The SUV market is almost too saturated, with every automaker having a couple of entries in the segment. It is, therefore, difficult for an SUV to get as much love as Hyundai‘s three-row Palisade is receiving. Since it entered the market in 2019, the vehicle has earned several awards and tested highly on reliability scores. So, what part of their SUV do Hyundai Palisade owners love the most?

Overview of the J.D. Power APEAL study

The J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study is an annual survey conducted by J.D. Power that aims to measure the level of satisfaction that vehicle owners experience with their new cars within 90 days of ownership. The study focuses on different aspects of vehicle ownership, including design, comfort, features, performance, and more.

The publication collects data on 10 distinct areas, including driving comfort, driving feel, vehicle’s powertrain, infotainment system, exterior styling, design of the interior, fuel economy, safety, setting up and starting the car, and getting in and out of the vehicle. Once new vehicle owners respond to the survey, J.D. Power adds the scores for every model and groups them into segments based on size, price, and purpose.

The report ranks the vehicles from the most liked and highest ranked car to the least. It helps carmakers understand the areas they are lacking and improve the elements to enhance customer satisfaction and gain a competitive advantage.

Three areas Hyundai Palisade owners liked

The Hyundai Palisade was the top-rated upper midsize SUV of 2022 in the APEAL study. According to the survey, the three things new owners enjoy most are its exterior styling, driving feel, and feeling of safety.

The vehicles come with standard key safety features, including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

The Palisade’s interior design, driving comfort, and powertrain were also features that owners enjoyed about the car despite not making it in the top three categories. The vehicle has a 3.8-liter V6 engine under the hood that pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and produces 291 hp. The car takes 6.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which isn’t bad for a three-row midsize SUV.

New owners were indifferent to setting up, starting the car, and getting in and out. Despite having desirable infotainment features, including a 12.0-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay standard on all trims, new owners didn’t like the Palisade’s infotainment and particularly disliked its fuel economy.

The car can also be unlocked, locked, or started remotely through Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa if paired with the automaker’s Blue Link app service. The Palisade achieves an EPA-estimated rating of 19 mpg on city roads and 26 mpg on the highway.

In comparison, other vehicles in its segment, including the Mazda CX-90, achieve 24 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while comparatively, the Kia Telluride achieves 20 mpg on city roads and 26 mpg on the highway, nearly similar ratings to the Palisade.

These categories show how versatile the Palisade is

The well-reviewed Hyundai Palisade is a versatile vehicle with a wide range of features and capabilities that meet the needs of different drivers. These categories reiterate the Palisade’s versatility in various ways.

Whether you’re in the market for a spacious family car, are looking for a comfortable and tech-laden daily vehicle, or are looking for a capable SUV for outdoor adventures, the Palisade offers a well-rounded package capable of adapting to different lifestyles and situations. If you’re looking for a new midsize SUV and can afford it, don’t hesitate to spring for the Palisade.