2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Volvo XC90

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 appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The 20-inch alloy wheels, standard across the lineup in Canada, contributed to its premium feel, especially in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The new Robust Emerald colour option for this trim was subtle and elegant, fitting well within the Hyundai-Genesis family's recent colour trends. Inside, the Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish and attractive interior, brightened by a dual-pane sunroof. Premium Nappa leather was standard, and the seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim.

The 2024 Volvo XC90, available in B6 and Recharge T8 model series, offered a subdued and earthy exterior paint palette, aligning with its luxury SUV status. The XC90's design leaned towards practicality, safety, and sustainability, with various appealing wheel designs up to 21 inches in diameter. The interior, though dated, was fitted with rich materials, especially in the Ultimate trim. Volvo's wool-blend upholstery and ventilated Nappa leather options added to the luxury feel, complemented by an Orrefors crystal shift knob and natural wood trim. The XC90 allowed for more customization in paint, wheels, and upholstery compared to some rivals, catering to picky customers. Despite its dated design, the XC90 maintained a luxurious and practical appeal.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than competitors like the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more so than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard paddle shifters, and its standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system, provided a capable driving experience. The HTRAC AWD system proved effective during a muddy off-road test drive. While not designed for rock-crawling, the Palisade offered a comfortable ride and competitive towing capability, hauling up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). Its fuel economy was 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.5 on the highway, and 11.2 combined.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 combined an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a 107-kilowatt electric motor with a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. This power was delivered to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The XC90 offered 53 kilometres of electric-only driving range, with a combined fuel economy of 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres when driven as a hybrid. The SUV could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in five seconds in Power mode. Recharging was straightforward, with options for a standard household outlet or a 240-volt, 16-amp outlet. The XC90 featured multiple driving modes, including Pure, Power, Hybrid, and Off-Road, with up to 25 centimetres of ground clearance when equipped with optional air suspension. However, the XC90's performance waned as the battery approached its minimum state of charge, and the ride quality was firm on irregular pavement.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with 1,052 millimetres of legroom in the front row, 1,077 in the second, and 798 in the third. Its passenger volume measured 4,397 litres, and cargo space ranged from 509 litres behind the third row to 2,447 litres with all but the front-row seats folded flat. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows, two cupholders per person, and a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base trim. The interior layout was intuitive, with physical buttons and knobs for easy control.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, even in Core trim, was well-equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, optional leather upholstery, wood trim, and a four-zone climate control system. The panoramic glass roof added natural light, and higher trims offered additional features like a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats with massage, and upgraded interior lighting. The XC90 seated seven or six with optional captain's chairs, and its cargo capacity reached up to 2,426 litres with the second-row seat folded. However, interior storage was adequate rather than abundant, and the climate control system struggled to cool the cabin on hot days.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard in higher trims, and the Bluelink connected vehicle system offered remote accessibility and management features. The Palisade also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an in-car intercom, and a colour head-up display in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim.

The 2024 Volvo XC90's 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system used Google Built-in technology, offering Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant. Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard, with options for a 14-speaker Harman Kardon or a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. The XC90's infotainment system was more intuitive than previous versions, and the digital voice assistant provided a generally rewarding experience. The SUV also included a 12-inch digital instrumentation panel and a head-up display.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and came with Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite of safety features. These included forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard, along with adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Palisade also featured a full-display digital rearview mirror and a rear seat occupant alert system.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 was synonymous with safety, earning a five-star rating from the NHTSA in most assessments and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS in 2023. However, its advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were not as innovative as some rivals. The XC90 included Pilot Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist, but it struggled with certain driving conditions. Despite this, the XC90's safety features worked smoothly overall.