2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Kia Sorento

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 offered a rugged aesthetic with a dark grille and black 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Palisade's Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish and attractive interior, with premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof brightening the cabin. The seating configurations allowed for flexibility, accommodating up to eight passengers in the lower trims, while higher trims offered second-row captain's chairs for added comfort.

The 2024 Kia Sorento received its first major visual update since its 2021 debut, aligning it more closely with its Kia siblings like the Telluride and EV9. The Sorento's new front end, with a bluff grille and vertically-stacked LED projector-beam headlights, gave it a more imposing and contemporary look. The rear updates were subtle, with higher trims featuring pretty LED taillights. The Sorento's interior saw significant improvements, with a new dashboard design and combined gauge cluster and infotainment displays under a single pane of glass. The cabin materials were upgraded, with faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching adding a touch of luxury. The Sorento's interior colors, including green and brown options, added character, and the overall feel was more upscale than some of its competitors.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a single 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 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 front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,900. The Palisade's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds, and its fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for front-wheel-drive models, with slightly lower figures for all-wheel-drive versions.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, which struggled with the Sorento's weight. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. This turbocharged engine provided more lively performance, with zero-to-60 times in the mid-seven-second range. The Sorento's all-wheel-drive system was available for an additional cost, and the X-Line setup added more ground clearance and aggressive styling. The Sorento's towing capacity varied, with the X-Pro model capable of towing up to 4,500 pounds. Fuel economy for non-turbo models was around 25-26 mpg combined, while turbocharged versions achieved 23 mpg combined.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample interior space, comfortably seating seven or eight passengers. It provided 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 inches in the second, and 31.4 inches in the third, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.4 cubic feet with all seats folded flat. The interior featured HVAC vents in all three rows, and the center console included a phone holder and cupholders. The layout of controls was intuitive, and automatic dual-zone climate control was standard on SEL trims and above.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable in the first two rows, though the third row was tight with only 29.6 inches of legroom. Despite this, it offered more room than some competitors like the Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Sorento's second-row seats could be configured with a bench or captain's chairs, providing flexibility for families. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, offering only 12.6 cubic feet, but expanded to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 72.1 cubic feet with all seats down. The Sorento's controls were ergonomic, and higher trims featured noise-insulating acoustic glass for a quieter ride.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured advanced technology, including a standard 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available on SEL models and standard on Limited and Calligraphy trims. The Palisade also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a color head-up display, and an in-car intercom system. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system was standard, allowing remote access and management features, including remote start presets and Digital Key 2 Touch compatibility.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays, with a 12.3-inch screen standard across all trims. The infotainment system featured Kia's new "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" software, prioritizing popular features on the home screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system supported over-the-air updates. The Sorento offered USB-C outlets in all three rows and an auxiliary jack for older devices. SX-Prestige models included a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system, and Digital Key 2.0 allowed for keyless access and sharing.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance. The Palisade also offered 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 2024 Kia Sorento featured Kia's Drivewise suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-following assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Sorento also offered Highway Driving Assist and Highway Driving Assist 2 on higher trims. The IIHS had not fully evaluated the 2024 Sorento, but it received "Good" ratings in several tests. The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2024 model, but previous models received four-star overall ratings.