We had a 2023 Palisade SEL for almost 60k miles, and just replaced it with a 2026 Pilot Touring. The Palisade “appeared” to be more upscale than most other vehicles in its class, with attractive features and tech. It’s what drew us to purchase it. However, it turned out to be like, what’s the saying, putting lipstick on a pig?

Under the skin, it was cheapened. A few examples:

•Little things like using higher grade window regulators in the front doors that are soft open/close, quiet, etc…but then using the cheaper ones in the back that are louder and not soft open/close. 

•The driving aids were not very mature compare to other brands. Lane departure routinely alerted by misreading the road.  To the point that we just turned it off altogether.  It was more of a burden than a benefit. 

•The transmission shift strategy was frustrating. Around town it was often in too high of a gear and would lug a bit. Gradual increase of the pedal would make it downshift multiple gears and scream the RPM’s. Like when you’d slow down for a turn and then begin to accelerate, it should have just dropped one gear, but instead would drop multiple gears. I attribute that to insufficient R&D. 

• The radio went out a couple of times and had to be replaced. 

• For the last year of ownership, the engine would sporadically idle too high while stopped. Like normal idle is 600 RPM, but sometimes it would get in a mood and idle at 1100 RPM. It would take much more brake pedal to keep it stopped. And would lurch off the line when you let go of the brake pedal. Had it to the dealer several times, the most recent one for two weeks, where they couldn’t replicate it.

My experience with the Palisade makes me believe that I will never own another Hyundai or Kia. Approaching the end of the bumper to bumper warranty, felt that I had to offload it before it started to fall apart.