We get it, the Hyundai Palisade is a pretty awesome SUV. It seats up to seven, it’s large enough to carry what you need, it’s comfortable and it even looks good. But, there’s one big drawback: they’re hard to come by right now, especially the hot new-for-2023 version that packs even more good stuff in. Even though it wins awards, there are some alternatives from Honda, VW, Ford, and Toyota to consider.

The Hyundai Palisade is all new for 2023

For 2023, Hyundai significantly updated the Palisade with a new look and new features. But, smartly, Hyundai kept the solid bones of the Palisade, like its 290-horsepower V6, optional all-wheel drive, and standard safety features like forward collision assistance. The 2023 Hyundai Palisade starts at $34,950. The Kia Telluride uses the same platform and has similar pricing and driving dynamics, but it has different styling touches inside and out. It even gets a great reliability rating from J.D. Power.

The Honda Pilot is an obvious Hyundai Palisade Alternative

The Honda Pilot SUV is an obvious Hyundai Palisade alternative. The 2022’s design is getting a bit old, and it has less power and cargo room than the Palisade, but it does come with a ton of standard features.  However, a new Pilot trim is on the way with a more rugged look that’s only been previewed in deliberately-grainy pictures.

The base trim Sport version starts at $38,080 and comes with the Honda Sensing driver’s aid package, heated front seats and more. But, to get many of the features that are standard on the Palisade, you need to step up to the EX-L, which starts at $40,310.

The VW Atlas is the iconoclast’s Hyundai Palisade Alternative

The Volkswagen Atlas is the iconoclast’s choice compared to a Hyundai Palisade. Compared to the Palisade, it has a much more distinctive style, which says Audi more than VW, and it has a nicely appointed interior that gives it a modern clean look. Like the Palisade, it seats seven, but it has significantly more cargo room, which comes from its larger size. The Atlas SE starts at $34,600, but with either of its engines, the base turbocharged four-cylinder or the 266-horsepower V6, it doesn’t make nearly as much juice as the Hyundai Palisade.

The Ford Explorer is the second-best selling midsize SUV today

When it comes to Hyundai Palisade alternatives, one more obvious choice is the Ford Explorer, which is a best seller in 2022. It was recently updated and checks many of the same boxes as the Palisade for about the same price. It, too, seats seven and has a base price of $35,510. The Explorer has a punchy 300-horsepower 2.3-liter engine, with an available bigger V6, as well as towing packages, appearance packages, and technology packages that increase its utility.

But, like the others, you’ll probably have to step up to the mid-level XLT trim to get many of the features of the Palisade.  

Toyota’s hot-selling Highlander competes well

Toyota’s best-selling three-row SUV attracts buyers because it has a lot of the utility of the Sienna minivan, without having to be a minivan. Its third row is easy to get into, and it has plenty of features. The Highlander does offer a clever all-wheel drive Hybrid version, as well as a 5,000-pound towing capacity, and a large easy-to-use touchscreen interface. The seats fold flat, but it just matches the Palisade for cargo carrying space inside. It starts at $35,855.

Though there are a lot of alternatives to the Palisade, its mix of options and practicality. But for $40,000 it’s hard to beat the optional power sliding second-row seats and blind spot detection, combined with good driving dynamics and a powerful V6.