What we're driving: 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited
2020 Hyundai Palisade. Photo: Hyundai
This week, I'm driving the 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited.
Quick take: After more than nine inches of unexpected snow in Detroit, I felt safe in the big three-row crossover with its all-wheel-drive capability.
The big picture: Starting at $31,550, this is Hyundai's biggest model, and it's going up against some stalwarts in the three-row crossover segment like the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
- Plus, it will compete against the new Kia Telluride, which shares many components, including its 291-hp, 3.8-liter V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission.
Details: The Palisade's styling, including a wide cascading grille (which isn't for everyone) and well-appointed interior with quilted leather upholstery, give it an upscale feel.
- The center console is wide, with a push-button gear selector and climate and infotainment controls that took a while to find. But once accustomed to the layout, the controls were easy to use.
Driver-assistance features: Several advanced safety systems come standard, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, a driver attention monitor, and a rear-occupant alert.
- A unique blind view monitoring system displays a camera image of what's in the car's blind spot — a car, pedestrian or cyclist — whenever the turn signal is activated.
- A safe exit system uses radar to detect a car approaching from the rear and won't let passengers open the door until the car passes.
The bottom line: Even my loaded $47,605 Palisade Limited seems like a lot of car for the money.
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