LA show: Hyundai reveals LHD-only Palisade crossover

HYUNDAI'S new eight-seat Palisade will not arrive Down Under due to its lack of right-hand-drive production out of Ulsan, Korea, despite the strong interest from the brand's local division to introduce a three-row SUV to sit above the large-size Santa Fe.

 

Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) general manager of external affairs Bill Thomas told GoAuto the Palisade will only be built in left-hand drive at this stage. It will launch in the United States around the middle of next year, with other LHD markets likely to follow.

 

As reported in June, HMCA chief executive officer JW Lee detailed the local sales potential for a model based on the HDC-2 Grandmaster concept revealed earlier that month.

 

This show car has now transitioned to its production form, the Palisade, having made its international debut at the Los Angeles motor show.

 

Setting its sights on the Toyota Highlander (Kluger) and Nissan Pathfinder in the US market, the Palisade arrives as the spiritual successor to the Santa Fe XL – a long-wheelbase version of the previous-generation seven-seat large SUV sold Down Under.

 

The Korean brand has confirmed that the Palisade “rides on an all-new SUV chassis”, but it is not clear whether it is a ladder-frame or monocoque set-up. Similarly, it is unknown if this platform is shared with Kia’s Telluride eight-seater.

 

Measuring in at 4981mm long, 1976mm wide and 1750mm high with a 2901mm wheelbase, the Palisade provides 510L of cargo capacity with its third row upright, or 1297L when it is stowed. This storage space is accessed via a power-operated tailgate.

 

Inside, the second-row seats can be moved forward with the touch of a button for easier third-row access, while the rearmost pews are power-folding and can even be reclined.

 

A 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android support, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display lead the Palisade’s technology push alongside a pair of side-view cameras that enhance its blind-spot monitoring system.

 

Other advanced driver-assist systems extend to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, high-beam assist and driver attention warning.

 

Styling-wise, the Palisade ushers in a new interpretation of Hyundai’s design language with a prominent cascading grille, a split headlight design, a boxy silhouette, wheelarch extensions and horizontal tail-lights.

 

The Palisade is motivated by a direct-injected 3.8-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle and produces 217kW of power at 6000rpm and 355Nm of torque at 5000rpm.

 

These outputs are sent to all four wheels via Hyundai’s HTrac all-wheel-drive system with active torque vectoring, and an eight-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission. Alternatively, two-wheel drive can be optioned.

 

According to Hyundai Motor America vice-president of product, corporate and digital planning Mike O’Brien, the Palisade sets multiple benchmarks in its class.

 

“The new 2020 Hyundai Palisade clearly evokes design imagery worthy of Hyundai’s flagship SUV, with new levels of all-road, all-weather capability, technology, safety, roominess and efficiency, all packaged in cutting-edge design,” he said.

 

“This new Hyundai SUV is the ultimate family vehicle for practical, comfortable daily use and memory-making road trips whenever the appeal of the open road should beckon.”

 

If the Palisade were to become available in RHD and head to Australia, it would compete in the sub-$70,000 large-SUV segment, which accounts for 11.4 per cent over the overall new-vehicle market to the end of October this year. This class is currently led by Toyota’s Prado (15,627 units) and Kluger (12,403).

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