2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 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. LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were standard across the lineup, with LED taillights standard on SEL trims and above. The Calligraphy trim stood out with premium rear accent lighting, a unique grille, and a wider rear spoiler, while the new XRT trim featured a dark grille and black 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Calligraphy trim was stylish, featuring premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, with heated and ventilated seats available in the first and second rows.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan continued mostly unchanged from its previous model year, with a focus on providing a sporty appearance in its SEL R-Line trim. The Tiguan offered a range of exterior colors and wheel designs, though choices were limited by trim level. Our test vehicle, in Atlantic Blue with Storm Gray leather, showcased the Tiguan's conservative yet gracefully aging design. The SEL R-Line trim featured adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille, enhancing its upscale appearance. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. However, some materials reminded us of its more affordable base price, and the touch-sensing controls on the steering wheel and climate system were less user-friendly.

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 could be controlled with paddle shifters, and while front-wheel drive was standard, all-wheel drive was available for an additional cost. The Palisade excelled in towing, with a capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, and offered a comfortable ride, though it wasn't suited for serious off-roading. Fuel economy for the Palisade was competitive, with front-wheel-drive models achieving 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while all-wheel-drive models achieved slightly lower figures.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, with front-wheel drive as the default and VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system available. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, with the SEL R-Line trim including AWD as standard. The Tiguan's fuel economy was estimated at 24 mpg combined, though our testing yielded 22.6 mpg. While the Tiguan's powertrain wasn't the smoothest, its dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip and stable handling. However, the brake pedal required more effort than expected, and road noise was noticeable in the cabin.

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 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 seats folded. The interior was designed for convenience, with HVAC vents in all rows, numerous cupholders, and a well-organized center console. The Palisade's hands-free smart liftgate was standard on all but the base trim.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, particularly in AWD configurations, offered one of the largest cargo areas in the compact SUV class. The SEL R-Line trim featured comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, the dashboard's touch-sensing controls were less intuitive. The Tiguan excelled in passenger space, with generous legroom, headroom, and foot room in the rear seats. The cargo area was spacious, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded in AWD models. The hands-free power liftgate and adjustable load floor added to its practicality.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technology offerings, becoming the first Hyundai to feature WiFi hotspot capability as standard. A 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system available. The Palisade's Bluelink connected vehicle system offered remote accessibility and management features, including the ability to control heated or cooled seats remotely. The Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, allowed for keyless entry and driving.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim boasting a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though its user interface was complex. The Tiguan's voice-recognition system was less effective, and the touch-sensing controls on the steering wheel and climate system were not as user-friendly as traditional controls. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan offered a comprehensive suite of connected services and a premium Fender sound system.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade built on its predecessor's safety features, with the 2022 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. The 2023 Palisade included Hyundai's Smart Sense suite, with features like forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard, and the Palisade offered advanced cruise control and highway driving assist features.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, including forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and user-friendly, though its crash-test ratings were incomplete at the time of review. The IIHS had previously awarded the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2022 calendar year.