All-New PALISADE: Plush Flagship With Hybrid Muscle
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Hyundai has shoved its large SUV into a new era with the all-new PALISADE. It arrives as a single, fully loaded Calligraphy Hybrid model, priced from $89,900 MLP, and offered in either an eight-seat layout or an optional seven-seat configuration. Think roomy family hauler, but with a personality that flirts with electric motoring.
Exterior
The silhouette has been sharpened and stretched in all the right places so the PALISADE looks like it means business without shouting. Longer wheelbase, shorter front overhang, a more upright windscreen and a lengthened rear overhang add presence and space. The face is commanding, with vertical daytime running lights and grille-style headlight graphics that tie into silver trim at the rear and roof rails. A raised straight beltline, three-dimensional character lines over the arches, a semi-gloss chrome D-pillar garnish and machine-finished 21-inch Calligraphy alloys finish the picture. The design keeps third-row visibility in mind with a seamless window graphic between the second and third rows. Eight exterior colours are available, from Abyss Black Pearl to Robust Emerald Pearl.
Interior
Inside, Hyundai has taken cues from premium furniture rather than bargain bin plastics. A horizontal cabin layout and a panoramic curved display that combines a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen create a clean, uncluttered feel. There is also a 12-inch head-up display to keep crucial info where the driver actually looks. The absence of a conventional gear lever means an island-style centre console with useful storage, wireless charging and multiple USB outlets. The Calligraphy cabin uses supple materials and offers Relaxation Comfort front seats plus a powered, multi-function third row. The eight-seat layout provides three seats in the second and third rows, while the seven-seat option replaces the second row with two individual powered relaxation seats.
Powertrain
Under the bonnet sits a next-generation 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid with a clever dual-motor arrangement. One motor is dedicated to regeneration and the other to propulsion, which improves regenerative braking and overall efficiency compared with a single-motor setup. The combined output is 245 kW and 460 Nm, sent through a six-speed automatic to all four wheels. Fuel consumption is rated at about 6.8 L/100 km in this mix-and-match world, and towing capacity is a sensible 2,000 kg. The system is tuned to give an EV-like feel for short daily commutes and supports features such as interior Vehicle 2 Load for powering appliances and a Stay Mode that runs infotainment and climate from the hybrid battery while parked with the engine off.
Drive Technologies And Chassis
The PALISADE introduces an e-Motion Drive system that alters the car’s behaviour in two moods. e-Comfort Drive uses motor counter-torques to soften pitch over bumps and during weight transfer, while e-Dynamic Drive employs strategies such as evasive handling assist, torque vectoring and motor torque control to sharpen corner entry and exit stability. Smart regenerative braking adjusts itself to traffic conditions, and Crosswind Stability Control keeps the car steady at speed. Locally developed suspension tuning gives the Australian-spec PALISADE a bespoke passive damper and steering tune, with a strut front, multi-link rear with passive self-levelling dampers and a belt-type rack-mounted motor-driven power steering. Aerodynamics have also been refined to a Cd of 0.31, with active air flaps that close when cooling is not needed to cut drag.
Space And Practicality
The new proportions translate into genuine room. Overall length grows to 5,065 mm and wheelbase to 2,970 mm, giving improved second- and third-row legroom. Cargo volume behind the third row rises from 311 to 348 litres, and with the third row folded it expands from 704 to 729 litres. Headroom increases across all rows, and luggable features such as luggage-area seat control switches and a powered third row that folds, slides and reclines add to the practical appeal.
Safety
Hyundai has strengthened the body structure with a greater share of hot-stamped components and improved average Body in White strength. The car comes with eight airbags, including a driver knee airbag and a front centre side airbag. The SmartSense safety suite is comprehensive, featuring navigation-based smart cruise control, Lane Following Assist 2, Highway Driving Assist 2 and Forward Collision-avoidance Assist 2 with junction, lane-change and evasive steering support. Blind-spot Collision Avoidance with a Blind-Spot View Monitor, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Safe Exit Assist and advanced parking systems round out the defensive toolkit.
Refinement And NVH
Quietness has been treated like a design brief. Acoustic measures include foam-lined 21-inch tyres, layered soundproofing, a much larger acoustic floor insulation section and a rear quarter acoustic pad. Wind noise is dialled down with thicker acoustic door glass and improved mirror sealing. The result is a cabin that favours conversation over road roar.
Convenience And Infotainment
The PALISADE Calligraphy stacks up on convenience and tech. Interior Vehicle 2 Load supplies up to 3.6 kW for charging devices or running small appliances. Stay Mode lets occupants keep climate and infotainment running from the hybrid battery with the engine off. There are six 100W USB-C ports plus an additional data/charging port, a BOSE 14-speaker system, a digital centre mirror, HVAC After-Blow to prevent odour, a UV-C sterilised console and a rear camera sensor cleaning system. The next-gen connected car navigation cockpit supports biometric and voice recognition, natural language commands, a refined graphical user interface, Sounds of Nature audio scenes and over-the-air updates that can now reach 42 vehicle features.
Pricing, Warranty And Ownership
The PALISADE Calligraphy Hybrid is priced from $89,900 MLP. Optional items include premium paint for $750, a specific interior treatment for $295 and the seven-seat option for $1,000. Ownership perks include a comprehensive service plan, roadside support and a seven-year vehicle warranty when the service conditions are met, plus an eight-year or 160,000 km warranty for the high-voltage battery. Hyundai’s connected services are included and some features will be added or enabled via over-the-air updates.
In short, the new PALISADE wants to be the sensible family SUV that also behaves a little like an electric car. It is roomy, refined, packed with tech and tuned for local roads, and it does all of this while keeping an eye on efficiency and real-world usability.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
