By Otsile Kadiege

During the first quarter of 2022, Hyundai unveiled the updated Palisade at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. The updated Palisade sports redesigned interior and exterior design cues, new technologies, new safety features and advanced driver assistance systems.

Bold new look

Outside, the updated Palisade features 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.

The updated Palisade is available with a handful of exterior colours, namely Shimmering Silver, Moonlight Blue, Graphite Gray, White Cream and Abyss Black.

Premium seven-seater

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. Wireless charging capability has been upgraded from 5 watts to 15 watts for faster device charging. It also features a new Infinity 12 Speaker Sound System

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 heated and cooled seats for extra comfort whilst third-row seating offers only 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.

Safety and driver assistance systems

Hyundai 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.

Powertrain

Powering the new Hyundai Palisade is a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 142 kW and 440 Nm. Power is sent to all wheels via the automaker’s AWD system and shift-by-wire 8-speed automatic transmission. It has a top speed of 190 km/h. Hyundai claims the Palisade has a combined fuel-consumption of 8.2l/100 km.

Pricing

1. Palisade R2.2 7 seater Elite AWD AT: R1,099,900
2. Palisade R2.2 8 seater Elite AWD AT: R1,099,900