Hyundai Palisade vs Subaru Ascent

The Hyundai Palisade has been heralded as one of the best midsize three-row SUV offerings since its introduction in 2020. It has been named on Car and Driver’s yearly Editors’ Choice list in the best midsize SUV category. U.S. News & World Report recently compared the 2024 Hyundai Palisade against the 2024 Subaru Ascent to see which is the better three-row midsize SUV option for customers. 

What Is U.S. News & World Report?

Since 1948, U.S. News & World Report has been a leading publication in ranking the best colleges, global universities, vehicles, states, and hospitals, among others. In this case, they are ranking midsize SUVs between Hyundai and Subaru. 

Engine, Safety, & Economy

For 2024, the Hyundai Palisade is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which is combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Since debuting in 2020, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the Palisade as a Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+. The Hyundai can also tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped with a dealer-installed tow hitch. When it comes to fuel economy, most buyers won’t have much to worry about with 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for front-wheel drive models. When equipped with all-wheel drive the highway number drops by only two mpg.  

A Warranty Like No Other

One thing that U.S. News was adamant about was that the Subaru could not touch the 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty offered by Hyundai, and therefore takes a backseat when compared. A warranty covering buyers up to 100,000 miles just shows how confident Hyundai is in the Palisade and is willing to take care of customers. They also preferred the overall seat comfort of the midsize Hyundai to the Subaru. 

Cargo Capacity

An area where the Palisade scored big was in cargo space. With all the seats folded, the Hyundai provides nearly 11 more cu.ft. of total cargo space. U.S. News said, “With the second and third rows folded, the Palisade provides up to 86.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is good for the class. With the second row in use, there are still 45.8 cubic feet. Put all seats upright and the Palisade has 18 cubic feet behind the rear row. The SE trim comes with a manual liftgate; all other trims come equipped with a hands-free power liftgate.”

Winner-Winner

The Palisade would go on to win the categories of Interior Quality, Interior Features, Acceleration, and tie for Ride & Handling and Safety. The overall win was an obvious victory for the Hyundai as it nearly swept the Subaru. 

An Expected Victory

In the conclusion of their comparison, U.S. News said, “The Palisade costs more than the Ascent, but easily justifies that price with a spacious, refined cabin loaded with standard features. The standard V6 is also a nice touch, and there’s not much of a penalty in fuel economy for the added power.”

At Hyundai of Mankato, we take great pride in offering some of the most reliable and safest vehicles on the market today. With dozens of new and used vehicles for sale, our sales team and finance department will help you find the right vehicle for your needs. And our outstanding service department will work tirelessly to ensure your vehicle stays in the best possible condition. If you are looking for winter tires, our service technicians will take great care of you and provide all the relevant information you need.

We look forward to serving you.