2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 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. The interior of the Calligraphy-trim tester was stylish, with premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof brightening the space. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with the ability to accommodate up to eight passengers in the lower trims.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT tester, which was surprisingly appealing. The Outback's trims varied in their use of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the top-trim test car impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury not typically associated with Subaru. The Outback's interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom, and the cargo area provided a respectable volume for its class.

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 FWD models achieving 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a "Boxer" engine, with the base 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, and increasing towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive was standard, along with a Lineartronic CVT. The turbo powertrain was well-suited to the Outback, providing a comfortable ride with adequate steering feel. The Outback's ground clearance was notable, with the Wilderness trim offering 9.2 inches, making it a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered generous interior space, with 44.1 inches of front-row legroom, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume was 155.3 cubic feet, and cargo space measured 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 86.4 with the rear seats folded. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows and provided ample cupholders. The center console was well-designed, with a phone holder and space for a bag. Automatic dual-zone climate control was standard in SEL and higher trims.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleeker profile, offered impressive interior space. It provided more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Cargo volume was 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 75.6 with the rear seats folded. The Outback's feature availability was notable, with dual-zone climate control and heated front seats standard on most trims. The hands-free power liftgate was optional on the Premium trim and standard on higher trims, and the Onyx Edition included a power moonroof.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was a tech-forward vehicle, with WiFi hotspot capability standard across all trims. A 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. The premium Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. The Palisade's remote accessibility features were impressive, with Hyundai's Bluelink system allowing for remote vehicle management. The Digital Key 2 Touch was a standout feature, compatible with both Android and Apple devices.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology. The top-trim Touring featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, while the base trim retained a dual-7-inch system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity starting with the Premium trim. The Outback's climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with some hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was expected to maintain its high safety standards, with the 2022 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. The Palisade's Smart Sense suite included features like forward collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard, and the Highway Driving Assist system was available on higher trims. The Palisade also featured a rear seat occupant alert system.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, with the NHTSA giving it a five-star overall rating. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking was standard from the Onyx trim, and the Touring trim featured a wide-angle camera and driver-attention monitor. The Outback's safety features were comprehensive, contributing to its strong safety ratings.