Year Make Model: 2020 Hyundai Palisade
Top Line: The 2020 Hyundai Palisade marks the brand’s foray into the premium SUV segment, aiming to capture attention in the U.S. market, where large vehicles are increasingly popular.
What’s New: In short, there are significant updates. The Palisade is built on a new chassis designed to maximize space in the second and third rows. This configuration also enhances cargo capacity and offers various interior setups to accommodate different passenger and storage requirements.
Unlike the Sante Fe XL it replaces, the Palisade’s third row has three seats instead of two, while the second row features a standard bench seat, with captain’s chairs as an optional upgrade, reducing total seating to seven. The second-row seats come with a one-touch mechanism for easy access to the third row, which can be folded flat using convenient power controls.
Hyundai has equipped the Palisade with a heads-up display (HUD) aimed at helping drivers keep their focus on the road. This full-color display presents important information, including speed, smart cruise control status, navigation directions, blind spot alerts, forward collision warnings, speed limits, lane assistance, and audio settings.
Another notable feature is the Driver Talk system, which facilitates communication between the driver and rear passengers through the vehicle’s audio system. The system also includes a rear sleep mode, allowing those in the front to listen to the radio without disturbing passengers in the back.
In terms of technology, the Palisade is well-equipped with seven USB ports throughout the cabin for passenger device charging. The central display is a 10.25-inch screen, while the instrument panel boasts a 12.3-inch digital display that can be customized to various modes. It allows connection of two Bluetooth devices simultaneously—one for calls and the other for streaming music. The latest navigation system includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and a built-in Qi wireless charging pad is available for compatible Android devices and newer iPhones.
The Palisade also features an innovative roof vent diffuser that allows for focused, partially diffused, or fully diffused air streams for rear passengers—a claimed industry first. This design enhances quiet operation of the air conditioning while promoting even air circulation.
In terms of size, the Palisade is larger than the previous Santa Fe XL, positioning itself in the competitive landscape alongside models like the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Ford Explorer. Hyundai asserts that the Palisade provides superior front and second-row legroom compared to Toyota, Honda, and Ford, along with greater cargo space behind the third row than the Highlander, Pilot, and Pathfinder.
Under the hood, the Palisade is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed transmission that offers both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The all-wheel drive version includes a multimode system with normal, sport, and smart modes to enhance driving dynamics.
Safety is paramount for this family-oriented vehicle, and Hyundai has equipped it with a comprehensive suite of standard safety technologies. This includes forward collision alerts, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high beams, driver attention warnings, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The safe exit assist feature uses radar to detect oncoming traffic from behind, alerting passengers when exiting. If a door is opened when a vehicle is approaching, both visual and audio warnings will notify the driver.
Additionally, the Palisade is fitted with a rear occupant warning system that monitors for children and pets, reminding the driver to check the back seats before leaving the vehicle. If the system detects movement after the car has been locked, it will honk the horn and send alerts to the driver’s smartphone.
Quotable: “The new 2020 Hyundai Palisade clearly evokes design imagery worthy of Hyundai’s flagship SUV, with new levels of all-road, all-weather capability, technology, safety, roominess, and efficiency, all packaged in cutting-edge design,” stated Mike O’Brien, vice president of product, corporate, and digital planning at Hyundai Motor America. “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.”
What You Need to Know: The Palisade is set to launch in summer 2019, though specific pricing details have not yet been disclosed. It is expected to be competitively priced to appeal to buyers within the established SUV market.
Hyundai has informed The Drive that the base model of the Palisade will feature front-wheel drive, with pricing expected closer to the summer release. Final details on packaging and trim levels are still under consideration.
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