2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that defied traditional styling norms. Toyota made a concerted effort to distance the Sienna from the typical minivan aesthetic, giving it a front-end design reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. The Sienna offered a variety of trims, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, Limited, and top-tier Platinum, with a special 25th Anniversary Edition also available. The interior was praised for its high-quality materials, such as the brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents in the Platinum trim. The Sienna could seat seven or eight passengers, with the latter configuration available in the LE and XLE trims, allowing for three-across car seats in the middle row.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, making it easily recognizable among family SUVs. It was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new Calligraphy Night Edition. The Calligraphy Night Edition featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black accents. The interior of the Palisade was luxurious, with options for premium Nappa leather and an artificial suede headliner. The Palisade's interior was sophisticated, with quality upholstery, metal speaker grilles, and a striped dashboard, giving it a luxury SUV feel.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear-mounted motor for AWD models. This setup delivered a combined 245 horsepower, which was less than some competitors. The Sienna's CVT was not the most refined, and its acceleration was lackluster compared to rivals like the Honda Odyssey. However, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering nimble handling and a pleasant driving experience, especially in urban settings. The Sienna offered several drive modes, but the EV mode was largely ineffective, and the Sport mode did not significantly enhance performance.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine provided ample power and smooth acceleration, and the transmission was responsive. The Palisade's AWD system performed well on various terrains, and the SUV averaged 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode during testing. The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, and it handled mountain roads with ease, displaying surprising agility for its size.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, with numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins. It featured a large open cubby below the center console and a long shelf across the dashboard, ideal for phones and equipped with a wireless charging pad in higher trims. The Sienna's cargo space was impressive, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 101 cubic feet with seats folded. However, the middle row could not be removed or folded into the floor, limiting maximum cargo capacity compared to some competitors. The second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and adjustable tracks for added comfort.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. The Palisade's front seats were power-adjustable and heated, with additional features like memory settings and massage functions in higher trims. The Palisade's interior storage was versatile, with configurable storage between the front seats and ample bins and trays throughout the cabin. The second row offered excellent comfort, with optional heated and ventilated captain's chairs. The third row was more spacious than many rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 86.4 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though both required a wired connection. The system included SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and seven USB ports, but the interface felt outdated and clunky. The Sienna's technology was reliable, with physical buttons for ease of use, but lacked the modern features found in newer Toyota models.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering navigation, Bluetooth for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, and SiriusXM. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a USB-A cable. The Palisade's technology included a digital key, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system. The Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality, and the head-up display offered comprehensive information, though it was not compatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 model, indicating strong safety performance.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured the SmartSense suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist system provided advanced adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash tests were incomplete, with top ratings for side-impact collisions and rollover resistance.