2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback a more aggressive appearance, especially with the addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a more appealing choice for those who preferred a darker paint color to tone down the design's excesses. The Outback's interior, particularly in the Touring trim, was praised for its upscale feel, with Java Brown leather contrasting beautifully against the black interior, and light gray stitching adding a touch of elegance.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. Available in several trims, including the new Calligraphy Night Edition, the Palisade offered a range of features and a luxurious feel, especially in the higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition, with its blacked-out appearance and premium interior materials, exuded sophistication. The interior was noted for its quality upholstery, metal speaker grilles, and overall luxury SUV feel. The Palisade's design and interior features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and comfortable ride.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed engine, known for its flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, which felt underpowered for the 3,781-pound vehicle, especially during passing and climbing. The turbocharged XT models offered a more satisfying 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. However, the XT models were less fuel-efficient, with ratings of 25 mpg combined, and the Wilderness trim rated at 23 mpg. The Outback's CVT was programmed to mimic an eight-speed automatic, and the standard AWD system, along with the X-Mode traction system, enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Outback excelled in handling and ride quality, making it a capable crossover for various terrains.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth gear shifts, and the AWD system offered excellent power distribution on dirt and gravel roads. The Palisade's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it offered eight inches of ground clearance. The SUV featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The Palisade's suspension was tuned for a firm yet comfortable ride, and it displayed surprising athleticism on mountain roads. The brakes performed well under stress, and the overall driving experience was enjoyable, though the real-world fuel economy was slightly lower than expected.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack, flat door sills, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The rear seats were also heated, providing warmth and comfort in colder climates. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 75.6 cubic feet with them folded down. The vehicle's design made it easy to enter and exit, and the roof rack was ready for various accessories. However, the Outback could benefit from more practical storage space in the cabin.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating materials, from cloth in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. The front seats were power-adjustable and heated, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats available in higher trims. The Palisade's interior was spacious, with configurable storage options and thoughtful design elements like USB ports in the seatbacks and a rear climate control panel. The second-row captain’s chairs provided excellent comfort, and the third-row seats were more accommodating than most rivals. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, available on all trims except the Base. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and optional navigation and Harman Kardon audio systems. The system's usability had improved, but the voice recognition was lacking, making smartphone connectivity essential. Additional tech included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, supporting Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system in higher trims. The voice recognition system worked well, though it struggled with specific music requests. Bluelink+ offered a range of connected services at no cost for original owners. The Palisade also featured a digital key, a semi-autonomous remote parking system, and an excellent head-up display, though it was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Subaru Outback was equipped with EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster, earning top safety marks from the IIHS. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian detection. The Outback's safety systems were effective, though the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist could feel artificial.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured the SmartSense suite, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist provided a hands-on driving system for highway travel, and the rear-seat reminder added ultrasonic sensing. Higher trims offered additional safety features like front parking sensors and a surround-view camera. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.