The midsize SUV segment is the backbone of family hauling in the modern world. Whether you’re at a big box hardware store running errands or at a Little League baseball game, you’ll likely see them taking up the majority of parking space. They are roomy, versatile, and built for heavy use. Few do it as well as the 2023 Hyundai Palisade though, which offers smart power and great tech. Can the 2023 Chevy Traverse keep pace with the Palisade, or does it fall behind?
2023 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2023 Chevrolet Traverse
PERFORMACE
Under the hood, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade and the 2023 Chevy Traverse are pretty much even. While the Traverse has a slightly more powerful motor, it also weighs more – the base model Traverse clocks in 200 pounds heavier. This allows the Palisade to be more agile, and leads to better fuel economy. The Palisade gets 21 MPG combined in all-wheel drive models and 22 MPG combined in front-wheel drive models, while the Traverse only gets 20 MPG and 21 MPG respectively. Both vehicles can haul up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
DESIGN & COMFORT
Sure, beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s impossible to deny the attractive packaging of the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. Another advantage of the Palisade is that while both vehicles are considered midsize, the Palisade has a significantly smaller footprint, coming in at 9.5 inches shorter than the Traverse, as well as 1.8 inches shorter. This can certainly make a difference in shrinking garages and tight urban parking.
Inside the Palisade, despite that much smaller footprint, you get great usage of space! Even being shorter, the Palisade offers 3 inches more legroom up front and 4 more inches of legroom in the second row than the Traverse. The Traverse offers more dedicated cargo space, but for most drivers the superior flexibility of the Palisade’s interior will be the better match. Passengers will enjoy the interior of the Palisade thanks to materials that are a little more upscale, and ergonomics that are easier to work with.
TECHNOLOGY
One thing you notice right away when looking inside these two vehicles is the infotainment touch screen. In the 2023 Hyundai Palisade, you get a bright, clear 12.3-inch touch screen across the line-up. The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, however, is living in the past. Base models have a 7-inch touch screen, and while there is a larger available screen it’s only slightly bigger, at 8 inches.
As far as connectivity goes, the integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is pretty standard across the industry anymore, as is the use of Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and streaming. The Palisade provides a better top-end audio system to listen to all this through though, with a 12-speaker harman/kardon audio system available. The Traverse tops out with a 10-speakers Bose system.
SAFETY
Hyundai has made great strides in the safety and driver-assistance fields, and few vehicles show it off quite like the 2023 Hyundai Palisade does. On top of the standards like rearview camera, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning, the Palisade has novel ideas like vehicle exit warning, rear-seat alert, and pedestrian-, cyclist-, and junction-turning detection. These are standard – on every Palisade! The Palisade also gets 5 Stars from the NHTSA for Front Driver and Front Passenger Side crash ratings – the Traverse only gets four stars for Front Passenger Side crash ratings.
While the Traverse does provide rear-seat alert standard, vehicle exit warning and the detection systems in the Palisade aren’t available at all. On top of that, features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are standard on all Palisade models, but are a cost-added option on Traverse models, either having to go up in trim levels or add on an options package. Hyundai believes that safety should be standard!
The Chevrolet Traverse is an adequate midsize SUV, but why settle for adequate when you can get a class-leader like the 2023 Hyundai Palisade? Plenty of critics feel the Hyundai Palisade is one of the tops in the class – now’s the time to see for yourself. Check out the Palisade today!
You can schedule a test drive and choose which Palisade is perfect for you at Haddad Hyundai in Pittsfield, MA!
