Hyundai Palisade confirmed for Australia

The big new Hyundai Palisade is almost certain to be released in Australia next year, when it will become the Korean brand’s flagship SUV.

And while Kia Australia has confirmed it is not interested in introducing its version of the model, the US-built Kia Telluride, the Palisade's local appeal will broadened by the option of diesel power here.

Speaking at this week’s launch of the all-new Hyundai Venue, the brand’s smallest SUV and new range-opener, Hyundai Motor Company Australia chief executive JW Lee told carsales the business case for a right-hand drive, Korean-made Palisade was “80 per cent" confirmed.

"I think we have successfully convinced HMC why we need Palisade," he said.

"I am sure we are going to get Palisade in the next years but it's yet to be officially confirmed. My interpretation is a green light so I would say it is 80 per cent certain."

The news is significant for Hyundai Australia, which has made no secret of its desire to import the large SUV that went on sale in the US earlier this year.

Adding merit to the Palisade business case in Australia will be the availability of the same petrol and diesel variants offered in other markets, including the US and South Korea, officials have confirmed.

Based on a stretched version of the monocoque platform that underpins the Santa Fe seven-seater, the Palisade offers up to eight seats, matching the go-anywhere Toyota Prado, which is consistently one of Australia’s top-selling large SUVs but is mostly purchased for people-moving rather than off-roading.

Also rivalling direct car-based competitors like the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Pathfinder, the Hyundai Palisade is powered in the US by a 220kW/355Nm 3.8-litre petrol V6 matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

But when local sales commence in late 2020 at the earliest, Australia’s Palisade will likely also be available with a circa-147kW/440Nm version of the Santa Fe’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, also matched with an eight-speed auto but this time driving all four wheels.

In the US, the Palisade comes loaded with equipment levels befitting its flagship SUV status, including a 10.0-inch multimedia screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated and ventilated front and middle-row seats, 16 cup-holders and seven USB power outlets, an intercom system, wireless phone charging and power-folding rear seats.

There’s also stitched leather door inserts, Nappa leather seat upholstery, push-button ‘shift-by-wire’ gear shifter, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, AEB with pedestrian detection, blind spot collision avoidance assist and speed limit info.

Like the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Palisade also comes with a rear occupant alert system that will honk the horn if ultrasonic sensors detect movement inside the vehicle once locked, helping look after pets and small children.

Regular models ride on 18-inch alloy wheels but the Korean-built large SUV can be optioned with 20-inch hoops.

Measuring 4981mm long and 1976mm wide, the new Hyundai Palisade is slightly shorter and narrower than the CX-9, but longer and wider than the Kluger and offers a big 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, rising to 1297 with them folded.

Expect a $50,000-plus starting price for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, which will be positioned above the sub-$45K Santa Fe as Hyundai's premium large SUV.