2023 Hyundai Palisade ups safety credentials – and prices

Details of the upcoming 2023 Hyundai Palisade have finally been announced, with the upgraded version of Hyundai’s biggest SUV set to start from $65,900 plus on-road costs when it arrives in showrooms next month.

Four variants will be available from launch, comprising the familiar Elite and Highlander trim levels and the pre-existing 3.8-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines.

That new starting price refers to the Elite V6 and marks a $5000 price increase compared to the previous entry-level Palisade, and a $3700 uptick over the outgoing petrol Elite.

Diesel versions still carry a $4000 premium over their petrol counterparts while the more lavish Highlander trim starts from $75,900 (up from $71,700).

The extra outlay is justified by the Palisade’s drastically enhanced safety credentials, which should be enough to rectify the previous model’s lacklustre four-star ANCAP safety rating, as well as an expanded and updated array of standard equipment.

Junction turning assist functionality for the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, intelligent speed limit assist, safe exit assist, overtake acceleration assist for the adaptive cruise control, multi anti-collision braking, a centre airbag, connected services automatic collision notification and an electronic child safety lock system have all been added to the Elite as standard.

Meantime the Highlander steps things up with rear parking collision avoidance and a 3D surround view function for the 360-degree camera.

Beyond the butch new exterior look, the Palisade Elite’s cabin design has also been stepped up through the addition of a new 12.3-inch infotainment interface and a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Interior ambience is further boosted by new leather trim for the dash, armrests, doors and seats.

Other new features comprise remote starting, a new ‘custom’ shortcut button on the steering wheel, new seat stitching design, remote window open/closing, soft open/closing windows, LED indicators, reverse and glovebox lights, lower console ambient lighting and back-lit overhead console switches.

The rest of the Elite’s standard gear is largely the same as before, albeit with the new Hyundai Bluelink compatibilities outlined previously by carsales.

The Highlander meanwhile gets all these goodies, plus remote smart parking, second row wing-type outer head restraints, luxury quilted and perforated door trim, a two-tone steering wheel, gloss black trim on the dash, diamond pattern console trim, a digital rear-view mirror, 10-inch head-up display, LED tail-lights and brake light strip, as well as a ventilated second-row seats and automatic demister.

No changes have been made to either powertrain, with the front-wheel drive 3.8-litre V6 configuration still developing 217kW/355Nm while the all-paw turbo-diesel also continues with 148kW/440Nm outputs.

Both powerplants are hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, but Hyundai says it has come in for a few software revisions, as has the retuned suspension and power steering systems.

Noise, vibration and harshness levels have also been improved throughout the cabin, says Hyundai, thanks to a series of subtle tweaks to material thickness and redesigned seals.

“With a bold new style, enhanced luxury, and additional segment-leading safety technology for 2023, Palisade continues its place as the SUV flagship of the Hyundai range,” Hyundai Australia chief executive officer Ted Lee said.

Anyone hoping for the return of the entry-level circa-$60K ‘Palisade’ variant may be disappointed to hear the chances of such an offering returning to the updated range are slim on account of an overwhelming preference for the top-spec Highlander.

Hyundai says Highlanders have accounted 68 per cent of all local Palisade sales to date, while the Elite and eponymous base model accounted for 15 and 17 per cent respectively.

In terms of powertrains, the gutsier diesel has accounted for a huge 80 per cent of sales, presumably because it offers superior fuel economy and the security of all-wheel drive.

How much does the 2023 Hyundai Palisade cost?
Elite (a) – $65,900
Elite CRDi (a) – $69,900
Highlander (a) – $75,900
Highlander CRDi (a) – $79,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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