2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai’s largest SUV, received a significant styling update that enhanced its commanding road presence. The new front fascia, with bolder strokes and a squared-off grille, framed new headlights and gave the SUV a stronger look. LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were standard across the lineup, with LED taillights standard on SEL and higher trims. The top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting, body-color bumpers, a unique grille, and a wider rear spoiler. The new XRT trim included a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels. The Palisade also introduced a new color, Robust Emerald, for the Calligraphy models, replacing Rainforest.

Inside, the Calligraphy-trim tester was stylish and brightened by a dual-pane sunroof. The interior featured premium Nappa leather, horizontal quilting, and dash lines reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz. The base SE model came with cloth seats, while higher trims offered heated, power-adjustable seats with leatherette or leather trim. Limited and Calligraphy models included heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, and heated third-row seats. Second-row seats came in a bench configuration for SE models, with captain’s chairs standard in higher trims. The available Premium package for SEL models added many high-end features.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling changes, including a gloss black front bumper trim and a more squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lit up. The ID.4, based on VW’s MEB platform, was easily distinguished as an EV but lacked the upright profile and ground clearance of traditional SUVs. This design choice might have been a drawback for some buyers, but it was consistent with other current electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

The ID.4’s interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and a feeling of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, did not feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with seat and door-panel inserts made partly from recycled fibers was standard for 2023. The interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and available three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came with a single powertrain option: a 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive for its class, making the Palisade more powerful than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, slightly more so than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder, and just a bit less so than the gas-powered Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer. The eight-speed automatic transmission could be manipulated with standard paddle shifters, and power was routed to the front wheels by default, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as a $1,900 option. The HTRAC AWD system proved capable on a muddy off-road course.

The Palisade offered a comfortable ride, with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. AWD-equipped models included a dedicated Tow Mode for optimized shifting. Fuel economy for front-wheel-drive (FWD) models was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with rear-wheel drive (RWD). The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, but more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version. The AWD ID.4 had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf GTI and Golf R but lacked the handling prowess. The ID.4 used regenerative braking but did not offer one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV newcomers.

The midsize 2023 Hyundai Palisade comfortably seated seven or eight passengers, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet. Second-row seating facilitated access to the third row with a standard one-touch seat slide, and ingress/egress handles made it easy to climb into the back. Cargo space totaled 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, 45.8 behind the second row, and 86.4 with all but the front-row seats folded flat. A hands-free smart liftgate was standard on all but the base SE trim.

The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows and provided two cupholders per person. The center console included a phone holder and space to stow a bag. Physical buttons and knobs were laid out compactly and intuitively, with automatic dual-zone climate control standard in SEL and higher trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. Cargo space measured 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, surpassing most other entry-level EVs. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most practical SUV among affordable EVs.

The ID.4 also offered towing capability, with a quoted capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and available three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade upped the ante on technology, becoming the first Hyundai to offer WiFi hotspot capability, standard on every trim. A new 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, featuring 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. Up to two devices could be connected via Bluetooth simultaneously, and up to seven could charge using USB ports located in the first, second, and third rows. A wireless charger was standard on all but the base trim.

Palisade drivers enjoyed a 4.2-inch color driver info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy models. An in-car intercom was optional for SEL trims and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. Rear-seat quiet mode was standard in all models. Hyundai’s Bluelink connected vehicle system was standard on all trims, with enhancements for 2023, including remote accessibility and management features. The Palisade also introduced Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with Apple and Samsung devices, allowing owners to unlock, start, and drive the car using their devices.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 made the formerly optional 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster was also standard.

Despite the updates, the infotainment system’s user experience remained largely unchanged, with sharp graphics and a choice of smartphone-like icons or a traditional automotive split-screen view. The downside was the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which replaced conventional buttons and lacked physical feedback, making them distracting to use. However, the voice recognition system made it easier to control functions like audio volume and temperature.

The ID.4 also featured ID.Light, an ambient lighting system that changed color based on drive mode and provided visual cues for navigation directions. This feature blended in with the array of visual and audio warnings from the various driver aids.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2023 model had not been rated at the time of writing, but it included new active and passive safety features, such as second-row side-impact airbags. The 2023 Palisade came 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. All trims also had navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with stop and go and curve control functions, as well as intelligent speed limit assist. Highway Driving Assist I was standard in SE, SEL, and XRT models, while Highway Driving Assist II was available with the SEL trim and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. A full-display digital rearview mirror was now available, and safe exit warning was standard on all Palisades. The rear seat occupant alert was standard on all but the SE trim.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’ highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention. The only blemish was an “Average” score for the standard headlights.

The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering. Emergency Assist 3.0, which automatically pulled the vehicle over if the driver was incapacitated, was also standard. For 2023, the ID.4 added standard Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.