By Otsile Kadiege

Hyundai unveiled its significantly enhanced Palisade SUV in a global debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. The new Palisade offers freshened interior and exterior design cues, new infotainment and safety features, and advanced driver assistance systems.

Exterior design

New to the exterior of the updated Palisade is a wider, cascading grille flanked by new forward lighting signature which features vertically-connected LED composite. New strake detailing on the lower front skid plate element further conveys a rugged demeanor. Apart from newly designed set of 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, which fill the wheel openings giving it a premium flagship presence, the side profile of the Palisade remains unchanged. Its rear view emphasizes a wide, stable stance via vertical LED tail lights and lower fascia faux skid plate details.

Interior design and technology

Aboard the updated Palisade is Hyundai’s new multifunction steering wheel, a new digital instrument cluster and a larger 12-inch touch display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Wireless charging capability has been upgraded from 5 watts to 15 watts for faster device charging. It supports the latest version of Hyundai Digital Key. Digital Key 2 Touch allows owners to leave their car key at home and use an iPhone, Apple Watch, or Samsung Galaxy smartphone to lock, unlock, and start their vehicle.

On the practicality side of things, the new Palisade now offers an innovative Ergo driver’s seat, which the Korean automaker says it’s designed to provide comfort and help reduce fatigue during long drives. The second row of seats now offers wing-out headrests and seat ventilation for extra comfort whilst third-row seating offers heating for its passengers. A first for the new Palisade is Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Customers with cellular connectivity will be able to provide a hotspot that allows others to browse the internet, stream videos or music and more.

The nifty Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert monitors the rear seats to detect the movements of children and pets, reminding drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle; if the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves and locks the vehicle, it can sound the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone via Bluelink.

New Safety and Convenience Technologies

Hyundai has expanded its safety technologies on the updated Palisade, with rear side-impact airbags as standard equipment to help provide additional occupant protection. Its generous suite of advanced driver assistance systems includes many innovative technologies like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Powertrains

Palisades in the US are powered by an Atkinson-cycle 3.8-liter V6, dual CVVT, direct-injected engine paired to a refined 8-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate torque converter and power is channelled through Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system, which now adds Tow Mode. Our market most likely won’t get the above V6 powerplant. Instead, we believe the current 2.2-litre diesel engine will soldier on.

Local pricing and availability are yet to be announced by Hyundai South Africa.