2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Lexus GX

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 glossy black and chrome grille. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The horizontal quilting and dash lines were reminiscent of luxury brands, and the seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim.

In contrast, the 2024 Lexus GX embraced a more geometric styling, moving away from the softer lines of its predecessor. The new design featured a less pronounced spindle grille, flanked by standard triple-beam LED headlights. The GX's front end stood more vertically, giving it an aggressive look, while the flat hood with raised sides improved driver visibility. The GX's profile was characterized by minimal character lines and a low window beltline, enhancing off-road visibility. Inside, the GX offered a minimalist and sophisticated design with fewer physical buttons, focusing on essential controls. The interior space was comfortable for adults in the first and second rows, but the third row was best suited for children. The GX excelled in cargo space, especially in the Overtrail models, which offered up to 90.5 cubic feet of total cargo space.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 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 while front-wheel drive was standard, all-wheel drive was available for an additional cost. The Palisade's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds, and its fuel economy was respectable, with 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models.

The 2024 Lexus GX, on the other hand, transitioned from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, delivering 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This new powertrain provided more power than its predecessor, with torque available low in the rev range for off-road capability. Built on the GA-F truck platform, the GX featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive with a locking Torsen limited-slip center differential. The Overtrail trims added a locking rear differential and the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) for enhanced off-road performance. The GX's on-road performance was surprisingly composed, with minimal body roll and effective braking.

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, with a total passenger volume of 155.3 cubic feet. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet behind the second, and 86.4 cubic feet with all but the front-row seats folded flat. The interior was designed for convenience, with HVAC vents in all three rows and numerous cupholders.

The 2024 Lexus GX's interior was more minimalist and sophisticated, with a focus on essential controls. It offered 41.2 inches of legroom in the front seats and 36.7 inches in the second row, while the third row was best suited for children. The GX excelled in cargo space, with 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40.2 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 76.9 cubic feet. The Overtrail models offered even more cargo space, with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.5 cubic feet in total.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a 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 in higher trims. The Palisade also offered remote accessibility and management features through Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, allowing remote control of various functions. The Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, was standard on SEL models and up.

The 2024 Lexus GX boasted a 14-inch touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a voice assistant and subscription services like Drive Connect and Remote Connect. The GX's audio system featured a 10-speaker setup, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo available on higher trims. While the Lexus Interface was user-friendly, some features required subscription plans after an initial trial period.

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 on all trims. The Palisade also offered navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist, enhancing its safety credentials.

The 2024 Lexus GX received significant upgrades in safety features with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. It included pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and road-sign recognition. The GX's proactive driving assist feature added an extra layer of safety by braking as necessary during adaptive cruise control use. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the GX's modern architecture and advanced safety systems inspired confidence.