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- Great functional storage for the driver with top notch cupholders
- Second row sunshades and ceiling vents
- Beautiful and luxurious interior design
The Exterior
Personally, I love the exterior of the Hyundai Palisade. The headlight and daytime running light design is super innovative, the grille is bold, and the hood lines are dramatic in a good way.
Even at the base trim, it looks polished. Higher trims add upgraded wheels, more chrome, and additional color options—but for a base model, this one holds its own.
The headlight and daytime running light design is super innovative, the grille is bold, and the hood lines are dramatic in a good way.
Even at the base trim, it looks polished. Higher trims add upgraded wheels, more chrome, and additional color options—but for a base model, this one holds its own.
First Row
First things first: excellent mom-bun clearance... and yes, that matters.
Even without all the upgrades, the base Palisade SE delivers where it counts:
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision avoidance
- Backup camera
The touchscreen is intuitive, and I love how easy it is to access rear climate controls—no digging through menus while driving. Huge win for moms with kids in the back.
Visibility is also excellent—large rear windows and a generous third-row window make it feel like a big SUV without driving like a bus.
If you care about cup holders and cubbies (and if you’re a parent, you do), this car delivers.
- Adjustable cup holders that fold in and out
- Tons of flat space for bottles, coffee, snacks, etc
- Deep center console with USB + 12V
- Overall: top-tier storage design
The side door cubbies are a bit shallow, but still usable. Overall? Storage gets a big thumbs up.
Second Row
Second-row highlights:
- Ceiling vents (we love to see it)
- Multiple cup holders (great for kids)
- USBs on the sides of the seats
- Rear climate controls
You can choose bench seating (8-passenger) or captain’s chairs (7-passenger). The bench is not three across compatible. So if you have three or more kids in carseats, I wouldn't recommend the Hyundai Palisade, but there are plenty other mid size SUVs that would work for you! (VW Atlas, Chevy Traverse, etc.)
Another thing to note in the second row, the buckles are shallow and rigid which may make it difficult for booster age children to buckle. Scroll to the end to find our booster recommendations for the Palisade!
Car Seat Setup:
This is where things get tricky.
- Second row: two lower anchors on outboard seats, three top tethers
- Third row: one set of lower anchors, two top tethers—but placement makes it nearly impossible to use two seats back there at once
In real-world testing with rear- and forward-facing seats:
- The third row is very difficult for large car seats
- Seat belt overlap and narrow seating create safety concerns
- Non-removable headrests complicate tethering
- Best suited for boosters or older kids, not multiple bulky car seats
If you have two kids, this can absolutely work. If you have three or more kids in big car seats, this would not be my top pick.
Third Row
Third row access is easy—especially with the child-friendly buttons that let seats fold forward without adult strength. I appreciate that detail a lot.
Once you’re back there:
- Decent knee room
- Ceiling vents (yes!)
- Cup holders
- No USBs on this trim (higher trims offer them)
Here’s the honest part: while Hyundai says there are three seats in the third row, that middle position is extremely narrow. I personally consider this a 7-passenger vehicle, not a true 8.
The third row is challenging for car seats because it's shallow which impacts the overhang of the car seat and leg room in any kid in a car seat or booster. Poorly placed LATCH allows for limited places to put car seats.
Trunk
With the third row up, space is tight—but there’s a hidden lower compartment that saved the day. I was able to fit my stroller by using that extra depth. It’s not minivan-level cargo, but it’s respectable for the class.
Safety
The 2021 Hyundai Palisade was awarded Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.
It comes standard with the Hyundai SmartSense suite, offering advanced driver-assistance features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Warning with higher trims adding Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Drive Assist, and a Surround View Monitor for comprehensive safety, earning top ratings from safety organizations.
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