LA MOTOR SHOW: Hyundai Palisade revealed

The Hyundai Palisade large SUV has emerged as an almost five-metre long eight-seat behemoth designed to take on the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Mazda CX-9 in the US.

Featuring no less than 16 cup-holders, seven USB ports, an intercom system, plus wireless phone charging, seating for eight occupants across three rows, roof-based air-vents and power-folding rear seats, the new Hyundai Palisade is geared towards North American family buyers.

At the time of writing the Palisade is slated only for left-hand drive production, which rules it out for Australian introduction.

"It’s not available in right-hand drive – it’s aimed chiefly at the US market," Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s external affairs general manager, recently stated.

It goes on sale in the US roughly mid-way through 2019 and brings a strong new exterior design, one described by Hyundai as 'dominant' and 'bold'.

The Hyundai Palisade eschews the sleek design of the new European-influenced Santa Fe and has unashamedly gung-ho visuals aimed directly at US buyers, as evidenced by the bullish, snub-nosed front-end.

Power will provided by a naturally-aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 generating around 220kW and 355Nm, pumping through an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

As well as the dashing new exterior design, the interior has an upmarket new design that takes the latest Santa Fe's upgrades and runs with them.

On top of the a big 10-inch infotainment display up front, a massive 12.3-inch digital instrument display is also offered, not unlike Audi's virtual cockpit.

The overall aesthetic of the top-range Hyundai Palisade pictured appears to be fairly luxurious, with diamond-stitched leather on the door inserts, Nappa leather upholstery and clean, high-tech visuals for the control buttons and dials. There's no gear lever to speak of either, with a push-button 'shift-by-wire' system freeing up space between the front occupants.

Speaking of space, the Hyundai Palisade can be had in either eight- or seven-seat configurations, the latter providing two form-fitting second row seats instead of a less comfortable bench seat.

Some of the other features available in the new model include a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, AEB with pedestrian detection, blind spot collision avoidance assist and speed limit info.

Like some Honda models, the Hyundai Palisade large SUV also has video cameras to provide an extra pair of eyes along the vehicle's flanks whenever the indicators are flicked on.

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 understood to be based on the same monocoque platform as the Santa Fe and sister brand Kia's Sorento, and is bigger than the Toyota Kluger. However, the Mazda CX-9 is slightly longer and wider at 5075mm and 1969mm respectively.

Boot space is a reasonable 509 litres with all three seating rows in place, rising to 1297 with the third row seats folded away, although those measurements are to the roof.

During it's glitzy reveal at this week's Los Angeles motor show -- the last big automotive event for the year -- Hyundai America spokesman Mike O’Brien said: "This new Hyundai SUV is the ultimate family vehicle for practical, comfortable daily use and memory-making road trips whenever the appeal of the open road should beckon."

Despite the new Palisade looking as likely for Australia as rain on the Nullarbor, Australian customers seeking an all-terrain three-row large SUV from Hyundai still have hope.

Hyundai execs have recently reaffirmed news that the brand will deploy a rugged Toyota Prado rival early in the next decade, based on the same rugged ladder frame that will underpin Hyundai's first direct rival for the Toyota HiLux ute.

Designed for off-roading and towing, Hyundai's all-new large SUV is expected to be powered by a turbo-diesel rather than petrol engine.

There could even be a potent six-cylinder oiler on the way, but the company says it is also looking at pure-electric battery power for both the large SUV and pick-up, which are expected to emerge the other side of 2020.