GMC Yukon vs Hyundai Palisade

GMC's vision for the 2022 Yukon centered around chrome. Even the base SLE model had enough shiny accents to lend it a premium look, but the levels of chrome became almost overwhelming by the time you reached the Denali trim. It was apparent that GMC intended to differentiate the Yukon through its liberal use of chrome, and it worked. The Denali’s front end featured an extensive chrome grille that gave the vehicle a commanding presence. Specific trims like the off-road-oriented AT4 also got unique styling cues, such as a dark grille, skid plate, and red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon offered a roomy, meticulously crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or nine if you opted for the front bench seat on the SLE. The Denali trim stood out with unique interior designs that featured contrasting colors, intricate stitching, and natural wood details, giving it a luxurious feel. Meanwhile, the AT4 had a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents, incorporating dark brushed aluminum details to exhibit its rugged personality. Standard perforated leather seats and optional heated and cooled front seats further enhanced the comfort and appeal.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade adopted a bolder, more squared-off grille for a stronger road presence. Standard features across the lineup included LED headlights and taillights. The upscale Calligraphy trim showcased rear accent lighting, unique gloss-black and chrome grille, and premium bumper designs. New for 2023 was the XRT trim, which sported dark grille elements, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels.

The Palisade's interior emphasized style and comfort. Our Calligraphy-trim tester featured premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, which brightened the dark cabin. The horizontal quilting and dash lines were reminiscent of luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz. The Palisade boasted seating for up to eight, with bench seats available in lower trims and captain’s chairs up to Calligraphy trim. Adding to the comfort were heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows for higher trims, and heated third-row seats.

The 2022 GMC Yukon provided a choice of three powertrains to meet different driving needs. The standard engine for most trims was a 5.3-liter V8, producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Denali trim came with a more powerful 6.2-liter V8, delivering 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both V8 engines utilized direct injection and cylinder-deactivation technology for better efficiency. A new turbodiesel option, affectionately called the "Baby Duramax," offered 277 hp and an impressive 460 pound-feet of torque, alongside excellent fuel economy.

All engines paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard for most trims, with four-wheel drive (4WD) available except on the AT4, which came with 4WD standard. The Yukon boasted an off-road-focused AT4 trim with unique styling and equipment aimed at conquering rugged terrain. A two-speed transfer case was standard on the AT4 and Denali.

The Yukon's towing capacity reached 8,400 pounds in optimal configurations featuring the 5.3-liter V8 and rear-wheel drive. However, our Denali test vehicle offered a respectable 8,200-pound tow rating with its 6.2-liter V8. Although the ride quality improved thanks to independent rear suspension and adaptive air suspension, some bouncing over rough pavements remained. Nevertheless, the Yukon excelled on long interstate drives with its smooth, quiet ride.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade stuck with a single powertrain: a 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was competitive within its class, easily outperforming models like the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. An eight-speed automatic transmission, manipulated through paddle shifters, smoothly handled gear shifting. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, but all trims offered an optional all-wheel drive (AWD) system for $1,900.

Testing revealed the Palisade to be capable on light off-road excursions, although it lacked the clearance for serious rock crawling. It excelled in towing with a capacity of 5,000 pounds, and AWD models featured a dedicated Tow Mode for optimizing gear shifts. Fuel economy for the Palisade was also commendable: 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined with FWD; and slightly less with AWD, at 19 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered newfound spaciousness in its third row, thanks to a redesign that increased legroom by over 10 inches, bringing it to 34.9 inches. Cargo space also saw improvements, with capacity behind the third row growing from 15.3 to 25.5 cubic feet. These enhancements came courtesy of a wheelbase stretch and independent rear suspension. Regardless of the row, passengers found ample space and comfort in the Yukon. Power-folding second-row buckets and power-folding third-row seats facilitated easy access and flexibility.

An innovative feature in the Denali was the power-sliding center console, which revealed additional storage space when moved a full 10 inches rearward. This creative use of space was complimented by dual foldable steps to ease vehicle entry and exit, although these steps were prone to gathering dirt and moisture. Pushbutton controls for gear selection contributed to cleaning up the design, even though it required a slight learning curve.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade also aimed for comfort, boasting impressive interior space. Legroom measured 44.1 inches in the first row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume came in at 155.3 cubic feet, marginally larger than the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade’s smart one-touch seat slide allowed for effortless third-row entry, which was further eased by ingress/egress handles. Cargo capacity with all seats up was 18 cubic feet, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The Palisade was well-equipped to serve passengers, with HVAC vents and cupholders in all three rows. The center console featured additional storage and housed essential amenities like phone holders and cupholders. Dual-zone climate control and intuitive layout of the physical buttons enhanced the user experience.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with a suite of modern technologies, highlighted by a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center placed between the primary gauges. This system provided easy access to essential functions such as phone, audio, and navigation (if equipped). Though the roller control for menu navigation required some acclimatization, the information was clear and logically presented.

Our Denali test vehicle also featured a prominent 15-inch multi-color head-up display, offering driving and safety information directly in the driver’s line of sight. A 10.2-inch touchscreen sat atop the center stack, with the infotainment system providing Google Built-In services, including Maps and Assistant, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. The 14-speaker Bose audio system, despite typically high expectations, delivered a performance that was more adequate than spectacular.

Rear-seat passengers were entertained by a dual 12.6-inch touchscreen system compatible with various streaming and gaming devices. While the system provided HDMI ports and connectivity options, users needed their own adapters to link smartphones or tablets.

Hyundai integrated several technology upgrades in the 2023 Palisade, including WiFi hotspot capability, a first for the brand. The centerpiece of the tech suite was a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on all trims. This system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available, providing dynamic sound quality.

Drivers enjoyed upgraded displays, including a standard 4.2-inch and an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster option. Limited and Calligraphy trims included a color head-up display. The Palisade also introduced Digital Key 2 Touch, allowing owners to use compatible smartphones or Apple Watches to unlock, start, and drive the vehicle.

Safety and convenience were addressed with Hyundai’s Bluelink connected vehicle system, now standard on all trims, offering remote management features such as heated seat activation and vehicle status checks.

Safety was a strong suit for both SUVs. The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with GMC’s Pro Safety suite, including features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package, included on higher trims, added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and park assist. The Safety Alert Seat and adjustable rear camera mirror enhanced situational awareness.

In terms of crash safety, the NHTSA awarded the Yukon a four-star overall rating. Specific ratings included four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not rated the current-generation Yukon by the time of this writing.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for the 2022 model, with similar expectations for the 2023 version. It came with the Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance. Adding to its safety credentials, the Palisade offered navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Safe Exit Warning, while higher trims provided Highway Driving Assist II for more comprehensive driver assistance.