This week, I am testing the eight-seater 2024 Hyundai Palisade Elite. The Palisade is a bit of a favourite here at BabyDrive with lots of space, easy third-row access and an enjoyable drive. Hyundai has updated a few things on its biggest SUV so let's see how it does in BabyDrive testing!
https://youtu.be/GT2WYBgWCCw
Quick Links
- How much does the 2024 Hyundai Palisade cost and what are the options?
- How big is the boot of the Hyundai Palisade?
- How good is the storage in the 2024 Hyundai Palisade for families?
- How many child seats will fit in the Hyundai Palisade?
- How comfortable is the Hyundai Palisade for families?
- How safe is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade for families?
- What is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade like to drive?
- Compare the 2024 Hyundai Palisade
Quick Overview
- ✓ Fits three child seats across the second row
- ✓ Two child seats can be installed in the third row
- ✓ Practical underfloor storage in the boot
- ✓ Excellent rear climate controls with ceiling vents in all rows
- ✓ Fantastic family-focused features like rear conversation mirror
- ✓ Five-star ANCAP safety rating (88% child occupant protection)
- ✗ Position of top tether anchors mean child seats are close together in the third row
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price Range | $66,800 – $79,900 |
| Warranty | 5-year/unlimited km |
| Safety Rating | 5-star ANCAP |
| Engine | 2.2L diesel or 3.8L petrol |
| Child Seat Capacity | 3 in second row, 2 in third row |
How much does the 2024 Hyundai Palisade cost and what are the options?
| Model Grade | Price (Before On-road Costs) |
|---|---|
| Elite | $66,800 |
| Calligraphy | $75,900 |
| Calligraphy Black Ink | $76,900 |
All versions of the Palisade are available with either a 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine with front-wheel drive or a 2.2-litre diesel engine with all-wheel drive. The diesel AWD adds $4000 to the price of the petrol equivalent.
The Palisade Elite comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, a wireless phone charging pad, and a comprehensive safety suite.
The Calligraphy model adds luxury features like Nappa leather upholstery, a head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a big sunroof.
The Calligraphy Black Ink variant, new for 2024, features black suede seats, black headlining, gloss black 20-inch alloy wheels, and dark styling accents throughout.
How big is the boot of the Hyundai Palisade?
The boot door of the Palisade opens and closes at the touch of a button and with a beep.
Underneath the boot floor is some really great storage, either for the retractable roller blind, or if that's not stored in there, you've got a lovely big underfloor storage area, which is great for hiding things away from your kids. Really handy at Christmas time!
When using two rows of seats, the boot of the Hyundai Palisade will hold 22 shopping bags, which is impressive and matches the Nissan Pathfinder. It's bigger the boot of a Toyota Kluger (20 bags), Kia Sorento (18 bags), Ford Everest (18 bags), and Isuzu MU-X (18 bags).
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade with 13 shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…
… will fit in the boot with 13 shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and the bassinet…
… will fit in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade side by side with 7 shopping bags.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don't want to move around while I'm driving such as my daughter's lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it's not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don't move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum's life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually measurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, ultimate All Terrain stroller with the back wheels on…
…fits easily in the boot with 10 shopping bags.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, double ultimate All Terrain stroller with the back wheels on…
… fits easily in the boot with 8 shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade with 18 shopping bags.
The boot of the Palisade can also accommodate two 90-litre, a 70-litre and two 40-litre Thule Chasm duffel bags, making it great for family holidays.
A large dog fits comfortably in the boot space with the third row folded down.
When using all three rows of seats, the boot of the Hyundai Palisade will hold 8 shopping bags, which is the same as the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger, and better than the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X (6 bags each).
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade when using all three rows of seats with 3 shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…
… will fit in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade with 1 shopping bag when using all three rows of seats.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and the bassinet…
… will fit in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade side by side, but with no space for shopping bags when using all three rows.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, ultimate All Terrain stroller with one back wheel on…
… fits easily in the boot with 2 shopping bags when using all three rows.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, double ultimate All Terrain stroller with the back wheels off…
… fits in the boot with 1 shopping bag when all seats are in use.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the Hyundai Palisade with 3 shopping bags when using all three rows of seats.
You can also fit a 70-litre and a 40-litre Thule Chasm duffel bag in the boot when all seats are in use…
… or a small dog.
How good is the storage in the 2024 Hyundai Palisade for families?
The front of the Palisade feels really nice and modern with some great storage solutions in the central console.
Underneath a retractable lid, there are two cup holders you can rotate out. They'll comfortably hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Beside them is a wireless phone charging pad, and you've got your USB socket there for connecting your phone.
Behind it is the central console box with a good sunglasses holder in the top, and it's really nice and deep and practical for families. You also got 12-volt socket in there, and USB-C socket.
Underneath the central console bridge is a really big storage area, great for popping a handbag. In iPad fits in there, and you've got USB-C socket there and 12-volt.
In the ceiling, there is a rear conversation mirror, which is great for you to be able to keep an eye on little passengers in the back.
The glove box is a good size in here that will hold an iPad with the manual.
The door bins in the front are really nice and large. They'll hold a refillable water bottle and an iPad and a wallet fit in them too.
Storage in the back is very good too. In the third row, there are two cup holders on either side, so passengers can either have a water bottle there or a coffee cup or kids drink cup fits really well. There's also USB-C sockets on both sides, so passengers in the back there can charge devices while driving along.
In the second row, there's a fold down in the central seat back with two cup holders. They will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup and a drink bottle fits too, and a kids drink cup.
There are map pockets on the back of both front seats. They will hold and conceal an iPad, and there's a little net on the front of them that's good for a phone.
There are USB-C sockets in the back of the central console box, so second-row passengers can charge their devices while travelling.
The door bins are a good size in the back. They will hold a refillable water bottle or two, and there's a little bit more storage space there as well.
There are also two cup holders in the rear doors on each side, which is great. They will hold a refillable or disposable coffee cup, and a kids drink cup fits in them too.
How many child seats will fit in the Hyundai Palisade?
When it comes to installing child seats in the back of the Palisade, there are ISOFIX in the two outer second row seats.
They're not within plastic guides, but they're lovely and easy to connect to.
There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three second row seats. They are within plastic guides and nice and easy to connect to through the boot. You can also slide these seats in the second row forward, so you can easily access them from the second-row.
The second-row doors open really nice and wide, so you've got fantastic access for kids and passengers in and out.
I could fit three child seats really nice and comfortably across this second row, which is fantastic news.
The footwell is really up nice and flat in both rear rows, so there's lots of good kickroom there for rear passengers too, and again, ease of access in and out for passengers.
In the third row seats, there are top tether anchorages for two of the three third row seats. They are on the back of the seat backs. There's also a bag hook on the right-hand-side seat back in the third row. Not to be confused as a top tether anchor. But the top tether anchorages are really clearly labeled.
There is ISOFIX for one of the third row seats, and they are clearly labeled and within plastic guides.
I could get two child seats in that third row. There wasn't really room for a passenger to squeeze in beside them. Maybe a very slim teenager would get in there but they'd struggle to access the seatbelt buckle.
According to the ANCAP report, installation of typical child restraints showed that all restraints could be accommodated in the second-row positions. However, in the third-row center seat, care is required to correctly install a Type F booster seat, and the Type E booster seat could not be correctly installed. In the third-row left-hand seat, the two selected convertible seats could not be correctly installed in forward or rearward-facing modes using the ISOFIX anchorages.
Legroom is really good in the Hyundai Palisade. We could fit a 180cm plus driver in front of a rear-facing infant capsule, and then you've got a forward-facing child seat in the third row, or a 170cm plus passenger.
Third row access is really good in the Palisade. The seats are split 60:40 in the second row. And even with three child seats installed, you can bring one of the second row outer seats all the way forward, and you've got a little bit of access room through to the third row. A child can climb through the gap and get themselves into their seat.
The third row seats are really nice and comfortable, and with only one child seat installed back there, passengers can be seated back there really easily. There's lots of leg room, a flat foot well, which makes it really nice for lanky teenagers.
How comfortable is the Hyundai Palisade for families?
Rear passengers are kept nice and comfortable in the Palisade. There are air vents in the ceiling of the second and third row, so you can keep passengers in the back the right temperature while you're driving along.
There are air con controls in the back of the central console box, so second row passengers can change the climate.
However, from the front, you can lock and control the rear air con so little fingered passengers can't fiddle with it and change the settings.
There are also handles above both of the rear doors, so you can hang a little toy up there for rear facing infant passengers, just to keep them entertained on long journeys. There's also lights in the ceiling of the second and third row, which is great when you're getting your kids in and out at night, so you can see what you're doing.
I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it's really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON'T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a 5minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it's not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.
The windows and doors in the Palisade open and close quite quietly, which is great for not disturbing sleeping children.
With baby asleep you can get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy. The same for the windows their mechanism is not too noisy and I didn't notice them having a loud opening or closing sound.
With baby asleep you want to be able to get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy and wake Bub up!
You can lock the windows and doors separately from the driver's door control panel, preventing children from fiddling with them during journeys.
The media system in the Hyundai Palisade is really lovely and modern and easy to use and navigate. There's lots of things within here that I really like.
It's got voice memo, which is really handy for you to be able to record those cute conversations with your kids while driving (or if you are Kel from Kath & Kim your sausage recipe inspiration).
There's also the climate controls in here, which are nice and easy to use.
And you've got separate ones here for the rear climate as well.
You've also got Quiet Mode, which minimises the volume of the stereo in the back and brings it to the front, which is fantastic when your kids are asleep.
Passenger Talk amplifies the sound between the front and the third row speakers so that you don't have to shout to be heard, which, again, is great if you've got kids asleep in the back. It's fantastic.
It's got built-in sat nav as well, which is really good. And it also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can access your phone and apps and things while driving, which is fantastic.
When we put it into reverse, camera images are lovely and clear. In the higher spec Calligraphy versions there is a 360-degree camera system giving you different views that you can choose from as well.
You can easily turn the parking sensor sound off with a button down in the dashboard as well. There's also a camera you can turn on while driving as well just by pressing a button down in the central console. So you can access that really nice and easily, and it helps with visibility, especially if you've got the back full loaded up with child seats and kids.
How safe is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade for families?
The Hyundai Palisade has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 88% for child occupant protection and 84% for adult occupant protection. It also scored 62% for vulnerable road user protection and 83% for safety assist technologies.
The Palisade is equipped with seven airbags as standard, including a central airbag that comes down between the front passengers to prevent occupant-to-occupant interaction during side impacts. Side curtain airbags extend to the third row, providing protection for all three rows of seats.
According to ANCAP, in both the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection was GOOD for all critical body areas for both the 6-year and 10-year child dummies.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade comes with Hyundai SmartSense advanced safety technologies as standard across all grades, including:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car-to-car, vulnerable road user, and junction assist, blind spot monitoring (BSM) with safe exit assist, lane keep assist (LKA) and lane departure warning (LDW), adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop & go function, Forward collision warning (FCW), Rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), multi-collision brake system, 360-degree cameras (in Calligrapy versions), safe exit assist and child presence alert.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub's asleep!
There is a seatbelt warning system for all front and outboard rear seating positions, but it's worth noting that the system is not available for the centre seating positions in the second or third rows.
What is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade like to drive?
The Hyundai Palisade is a really nice car to drive with your family on board. It feels really nice and spacious, and visibility is very good, even with the five child seats in the back. I can see a little smidge in over the top of the rear seats.
But if that's not enough, then there is a camera you can put on down in the central console…
… and that stays on while you are driving, which is fantastic.
The turning circle is surprisingly good in the Hyundai Palisade for a big SUV of this size, and it makes parking and maneuvering really nice and easy, as do those cameras.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually, I dread parking in tight spaces, but the Palisade was easier to maneuver than expected.
The Palisade has a towing capacity of 2.2 tonnes, so if you've got a little camper trailer or boat that you want to tow, then it's probably enough.
There is a seat belt warning on the front dash, so it lets you know for all six rear seats if anyone takes off their seat belts.
Also, there's a child lock button in the driver's door control panel, which is fantastic. You can lock the doors and windows of the rear doors so no little passengers can fiddle with them.
Compare the 2024 Hyundai Palisade
If you're considering the Hyundai Palisade, you might also want to look at these alternatives:
Kia Sorento – slso fits five child seats and has hybrid options, Nissan Pathfinder – similar eight-seater capability with comparable boot space, Toyota Kluger – hybrid with good interior space or if you want an SUV that is good off-road and with 3.5 tonne towing capability look at the Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest.
BabyDrive Verdict on the 2024 Hyundai Palisade
To sum up with the Hyundai Palisade, it makes a fantastic eight-seater family car. You can fit five child seats in the back there really nice and comfortably with great third row access as well.
The drive is really nice and comfortable and the boot space, even when using all eight seats, can fit the Thule Urban Glide 3 twin, side-by-side pram in the boot, which is fantastic news for families with two young siblings.
The media system is fantastic, with helpful features like Quiet Mode and Passenger Talk that show Hyundai understands what families need. The cameras are excellent too, helping with visibility and parking.
The five-star ANCAP safety rating with strong child occupant protection scores provides peace of mind, while the long list of safety technologies helps keep your precious cargo safe.
While there are some minor limitations with child seat installations in the third row, these are relatively small compromises for what is otherwise an excellent family SUV.
Key Pros:
- Fits three child seats across the second row and two in the third row
- Impressive boot space even with all seats in use
- Thoughtful family features like Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk and rear conversation mirror
- Great underfloor storage in the boot
- Comprehensive safety suite with strong ANCAP ratings
- Comfortable ride with good visibility
Key Cons:
- No seatbelt reminders for centre seating positions
- Third row child seats are squished together
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