Palisade rolling into showrooms
Hyundai’s ‘big bopper’ Palisade SUV is rolling into dealerships with pricing for the entry level Elite 3.8 V6 petrol front-wheel drive, FWD, starting at $65,900 plus on-road costs and the 2.2-litre diesel Elite all-wheel drive, AWD, adding $4000.
Top-of-the-range Highlander variants with the same powertrain specifications start from $75,900 plus onroad costs for the petrol FWD and an extra $4000 for the diesel AWD.
The extensively revised ‘new’ Palisade lobs with more imposing styling, augmented safety, an enormous grille and more features across the fourvariant range.
Hyundai is promoting the new Palisade as its ‘premium, high-tech, flagship SUV’ and as such, it gains more kit and significant revisions under the boxy skin, but also scores ‘segment leading’ safety additions and enhanced interior design elements.
Add to that a tempting array of extra tech and luxury features and you get a clearer understanding of the new model range and pricing scale, which is a jump from the outgoing model.
An expanded suite of Smartsense driver assistance and advanced active safety features are listed across the board that incorporate the desirable forward collision-avoidance assist with junction turning function, intelligent speed limit assist, a multi anti-collision braking system, a 3D surround view monitor function, reverse parking collision-avoidance assist and in a first for Hyundai, reverse light guide function.
Hyundai’s pioneering front-centreside airbag also forms part of the extensive safety suite.
For tech heads, there is a 12.3inch full digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system standard across the range, designed to enhance user experience.
Additionally, the new Palisade boasts a digital electro-chromatic rearview mirror, Hyundai Bluelink and other Hyundai-first features.
Hyundai Bluelink and accompanying connected car services make it easy to stay connected, with a fiveyear complimentary subscription.
Bluelink enables a swag of safety kit across the board not on the previous model, including automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency call function, natural language serverbased voice control, server-based connected routing navigation and many other features.
Bluelink can also let users connect to their Palisade from anywhere via a smartphone, and make sure it is safe, healthy and ready to go. People can send planned routes from home to their car, receive emergency assistance automatically after an accident and find, check and even remotely lock or start their car with their preferred
climate settings.
Hyundai says the two trim levels, Elite and Highlander, are designed to ensure buyers can access a techfocused SUV in a package perfectly matched to their needs and lifestyle.
The 3.8-litre GDI petrol V6 with two-wheel drive is carried over, while the 2.2-litre CRDI turbo-diesel has revised HTRAC all-wheel drive and both engines have a revised eight-speed automatic transmission hooked up.
In terms of appearance, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade has an even more commanding frontal look than the previous model, with an even bigger slatted grille dominating. Called the ‘parametric shield grille’ it is flanked
by new vertically stacked LED headlights. Most other body panels are carried over with minor detail changes.
Additionally, Palisade scores premium skid plates and square-shaped exhaust outlets.
Top-of-the-range Highlander steps up standard equipment to new levels for Palisade and now features exclusive design touches including a satin chrome finish grille with matching logo badge and skid plate finishes, new hidden-type turn signals, bodycoloured cladding and exclusive 20inch alloys in a sophisticated 15-spoke turbine design.
Highlander variants also receive exclusive front and rear skid plate designs,
a full-width high-mounted LED brake light and a separated hiddentype taillight design.
A selection of nine exterior colours are available.
New features inside include a fullwidth centre air vent, a new fourspoke steering wheel with Highlander-exclusive two-tone premium finish, along with a 12.3-inch Navigation system featuring Bluelink and a 12speaker Infinity audio, and a 12.3-inch full LCD digital instrument cluster.
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is expected in dealerships early this month. As yet, an ANCAP rating is unavailable on the MY23 update.