunroof, with premium Nappa leather seats and a design reminiscent of luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid maintained a more understated exterior, with the RX 350h Luxury test vehicle looking nearly identical to the standard RX 350, save for the badge on the liftgate. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, however, distinguished itself with a blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs. The RX's design, while not traditionally beautiful, was functional, with a wheelbase stretch that reduced rear overhang and a signature rear roof pillar design that visually shortened the SUV's rear end. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury model featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier all-black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within its class, offering more power than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and while front-wheel drive was standard, all-wheel drive was available for an additional $1,900. The Palisade excelled in towing, with a capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, and AWD models featured a dedicated Tow Mode. Fuel economy for the Palisade was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for FWD models, with AWD models achieving 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. It was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving, though it was less powerful than its predecessor. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, it was expected to achieve only 27 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, providing a dynamic driving experience. The RX 350h, while less powerful, offered a more secure and comfortable ride, with an average fuel economy of 32 mpg.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers, with seating for seven or eight. It provided 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet, and its cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 behind the second, and 86.4 with all but the front-row seats folded flat. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows, two cupholders per person, and a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base SE trim.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable interior, with the RX 350h Luxury model featuring ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The RX's battery packs were located under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, an improvement over the previous model but still less than some competitors.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade boasted advanced technology, with a new 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system standard across all trims. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. The Palisade also featured a WiFi hotspot, a wireless charger, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, which allowed remote access and management of vehicle features. The Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with Apple and Samsung devices, was standard on SEL models and up.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, which required a subscription for full functionality. It offered connected services like Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, and Remote Connect, as well as Drive Connect with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant. The system worked well, though it had some limitations, such as the inability to view multiple screen menus simultaneously and issues with screen reflections. The RX also featured a head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, though these were difficult to use with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping and lane-following assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims. The Palisade also featured navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, and a full-display digital rearview mirror. The 2022 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. The RX also featured Proactive Driving Assist, which maintained a safe following distance and recharged the battery pack through regenerative braking. The RX's safety features generally operated with refinement and accuracy, though there were some irritations, such as the front cross-traffic alert system's reliance on the HUD, which was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.