2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a striking 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 more commanding 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 grille design. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with the Calligraphy trim offering premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, creating a bright and stylish cabin. The Palisade's seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, with heated and ventilated seats available in higher trims, ensuring comfort for all occupants.

The 2023 Subaru Outback received a facelift that gave it a more aggressive appearance, with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a standout choice. Inside, the Touring trim offered a luxurious experience with Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery and a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Outback's interior was both comfortable and practical, with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and ample legroom for passengers. The Outback's design made it easy to get in and out, and its cargo space was generous, with 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard paddle shifters, provided smooth power delivery, and the optional HTRAC all-wheel drive system enhanced its capability on muddy terrains. The Palisade could tow up to 5,000 pounds, and its fuel economy was competitive, with 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. While the engine provided a characteristic Subaru grumble, it lacked power for passing and climbing. The Outback's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, but its fuel economy was disappointing, with an observed 25.6 mpg compared to the EPA's 28 mpg estimate. For more power, the Outback XT models offered a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The XT models were less fuel-efficient but provided better performance. The Outback's CVT mimicked an eight-speed automatic, and its Active Torque Split AWD system and X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample interior space, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Its passenger volume was 155.3 cubic feet, and cargo space measured 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Palisade's interior was designed for convenience, with HVAC vents in all three rows, a hands-free smart liftgate, and intuitive controls.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack and flat door sill trim. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback's cargo space was 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The vehicle's design made it easy to enter and exit, and its practical storage solutions included a dashboard storage shelf.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with advanced technology, including a standard 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation. A premium Harman Kardon sound system was available, and the Palisade offered WiFi hotspot capability. The Bluelink connected vehicle system allowed remote access and management, and the Digital Key 2 Touch feature enabled keyless entry and start using compatible devices.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, starting with the Premium trim. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot was available. The Outback's voice recognition system was less effective, but the vehicle included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera for added convenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard, and the Palisade offered Highway Driving Assist I and II for enhanced driving support. The 2022 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain high safety standards.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight system, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional features like Automatic Emergency Steering and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for improved pedestrian detection. The Outback's safety systems were effective, but the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist could feel artificial. The Outback earned top safety ratings from the IIHS, including in the new side-impact crash test.