At this year’s LA Auto Show, the Palisade made its debut as Hyundai’s new flagship SUV, replacing the long wheelbase version of the new Santa Fe (Santa Fe XL).
As with Santa Fe, the bold exterior is dominated by a massive cascading grille with a thick chrome surround. The dual-lamp setup is sort of vertically connected by an LED signature, and creates an illusion of being a single large headlamp unit, especially in a darker exterior shade like in the example here.
The side profile has been kept neat and the chrome window outline which ends at the C-pillar creates an illusion of a large wrap-around rear windscreen. At the rear, the vertical LED taillamp setup mimics the front. Rounding off the exterior looks are optional 20-inch alloy wheels.
Although the SUV looks bulky, there are enough curves and underbody deflectors to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.33 Cd.
The designers have done a great job on the interiors too. The instrument cluster and the infotainment combo appear to be one floating unit when viewed from the side, and the multi-storey centre console is pleasing to the eye as well.
Feature list includes quilted Nappa leather upholstery, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay connectivity, navigation, a digital screen in the instrument cluster, and a total of 16 cup holders. Options list includes 7 USB ports, Qi wireless charging pad, Infinity audio system, Heads-Up Display, in-car intercom system, second-row captain seats with ventilation, and power rear-folding, unfolding & reclining third-row seatback.
Models equipped with Blue Link connected car system get three years of complimentary Blue Link services. It comes with technologies like Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Recovery.
As for safety, the Palisade comes with Hyundai Smartsense as standard. It includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC), and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA).
The Palisade uses Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) in key areas and Hyundai expects the SUV to achieve TSP+ from the IIHS and a 5-star NHTSA rating.
Powering the Palisade is a 3.8-litre Atkinson-cycle V6 petrol engine, estimated to produce 291 hp at 6,000 rpm and 355 Nm (262 lb-ft) of torque at 5,000 rpm. Transmission is a shift-by-wire 8-speed automatic.
The HTRAC all-wheel-drive (AWD) system comes with Normal, Sport and Smart modes. It includes AWD locking-differential function as well for challenging traction situations. There’s also a newly-developed Snow Mode on offer.
Last but not the least, the SUV measures 4,981 mm in length, 1,976 mm in width and 1,750 mm in height. Wheelbase measures 2,900 mm.
The Palisade will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available in the U.S. in summer 2019 as a 2020 model.
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