2023 Hyundai Palisade shapes up for a three-row family SUV rumble with Ford Everest, Mazda CX-9, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Prado

After less than two years in the local market, Hyundai’s full-size, seven- and eight-seat Palisade SUV has been given a refresh with updated exterior and interior design, additional safety tech, and new standard features.

Pricing is due to be announced in late July, although deletion of the entry-level model has been confirmed, so the family-focused Palisade will be offered in two grades only - Elite and Highlander, each with a choice of 3.8-litre, naturally aspirated petrol V6 in 2WD, or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four in 4WD. Each engine is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

For reference, the current Palisade Elite V6 petrol (seven- or eight-seat) starts at $62,200 before on-road costs, the range topping out with the Highlander diesel (again, seven- or eight-seat) at $75,700.  

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In terms of the new Palisade’s exterior, car-spotters will be looking out for new LED DRLs, a vertically stacked headlight treatment, stealthily concealed front indicators, a squarer grille design, fresh 20-inch alloy wheels (the design differing between Elite and Highlander), a full-width high-mount stop light across the rear spoiler, square exhaust tips, and a “separated” tail-light arrangement. 

The Palisade Elite’s grille is tinted predominantly black, while the Highlander’s has bright accents. And the Highlander features new “premium” skid plates (front and rear) plus body-coloured skirts and wheelarch mouldings. 

Inside there are two sleek, 12.3-inch screens, one a configurable instrumentation cluster, the other a central multimedia interface managing navigation, ‘Infinity premium audio’, and now with voice recognition and control. Wireless device charging has also been boosted from 5W to 15W for a quicker power-up.

No doubt Hyundai Australia will be hoping for an ANCAP upgrade from four to a maximum five-star rating for the Palisade, with new crash-avoidance safety features, on both models, including ‘Junction Turning Assist’, ‘Multi-Collision Brake’, ‘Safe Exit Assist’ and ‘Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.’ Both grades will also feature a new front centre airbag. 

The Highlander picks up a four-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel, as well as Nappa leather and suede seat trim, heated and ventilated first and second row seats (the first time the second row on eight-seat variants has been ventilated), a one-touch action for the power-folding second row seats, three-zone climate control, a dual sunroof, a digital rearview mirror, adjustable ‘wing’ style headrests in the second row, and a stainless steel scuff plate on the boot’s leading edge.

Other Highlander-only upgrades include ‘Remote Smart Parking’, a reversing guide light, ‘Parking Collision-avoidance Assist’ (low-speed rear AEB), and power lumbar adjustment for the front passenger seat.

One standard (no-cost) colour, ‘Creamy White’ is offered, as well as six premium mica and metallic shades on the Elite - ‘Shimmering Silver’, ‘Graphite Grey’, ‘Abyss Black’, ‘Sierra Burgundy’, ‘Moonlight Blue’, and ‘Robust Emerald.’ Two additional, Highlander-only finishes are, ‘Gaia Brown’, and ‘Olivine Grey.’

The new Palisade is scheduled to reach Australian Hyundai showrooms in August, 2022.