New appeal
Hyundai expands Palisade range to six for 2022
Hyundai Motor Corporation Australia has bolstered its Palisade line-up with the addition of two new eponymously named entry-level variants for the 2022 model year, taking the line-up from four to six.
With the petrol priced from $55,000 plus on-roads and the diesel starting at $59,000, the new base models undercut their predecessors by $6000 and $5000 respectively, while the previous versions are now badged as ‘Elite’ in keeping with the rest of the HMCA portfolio.
No changes have been made to either the 3.8-litre V6 or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, with outputs and respective drive configurations – front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive – being carried over.
There have been a few omissions in standard equipment to meet the new price point, the most notable being an 8.0-inch infotainment system in place of the bigger 10.25-inch unit.
Despite the smaller screen, the base models still come with plenty of toys, including wireless phone charging, Apple Carplay-android Auto, multiconnection Bluetooth compatibility, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, leather appointed interior, trizone climate control, a 7.0-inch supervision cluster, automatic headlights and powered driver’s seat adjustment.
Both petrol and diesel variants roll on 18-inch wheels and come with a full-sized spare as well as
LED daytime running lights. Active safety credentials are provided by HMCA’S Smartsense suite comprising blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, driver attention warning, forward collision-avoidance assist, high beam assist, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, rear occupant alert, parking distance warning, tyre pressure monitoring and trailer stability assist.
To accommodate the newcomers, the standard kit lists of what are now the Elites, as well as the top-spec Highlanders, have been enhanced with some extra features, which in the case of the former, has driven prices up slightly.
Starting from $61,500 before onroads for the petrol and $65,500 for the diesel, the Elites are $1500 more expensive than their MY21 equivalents, but now come with rear privacy glass, smart power tailgate, heated front seats, a single panel sunroof, dual LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels and combination LED taillights in addition to the existing 10.25inch infotainment screen, 12-speaker Infinity audio system, satellite navigation and ‘driver talk’ third-row intercom function.
As for the Highlanders, prices have held steady at $71,000 for petrol and $75,000, diesel, despite the addition of newly designed 20-inch alloy ‘calligraphy’ wheels, optional black leather upholstery, body coloured bumpers and body-coloured cladding.
For reference, other standard equipment highlights on the flagship trim level include a head-up display, blindspot view monitor, surround view monitor, suede roof lining, Nappa leather seats, dual sunroof with tilt function, rear door blinds, memory driver’s seat, heated front and second row seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, rain sensing wipers and safe exit assist.
HMCA chief executive Jun Heo said revisions to the Palisade were designed to ‘provide an even more enticing large SUV flagship for 2022, with a more accessible range-entry model’.
The updated range will start arriving in showrooms in the final quarter of 20211.