2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding 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 stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille design. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The seating configurations allowed for flexibility, accommodating up to eight passengers in the lower trims, while higher trims offered luxurious features like heated and ventilated seats.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX boasted a distinctive visual presence with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs, making it easier to maneuver in technical driving situations. However, the interior was somewhat disappointing, with a noticeable amount of plastic materials that didn't quite match its luxury badge. Despite this, the GX offered some luxury touches, such as heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design and features were more focused on off-road capability, with a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it well-suited for tackling challenging terrains.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it competitive within its class, offering more power than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and all-wheel drive was available as an option. The Palisade excelled in towing capacity, able to haul up to 5,000 pounds, and offered a comfortable ride with competitive fuel economy figures of 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for front-wheel-drive models.

The 2023 Lexus GX, on the other hand, featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 provided a satisfying sound and linear power delivery, it lagged behind more modern engines in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. The GX's towing capacity of 6,500 pounds was impressive, but its fuel economy was less so, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's driving dynamics were improved over the years, with a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and a 4WD system that enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample interior space, comfortably seating seven or eight passengers. It provided generous legroom, with 44.1 inches in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. The Palisade's cargo space was also impressive, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 behind the second, and 86.4 with all but the front-row seats folded. The interior was designed with convenience in mind, featuring HVAC vents in all three rows, multiple cupholders, and a user-friendly layout of physical buttons and knobs.

The 2023 Lexus GX, while offering plenty of cubby space for small items, had a more limited interior space compared to the Palisade. The third row was tight and best suited for occasional use, while the cargo space was narrow, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third row increased the space to 46.7 cubic feet, and with both the second and third rows folded, it offered 64.7 cubic feet. The GX's interior featured hard buttons for controls, which some might find overwhelming, but it provided a comfortable second row with captain's chairs and good legroom.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its advanced technology features. It was the first Hyundai to offer WiFi hotspot capability, standard across all trims. The 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system in higher trims. The Palisade also featured a digital instrument cluster, in-car intercom, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, which allowed for remote accessibility and management. The Digital Key 2 Touch was a notable addition, enabling owners to use their smartphones to unlock and start the car.

The 2023 Lexus GX, despite a recent infotainment update, felt dated compared to other Lexus models. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was an improvement, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. However, the graphics and responsiveness lagged behind competitors. The GX's technology was more focused on off-road capabilities, with features like a real 4WD system, downhill assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. The Off-Road Package added further enhancements for tackling challenging terrains.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was expected to maintain its high safety standards, with the 2022 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. The 2023 Palisade included Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, such as forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance. It also offered advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and a full-display digital rearview mirror.

The 2023 Lexus GX, while not crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, benefited from Toyota and Lexus's commitment to advanced driver assistance systems. It included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were up-to-date, providing a level of reassurance to drivers.