Compare the2023 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2021 Kia Sedona

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Palisade and Sedona have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Sedona’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Palisade are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Sedona doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Hyundai Palisade has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sedona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Palisade Calligraphy has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Sedona doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Palisade offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sedona doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Hyundai Palisade has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Sedona doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Palisade’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Sedona and is not available with LX.

The Palisade has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Sedona EX/SX offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Palisade has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Sedona EX/SX has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Palisade and the Sedona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Kia Sedona:

	Palisade	Sedona
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	160	236
Neck Injury Risk	19%	23%
Neck Stress	161 lbs.	196 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	52 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	94/151 lbs.	18/876 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	35%	39%
Neck Stress	132 lbs.	196 lbs.
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	60 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Kia Sedona:

	Palisade	Sedona
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	29
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	189 lbs.	660 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	223	256

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Palisade its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 81 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sedona last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sedona’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sedona.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Palisade has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Sedona’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Palisade has a 800-amp battery. The Sedona only offers a standard 660-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Palisade’s reliability 23 points higher than the Sedona.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 15 more horsepower (291 vs. 276) and 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 248) than the Sedona’s 3.3 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Palisade is faster than the Kia Sedona:

	Palisade	Sedona
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Palisade gets better mileage than the Sedona:

			MPG
Palisade
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
Sedona
	FWD	3.3 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Palisade’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip with its optional disable switch. The Sedona doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Palisade higher (5 out of 10) than the Kia Sedona (3). This means the Palisade produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sedona every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Palisade’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sedona:

	Palisade	Sedona
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	11.9 inches

The Palisade stops shorter than the Sedona:

	Palisade	Sedona
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Palisade has larger tires than the Sedona (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Palisade’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sedona LX’s standard 65 series tires. The Palisade’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Sedona EX/SX’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Palisade has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sedona LX. The Palisade’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Sedona EX/SX.

Suspension and Handling

The Palisade offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Sedona doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

Chassis

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Kia Sedona.

The Palisade is 4.7 inches shorter than the Sedona, making the Palisade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Palisade has .9 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the Sedona.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sedona doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sedona’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Palisade uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Sedona doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Palisade uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sedona uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Palisade Limited/Calligraphy has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sedona doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Palisade’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sedona’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Palisade’s standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sedona’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Palisade Calligraphy’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches.

The Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sedona’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Palisade’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sedona’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Palisade’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Sedona and aren’t offered on the Sedona LX.

The Palisade’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sedona offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Palisade and the Sedona offer available heated front seats. The Palisade also offers optional heated second row seats and the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy has standard heated third row seats to keep all passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Neither heated second nor third row seats are available in the Sedona.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Palisade’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Sedona doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sedona.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Sedona doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Palisade, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Sedona isn't recommended.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Kia Sedona by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.

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