By Sala Masindane

When the Hyundai Palisade came onto the scene a few years ago as the brands new flagship, it was meant to be a disturbance to the status quo. Pandemic and stock issues aside, the large SUV has not been hit locally as expected. It has now been updated and we spent some time with the Palisade to see if the there’s still a case to include it on your shopping list.

Exterior changes

Outside, the large SUV now features a wider, cascading grille flanked by new vertically connected LED composite headlights. Other notable updates include newly designed set of 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and a more emphasized rear. The minimal exterior nip and tuck, largely seen on the front grille, adds to the already commanding presence of the SUV.

Revised interior

Inside, the updated Palisade features Hyundai’s new multifunction steering wheel, a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a larger 12.3-inch touch display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The second row of seats now offers heated and cooled seats for extra comfort whilst third-row seating offers only heating for its passengers.

Though the interior remains much unchanged, the new 12.3-inch touch display has an intuitive infotainment system with good graphics. It’s spacious throughout the cabin, and there’s ample knee room for tall adults in the third row.

Performance and driving impressions

Powering the updated Hyundai Palisade is a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 142 kW/440 Nm. The power is sent to all wheels via the automaker’s AWD system and shift-by-wire 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine carries the body of the Palisade well and accelerates without much fuss. Our time with the large SUV was spent mostly in the city or that occasional highway driving which resulted in a fuel consumption of 9.2 l/100km. It is higher than the claimed 8.2l/100km but commendable for an SUV of this size.

New safety and convenience features

Hyundai has expanded its safety technologies in the new Palisade. Its generous suite of advanced driver assistance systems includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist; Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist; Safe Exit Assist, Driver Fatigue Detection and Driver Attention Warning; High Beam Assist; Smart Cruise Control; Lane Departure Warning and Lane Following Assist; Highway Driving Assist; Rear Cross-Traffic Alert; Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist; and Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist.

Final word

The Palisade is in a segment where it has no competition locally and that leaves it in a precarious position. Other seven-seaters are either smaller or more expensive and at times that means its not considered. However, if you consider the space and luxurious interior it offers, the large SUV should be a consideration.

The pricing for the Hyundai Palisade starts at R1,121,900 which includes Hyundai’s 7-year/200 000 km warranty (consisting of the 5-year/150 000 km manufacturer’s warranty, with a 2-year/50 000 km powertrain warranty extension); Roadside assistance for 7 years or 150 000 km; and a 7-year or 105 000 km service plan (service interval is 15 000 km).