Once upon a time, the Santa Fe XL was Hyundai's largest SUV and a popular choice amongst other mid-size SUVs. However, in 2020, Hyundai decided to say goodbye to the Santa Fe XL and introduce a bigger and more luxurious SUV option, the Hyundai Palisade. The Palisade is said to have a spacious cabin compared to similar SUVs, but how big is the interior exactly? We have broken down the interior dimensions from seating capacity to cargo space for you!
The Hyundai Palisade is available in both seven and eight-passenger seating arrangements depending on the trim package. The total passenger seating capacity by volume is 155.3 cubic feet. When passengers are using all three rows, the Palisade's main cargo area is 18 cubic feet. The Palisade has a total interior volume of 173.3 cubic feet.
That's a big jump in size compared to the Hyundai Santa Fe XL! When the Santa Fe XL was still in production, it had a total interior volume of 160.1 cubic feet. The Palisade has many interior features and seating configurations. Read on as we further break down Palisade's different trim packages, cargo space, and passenger dimensions.
New Thinking, New Possibilities
The Hyundai Palisade is one of the many changes Hyundai has made over the years. Hyundai is constantly improving consumers' trust by continually offering exceptional factory warranties and innovative designs. Hyundai offers a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper factory warranty on all of their vehicles. That's pretty amazing!
Hyundai knew they could gain consumers' trust and loyalty by having an excellent factory warranty. They were also aware that they needed an SUV that could compete against other mid-size SUVs, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Murano, and Kia Telluride.
Hyundai nailed it with the Palisade because it combined fuel efficiency, performance, luxury, and interior space. While these are all great features, having a mid-size SUV with third-row seating really sets it apart from other SUVs. Keep reading as we take a look at the Hyundai Palisades' interior dimensions and seating configurations.
Hyundai Palisade Cargo And Passenger Dimensions
Before you go shopping for a new SUV, you will want to make a list of SUVs on your test-drive list. The interior cargo and passenger dimensions will be a vital part of your list because why test drive it if it's not big enough for you and your family? Below, we break down the passenger and cargo interior dimensions by row.
Here are the interior passenger dimensions for the Hyundai Palisade (in cubic feet):
- Headroom front/2nd row/3rd row (without sunroof): 40.7/ 40.1/37.8
- Headroom front/2nd row/3rd row (with sunroof): 39.3/38.8/37.2
- Legroom front/2nd row/3rd row: 44.1/42.4/31.4
- Shoulder room front/2nd row/3rd row: 61.2/60.8/55.2
- Hip room front/2nd row/3rd row: 58.1/ 57.7/43.7
- Passenger volume: 155.3 cubic feet
Now let's look at the breakdown of the interior cargo dimensions (in cubic feet):
- Cargo capacity, behind front seats: 86.4
- Cargo capacity, behind 2nd row: 45.8
- Cargo capacity, behind 3rd row: 18.0
- Total interior volume: 173.3
Does the Hyundai Palisade Have Third-Row Seating?
We really like the Hyundai Palisade because even though it is a mid-size SUV, it is spacious and offers a third-row seat in every trim package. When the Santa Fe XL was still on the market, consumers would often complain that the third-row seat couldn't comfortably fit adults.
The Palisade takes care of that problem, and consumers report that the third-row accommodates two adults comfortably. If you require extra cargo space, fold down the third-row and/or second-row seating. It's amazing how much room this adds!
How many passengers can a Palisade hold?
The Hyundai Palisade can hold up to seven or eight passengers depending on the trim package. For most families, this is more than plenty. The SEL with the premium package, Limited, and the Calligraphy trim packages, come with some pretty sweet passenger seating features such as:
- 115-volt power outlet
- Heated steering wheel
- Ventilated front and second-row seats
- Heated front and second-row seats
- Wireless device charging
- Dual third-row, 2.1-amp USB ports (power)
- Multiple device connection (up to two devices)
- Drive-talk intercom
- 8-way power driver seat
- 2-way lumbar driver seat
- Sliding second-row seats with electric cargo-area releases
- Map pockets, with extra mini pocket
- Third-row 60/40 split-fold seats with ingress/egress handles
- One-touch second-row seat slide for third-row access
- Underfloor storage compartment
- Three first-row and two second-row, 2.1-amp USB ports (1x power/data and 4x power)
Which Palisade Has Second-Row Captain's Seats?![]()
As we stated, the Palisade can be purchased with seven or eight seating configurations, but which packages have seven and which ones have eight? It all comes down to whether or not the package is equipped with captain's chairs in the second row.
SE - Second-row Bench Only
The SE package is the base model and least expensive, with a starting MSRP of $32,675. This is the only package that doesn't have the option of coming with the captain's seats. It is strictly an eight-passenger configuration with a second-row bench seat.
SEL - Optional Second-row Bench OR Captain's Seats
The first trim package with captain's chairs in the second row is the Palisade SEL. This package takes a nice upgrade to safety and tech features at a modest MSRP of $35,325. The SEL trim is the only package that you can purchase with a second-row bench or captain's chairs. We like this option because consumers can choose either seating configuration at no additional costs.
Limited & Calligraphy - Second-row Captain's Seats Only
Lastly, Hyundai offers the Limited and their new Calligraphy trim packages. These are the top-shelf Palisade trims and offer about every feature under the sun. They both only come with second-row captain's chairs and cannot be swapped for the bench seating. If you want to learn more about the difference between the Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy, look at the article "Hyundai Palisade: Limited Vs Calligraphy – What's The Difference?"
Which Hyundai Has The Most Cargo Space?
Hyundai offers several crossover and mid-size SUVs. Each one has its own highlights, but which one has the most cargo space? It has to be the biggest SUV, right?
If you said yes to the previous question, then you are right! The Hyundai Palisade has the most cargo space. If you don't need the third-row seat and want better gas mileage, check out the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. It has impressive cargo space and is a less expensive option.
What Is The Hyundai Palisades Cargo Package?
In prior posts about the Hyundai Palisades, we have discussed different packages' features such as "What Is The Hyundai Palisades Premium Package?" and "Is The Hyundai Palisade AWD?" Since we are talking about interior passenger dimensions and cargo dimensions, it only makes sense to talk about the Hyundai Palisades Cargo Package.
What is the Cargo Package, and what does it come with?
The Cargo Package can be added to any of the Hyundai Palisade trims for an addition $225. This package includes a cargo tray, cargo net, and cargo blocks. The cargo tray protects the vehicle from spills and debris; cargo net to keep loose items in place; cargo blocks to keep items in place when taking turns. The Cargo Package also comes equipped with a fast response first aid kit, just in case an injury happens.
How Wide Is The Palisade?
We have taken a look at every aspect of the interior dimensions of the Hyundai Palisade. Now the question is if it will fit in the garage or not? The exterior dimensions of the Palisade are as follows: 196″ L x 78″ W x 69″ H. It's definitely a scale-up in size compared to the Santa Fe XL dimensions of 193″ L x 74″ W x 67″
How Many Cups Does The Hyundai Palisade Hold?
When you have a lot of passengers, you are probably going to have a lot of drinks. One thing you can never have enough of is cup holders. How many cup holders does the Hyundai Palisade have? The Palisade sports a generous amount of cup holders with a total of 16 throughout all three rows! Now you got a spot for your water bottle, Gatorade bottle, and who knows, maybe after the game milkshake!
In Closing: Is The Hyundai Palisade Roomy Enough?
The Hyundai Palisade has been quite popular since its debut in 2020, and that's why we have been covering all there is to know about it. However, if you still have reservations on whether or not it is going to be enough for your needs, we recommend taking the whole family for a test drive. Get the opinions of the back seat passengers and try putting your tallest family member in the third row to get a critic on if it's comfortable or not. This will help you make a final buying decision.
If you enjoyed this article on the interior dimensions of the Hyundai Palisade and want to learn more about it, then check out these articles:
Does The Hyundai Palisade Have A Spare Tire?
Is The Hyundai Palisade Bigger Than The Kia Telluride?
Does The Hyundai Palisade Come In A Hybrid?
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