Hyundai Palisade 2022: cheaper entry grade added to Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-9 rival

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A successful launch of the eight-seat Hyundai Palisade large SUV in Australia means that from September 2021, a more affordable base model will be introduced to the lineup.

Hyundai’s entrant in the full-size family SUV segment competes alongside the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger. Hyundai have sold 2,028 Palisades in Australia to the end of July 2021, compared to 4,945 CX-9 sales and 3,663 Kluger transactions.

The existing two-rung Palisade range will be joined by a cheaper entry grade, with the existing “Palisade” grade slotting into the middle of the range with a new Palisade Elite moniker.

Priced at $55,000, the new Palisade base model offers the same two powertrains as the middle-spec Elite and the top-shelf Highlander.

A 3.8-litre petrol V6 producing 217kW of power and 355Nm of torque is the standard engine, paired with an automatic gearbox and front-wheel-drive, while a 2.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder making 147kW/440Nm is a $4,000 option. The diesel has AWD as standard.

The new base Palisade runs ditches features like integrated satellite navigation, with the entry grade switching to a smaller eight-inch touchscreen – though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still included. Leather seats are included on the base model, with power adjustment for the driver.

Wearing 18-inch wheels, the base Palisade still includes three-zone climate control with air vents across all three rows, plus wireless smartphone charging and smart entry with push-button start.

A broad suite of safety kit is standard range-wide, including AEB, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automated high beam and driver fatigue detection – plus rear occupant detection.

The renamed Palisade Elite is now the middle-rung specification, priced at $61,500 in V6 petrol form or $65,500 as an AWD diesel. The Elite brings a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation to the table, plus a 12-speaker Infinity premium stereo.

You also nab 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, a sunroof, heated front seats, a power tailgate, rear privacy glass, and LED tail lights – all new features for this grade in 2022. 

The Elite also brings with it a choice of opting for a seven-seat configuration (with captain’s chairs in row two), though the eight-seat option (bench seat) from the base model can be retained.

The choice of seven or eight seats is also shared by the top-rung Palisade Highlander, which continues to be priced at $71,000 for the V6 petrol or $75,000 in diesel AWD form.

Switching to nappa leather inside, the Highlander feels considerably more special – and there is now a black interior choice for all colours, joining the Highlander’s existing options of burgundy or cream leather.

Families with a Highlander enjoy heated and cooled front and second row seats (note: second row cooling is only with seven seats), plus a heated steering wheel, rear door blinds, a suede roofliner, and a dual sunroof.

There is also a head-up display, a 360-degree camera, automatic wipers, door-opening alert, and Hyundai’s effective blind spot camera monitoring system.

Outside, the Highlander now picks up body-coloured bumpers and cladding along with a new 20-inch alloy wheel design nabbed from the American-market Calligraphy grade.

Hyundai Palisade 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Palisade (base) V6 FWD: $55,000
• Palisade (base) diesel AWD: $59,000
• Elite V6 FWD: $61,500
• Elite diesel AWD: $65,500
• Highlander V6 FWD: $71,000
• Elite diesel AWD: $75,000