news

Hyundai Palisade: Australian launch on track for 2020

Hyundai Australia is looking to fill the void at the top end of of its SUV line-up with its full-sized Palisade SUV, with a potential 2020 introduction hinted at by company executives.


Speaking with Drive at the Australian launch drive for the all-new 2020 Venue crossover, Hyundai’s local boss, J.W. Lee indicated the Korean brand’s local division is aiming to have a proper rival to the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger sometime next year.

“I think it’s about 80 per cent [likelihood],” he said, “We still have some engineering things we need to work out, like which engines.”

”They [Hyundai Motor Company Global] haven’t said no,” he added.

The Palisade is currently reserved for the left-hand drive US and South Korean markets, available with up to eight seats and the option of V6 petrol and four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines depending on market.

Unlike the related Kia Telluride, which is built and sold exclusively in North America, the Palisade is produced in South Korea.

Should it be made available in right-hand drive, Hyundai Australia would like to offer the Palisade with both petrol and diesel power trains, the former exclusively with front-wheel drive and the latter exclusively with all-wheel drive.

Regardless of powertrain, both variants are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.8-litre ‘GDi’ direct-injection V6 runs the more fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle, developing 217kW at 6000rpm and 355Nm at 5000rpm.

Meanwhile, the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel offered in South Korea puts out the same 147kW and 440Nm as the smaller Santa Fe - the latter on tap between 1750 and 2750rpm.

The Palisade measures 4981mm long, 1976mm wide and 1750mm tall, the Palisade is longer and wider than the Toyota Kluger, while its 2900mm wheelbase is a match for the larger-than-class-average Nissan Pathfinder.

A range of premium features and technologies are available, too, including nappa leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and the full suite of Hyundai’s SmartSense active safety and driver assistance technologies.

Hyundai Australia’s representatives didn’t offer any indication of what the Palisade will be priced from, but given the Santa Fe’s $43,000 starting point, we reckon the Palisade would start around $50,000 for the entry-level model and climb to the mid- to high-$60,000 bracket for the top-spec model.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent