New Hyundai Palisade – What to Expect? » MotorOctane

Hyundai have had the most success in the SUV segment in recent years. They started with the Terracan in 2003, but only succeeded after launching the Creta. Hyundai attempted to create new customer demand with the Tucson, Terracan, and Santa Fe, but couldn’t. They grasped what was needed in the Indian market and launched the Creta, Alcazar, and Venue.

However, Hyundai has yet to focus on a flagship SUV that could compete with the bigger fish, the Toyota Fortuner. Hyundai is now looking to bring an SUV like this to India with the new Palisade.

The Hyundai Palisade is a big shot in the US. America loves its ginormous and opulent SUVs, and the Palisade is one of them. And here is what we can expect from the Indian-spec version.

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Exteriors

To put it plainly, the Palisade looks expensive. If not for the badge, you wouldn’t realise that it is a Hyundai. It could be sold with a Genesis badge, and no one would bat an eye. It is not pretty like a 90s Italian supercar, but it gets the job done. That job being a premium full-sized SUV.

The boxy stature, rich colour options, a gargantuan chrome grille and the 21″ alloys give the Palisade a sense of grandeur. Some other interesting features include horizontal slabs for headlights and taillights, and bulky wheel arches. The Palisade commands road presence, and the high driving position is a further delight for someone who buys a car for its road presence.

Obviously, you don’t get all these aesthetic luxuries with the lower models. For instance, the base trim (SE) misses out on the chrome roof rails and 21″ alloys from the top trim (Calligraphy). Instead, you get 18″ alloys as standard. You also get fewer colour options to choose from.

Interior

Step inside the dual-tone cabin, and you notice the panoramic display screens, comprising a 12.3″ driver’s display and a 12.3″ infotainment screen. It comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect in a car this size. Level-2 ADAS, panoramic sunroof, memory seats, power-folding 3rd-row seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Palisade would be the second 7-seater in the Hyundai lineup after the Alcazar. The US-spec model offers a choice between captain seats and bench seats for the 2nd row. Hyundai may provide a similar seating arrangement for India-bound models.

Powertrain

Indian car enthusiasts would love to hear that the Palisade comes with a 3.5L V6, which churns out 287 horsepower and 421 Nm of torque. However, the Palisade is one heavy vehicle, and the V6 is a necessity over a luxury. The V6 is mated to an 8-speed AMT across all variants. Lower variants get a FWD drivetrain, and you can opt for the AWD on higher trims.

If the V6 doesn’t float your boat, you can opt for the more powerful hybrid powertrain. You get a 40-horsepower and 40 Nm advantage over the V6. This powertrain uses a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor to deliver an effective driving range of more than 1000 km.

Hyundai has been planning to introduce hybrid powertrains in Indian markets on its smaller vehicles, and it is very likely that we will see the Palisade available with a hybrid powertrain.

Rivals

When launched, the Palisade would compete with the Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster and the Jeep Meridien. The Fortuner leads the segment, and Hyundai would like to take that spot.

We do not yet know how the Palisade fares against its competitors in terms of safety. However, the 2022 Australian-spec model was tested by ANCAP (Australian NCAP) and scored 5-stars for passenger safety. You can expect the Indian model to fare well in the Bharat NCAP tests as well.

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Expected Launch And Price

Hyundai has yet to announce the launch date for the Palisade, but rumours suggest we could see it on Indian roads by mid-2026. The ICE variant would be launched next year, while the hybrid powertrain has a later deadline. The hybrid Palisade is expected to go on sale by late 2027 or early 2028.

The introductory price is expected to start at 50 lakh rupees, and the top-end variant could easily touch 60 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai). The Palisade looks fitting for the price tag, and it would be a more luxurious alternative to the fan-favourite Fortuner.

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