Hyundai Palisade prices revealed

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has started rolling into Aussie showrooms priced from $60,000 plus on-road costs and featuring with high-level equipment such as full leather upholstery, a large 10.2-inch central touch-screen, three-zone air-conditioning and semi-autonomous steering, braking and acceleration tech.

As previously reported via leaked pricing, Hyundai’s new flagship SUV almost matches the entry-level Toyota Prado GX’s $59,840 marker, but comes with higher levels of equipment and luxury than Toyota’s family favourite.

Standard features on Palisade at the entry level include 18-inch alloy wheels, smart key with push-button start, a 12-speaker Infinity audio system, sat-nav, an intercom system, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and lane following assist, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Range-topping Palisade Highlander variants – priced from $71,000 plus ORCs – add 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, Nappa leather upholstery, suede headlining, heated and ventilated front and second row seats (in seven-seat versions), a dual-pane sunroof, wireless phone charging, head-up display, hands-free powered tailgate plus a 360-degree parking camera system and camera-based blind spot live feed.

The Palisade broke cover in late 2018 but its Kia sibling, the Telluride – which was also the 2020 World Car of the Year – has been ruled out for Aussie buyers.

See below for the full equipment list.

The entry-level $60,000 model grade is simply called the Hyundai Palisade and is powered by a 3.8-litre petrol V6 engine (217kW/355Nm) hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

The price rises to $64,000 plus ORCs for the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine (147kW/440Nm) with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive.

Fuel consumption levels are claimed at 10.7L/100km for the V6 petrol and 7.3L/100km for the four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

Both engine types are offered in high-spec Highlander grade for an extra $11,000 apiece, taking the prices to $71,000 and $75,000 plus ORCs respectively.

The right-hand drive version of this US-centric large SUV has been developed specifically for Australia and all models come with a full-size spare wheel and a 2200kg towing capacity.

Despite AWD models being packaged with an electronic variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles, the Palisade won’t be able to match the Toyota Prado in off-road terms.

But Hyundai is promising a newer, higher-tech and more luxurious SUV with better on-road manners, complete with seven USB ports and an astonishing 16 cup holders.

Taking a swipe at the Prado’s agricultural ladder-chassis underpinnings, the Korean car-maker says the Palisade “is engineered to appeal to buyers of large SUVs who want a more car-like driving experience than a body-on-chassis 4WD can provide”.

It’s not clear if the Hyundai Palisade will be able to match the top-selling Prado’s popularity in Australia, where it has found more than 15,000 buyers in 2020, given the Toyota’s hard-won reputation.

Hyundai is backing the Palisade with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing program, with 12-month or 15,000km intervals. Each service is capped at $399 for the petrol and $469 for the diesel.

The first 1500km service is free and owners can get up to 10 years’ free roadside assist and sat-nav updates.

By comparison, the Toyota Prado’s service intervals are every six months or 10,000km, priced at $260 per visit, making the Hyundai’s service costs lower and reducing the frequency of visits to the service department.

The Hyundai Palisade measures 4980mm long, 1975mm wide and 1750mm tall, making it longer and wider but not as tall as the Toyota Prado.

Hyundai will also try to tempt Prado buyers with a high-tech luxury cabin, including a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and minimised driver controls, headlined by shift-by-wire gear selector buttons instead of a conventional transmission lever.

There’s also a driver-operated ‘Quiet Mode’ that instantly switches off rear seat speakers and dials back the overall volume. The driver can also toggle (and even lock off) the rear seat air-conditioning temperature and fan speed to stop kids causing havoc.

Entry-level Palisade models have black leather upholstery with metal-look highlights, while Highlander models get either burgundy or beige Nappa leather, with faux beech wood cabin accents.

Six exterior paint colours are offered, including the standard White Cream Mica, along with premium colours adding $695. They are Timeless Black, Steel Graphite, Sierra Burgundy and Rain Forest. There’s also a Highlander-specific Moonlight Cloud Mica colour.

“We’re pleased to introduce all-new Palisade large SUV as the flagship of the Hyundai range, featuring the perfect blend of smart technologies and luxury features,” said Hyundai Australia’s CEO Jun Heo.

“With seven or eight seats and advanced HTRAC AWD, all-new Palisade delivers a stylish, safe and comfortable SUV experience for the whole family, with superb capabilities on and off the road.”

Hyundai Palisade standard features:
Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) (with auto hold function)
Shift-by-wire transmission
Smart key with push button start
Steering-mounted controls audio, phone, cruise control and trip computer
Tilt/telescopic steering column
Drive mode: 4 settings
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Multi-Bluetooth Connection
Satellite navigation with Live Traffic Updates
10.2-inch touch-screen display
12-speaker Infinity audio system
Driver Talk Function
Quiet Mode Function
6 airbags (including 3rd row curtain)
ISOFIX child restraints (x3)
Top tether child restraint anchors (x5) Active Safety
Parking Distance Warning (F&R)
Rear-view camera
Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
18-inch alloy wheels
Full-size alloy spare wheel
Auto dusk-sensing headlights
LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Headlights (Projector beam)
Positioning lights - LED
Rear fog lights - LED
LED High Mount Stop Light (HMSL)
Electro-chromatic Mirror (ECM)
7.0-inch supervision cluster (TFT, colour)
Climate control AC (3 zones)
Cabin air filter
Cooling/heating diffusion type roof air vent -2nd and 3rd rows
Cooling/heating vents 2nd row floor
Leather-appointed interior - seats and steering wheel
Power driver’s seat
16 cup holders

SmartSense safety suite:
Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist - Rear (BCA-R)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) (camera & radar)
High Beam Assist (HBA)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Lane Following Assist (LFA)
Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Hyundai Palisade Highlander standard features (in addition to above):
20-inch alloy wheels
Dual LED headlights
Rear LED combination lamps
Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM)
Surround View Monitor (SVM)
Smart Tailgate (rear power tailgate with hands-free opening) - Speed adjustable
Nappa leather seats
Suede roof lining
Head-Up Display (HUD)
Rear door blinds
Integrated Memory System (IMS) - Driver’s seat
Heated front and second row seats
Ventilated front and second row seats (rear ventilated only available on 7-seat Highlander variants)
Dual sunroof with tilt function
Heated steering wheel
Rain sensing wipers
Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
LED rear combination lights

How much does the Hyundai Palisade cost?
Palisade petrol FWD – $60,000
Palisade diesel AWD – $64,000
Highlander petrol FWD – $71,000
Highlander diesel AWD – $75,000
*Prices exclude on-road costs