The 5 Most Popular SUVs from Hyundai in 2023

Hyundai vehicles have gone through a significant transition over the past 20 years. Once considered a budget brand, Hyundai is now one of the world’s top automakers, delivering vehicles with style, durability, fuel efficiency, value, safety, and cutting-edge technology.

The Hyundai line of small, medium, and large sport-utility vehicles excites drivers. One model, the Hyundai Tucson, is the third best-selling SUV in the world, according to Focus2Move, a market intelligence firm.

What are the most popular SUVs from Hyundai in 2023 and why? Our Checkered Flag Hyundai World dealership sales team, serving Virginia Beach, Virginia, has compiled this overview of the top Hyundai SUVs, describing their headline-grabbing features.

Hyundai Tucson

The increasingly popular Hyundai Tucson, which ranks behind only the Toyota RAV4, Tesla Series 4, and Honda CR-V, is a compact model that with a new look and feel in 2023. Featuring a comfortable and spacious interior, the Tucson offers an ideal balance between ride and handling, according to reviewers writing for Car & Driver Magazine.

Drivers can get into the Tucson at a basic level by selecting the SUV’s 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. Hyundai also offers the Tucson with a hybrid and plug-in hybrid design that couples a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. According to EPA estimates, the base Tucson front-wheel-drive engine generates up to 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 28 mpg.

The Tucson has a sizable 8.8-inch touch screen to serve as the face of the car’s infotainment system. You can upgrade to a 10.3-inch screen offering built-in navigation to access apps from your cellphone and other car-related services.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With comfortable seating for five, the Hyundai Santa Fe will get your attention with its attractive-looking exterior and roomy and comfortable interior. Car & Driver pronounces it a good value with popular features and numerous powertrain components.

The 2023 Santa Fe’s standard 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine generates 191 horsepower. If you’re looking for more, you can always opt for the peppier 281 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged engine version. Like the Tucson, the Santa Fe offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid designs for drivers ready to switch to an electric/hybrid engine combo.

The front-wheel drive engine gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg 26 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 26 mpg. Depending on which model you choose, you can access infotainment features on either an 8-inch or 10.25-inch display screen. Integrate your cellphone apps into the screen using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Hyundai Kona

Described by Car & Driver as one of Hyundai’s most satisfying SUVs, the subcompact Kona offers drivers the choice between gas, hybrid, and all-electric engines. Because of its streamlined design, the Kona provides versatility for drivers when navigating tight spaces in places where space is at a premium while also appealing to environmentally sensitive consumers. Of course, since space is at a premium, the cargo room will also be modest at best.

The Hyundai Kona will appeal to drivers who are looking for an economical ride. The car generally gets about 35 mpg on the highway and 29 or 30 mpg in the city. At the low end, Kona drivers operate a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a modest 147 horsepower. Larger engine configurations will get you up to 195 horsepower. In the standard model, the touch screen for infotainment measures 8 inches diagonally; if you prefer a larger surface, you can upgrade to a 10.3-inch diagonal screen instead.

Hyundai Palisade

Moving up in size, the full-sized Hyundai Palisade is also one of the most popular SUVs from Hyundai. The Palisade is a full-sized SUV with more than enough room for up to eight passengers. Car & Driver describes the Palisade as a “comfortable family SUV with a luxury bent.”

Part of the Palisade’s appeal to the family segment is its advanced safety features such as Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with detection capabilities, evasive steering assistance, and lane-following assistance.

You won’t have trouble getting up to speed in the Palisade. The SUV runs on a 3.8-liter, V-6 engine that delivers 291 horsepower with an eight-speed automatic transmission. At the upper level, drivers can opt for features such as a panoramic sunroof, in-dash navigation, and quilted leather upholstery.

The Palisades provides more than adequate fuel efficiency, with an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway for an average rating of 25 mpg. Hyundai went big on the inside, offering a 12-inch diagonal touch screen.

Hyundai Venue

On the opposite end of the size spectrum is the Hyundai Venue, a subcompact SUV that Car & Driver colorfully describes as “a city-friendly errand-runner.” The Venue is designed primarily for environments with limited space, such as cities. Given its size, the Venue is also highly maneuverable.

All Venue models have a small four-cylinder engine and a front-wheel drive configuration. The car isn’t going to get up and go for you on the highway with only 121 horsepower. But it has plenty of zip to take you around city streets. Budget-conscious shoppers will want to seriously consider the Venue for its value and features.

What you give up in space, you get back in other, surprising ways. The car has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Access your cellphone apps, navigation maps, and other services in the car via the onboard 8-inch diagonal display screen.

Despite its smaller size, the car offers a surprising amount of storage space. Additionally, the Venue boasts a convenient rear occupant alert system that reminds drivers to check the back seats upon exiting the vehicle.

Shopping for a Hyundai SUV in 2023

As you can see, Hyundai has a broad and popular selection of SUVs. Each model offers its unique advantages and disadvantages. Come visit us at Checkered Flag Hyundai World, where our experienced staff can compare performance and technology and find the right car for you. We’re a full-service dealer offering Hyundai’s newest models and a comprehensive selection of used vehicles from many manufacturers. Call us or contact us online to discuss your needs.

Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDI HEV 2WD (2021) by Charles is licensed with CC By 2.0