2023 Lincoln Navigator 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, gave the Palisade a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique glossy black and chrome grille. The new XRT trim introduced a dark grille and black 20-inch wheels, adding a rugged touch. The interior of the Calligraphy-trimmed Palisade was stylish and bright, thanks to the dual-pane sunroof, and featured premium Nappa leather seats. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs in higher trims and a bench option for lower trims, accommodating up to eight passengers.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator maintained its luxurious and functional design, with no significant updates since its 2018 redesign and 2022 refresh. The Navigator Reserve model, tested in triple-black, featured a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The interior was upscale, with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, though some switchgear failed to convey luxury. The Navigator's cabin was spacious, with power-deploying running boards for easy access and Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats offering heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third row, ensuring comfort for all passengers. The Navigator's cargo space was generous, especially in the extended-length Navigator L model, which offered significantly more room for luggage and passengers.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within its class, surpassing models like the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly edging out 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's HTRAC all-wheel drive system proved capable on a muddy off-road course, though the vehicle was not designed for rock-crawling. It offered a comfortable ride and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, with AWD models featuring a dedicated Tow Mode. Fuel economy for the Palisade was rated at 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for FWD models, and 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined for AWD models.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain, the Navigator had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg combined, though it averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. The Navigator offered five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Hill Climb mode available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension, featuring Road Preview, aimed to enhance ride quality, though the Navigator's ride was often described as truck-like over smaller bumps. In Excite mode, the suspension stiffened, improving ride quality and performance on winding roads, though at the cost of fuel efficiency. The Navigator's size posed challenges in urban environments, making parking and maneuvering difficult.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers and cargo, 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 ranged from 18 cubic feet with all seats in place to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The Palisade featured a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base SE trim, and HVAC vents in all three rows ensured passenger comfort. The center console included a phone holder and cupholders, while the layout of physical buttons and knobs was intuitive.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for increased cargo capacity. Power-deploying running boards facilitated easy access, and the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats offered heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third row, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Navigator's storage space was generous, with large trays and smaller compartments throughout the cabin. The extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 behind the second, and 120.2 behind the front seats.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technological offerings, becoming the first Hyundai to feature WiFi hotspot capability as standard. A 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, providing 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 supported up to two Bluetooth connections simultaneously and offered multiple USB ports for charging. A wireless charger was standard on all but the base trim. The Palisade's remote accessibility and management features were enhanced for 2023, with Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system standard across all trims. The Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with Apple and Samsung devices, allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the car using their smartphones.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, while not emphasizing digital display supremacy, offered a range of screens, including a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system featured wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, and Alexa Built-in. The Navigator's digital assistant excelled in voice recognition, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided exceptional sound quality. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to use a digital key instead of a key fob. The Navigator's rear-seat entertainment system, Lincoln Play, included dual touchscreens, though it was not widely used by passengers during testing.

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 newly standard on all Palisades. The Palisade also featured navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, intelligent speed limit assist, and Highway Driving Assist I and II, depending on the trim. A full-display digital rearview mirror was available, and safe exit warning and rear seat occupant alert were standard on most trims. The 2022 Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system, operated on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones, though it required driver intervention in certain situations. The Navigator's crashworthiness was not fully assessed by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.