Hyundai updates the bold and imposing Palisade

Korean car manufacturers have gradually made their mark in the South African motoring industry. Their current vehicles, such as the latest Hyundai Palisade and the new Sportage from Kia, are giving other brands a solid run for their money. Hyundai recently launched a facelift version of its imposing Palisade Sport Utility Vehicle here in SA, and there are many changes and improvements to look forward to.

Externally, the brand has made some significant changes to its vehicle, especially to its front end. The Palisade now has a different grille that's gloss black. On either side of the new grille are a set of revised and repositioned daytime running LED lamps that horizontally flow into the headlamp cluster. These two improvements set the new vehicle apart from the one it replaces for a better appearance. Alloy wheels are slightly revised, and the rear bumper has also had some minor work.

Inside the new Palisade, you’ll find a newly designed steering wheel borrowed from the stunning Staria van. A new instrument cluster panel and a larger infotainment screen with a split-screen function form part of the updates. There are plenty of USB ports in the cabin for front and rear passengers, and you can now connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously for media playback and hands-free calling. While smartphone mirroring is still a standard feature for Android and Apple devices, Hyundai has done away with wireless Apple CarPlay and reverted to USB cable. It's a welcomed move as the wireless version of Apple’s smartphone integration has an unreliable connection despite the vehicle brand.

A Push To Talk (PTT) function has been added for parents who need to relay instructions to the kiddos in the third row of seats. Speaking of seating, the Palisade has both heated and cooled front seats as standard. Both functions are equally important depending on the time of year. In this revised version, the second row of seats is now fitted with seat cooling and heating. This is a spacious and comfortable SUV, wherever you choose to sit. And the second row allows you to recline, a nice touch for those long-haul trips. Since it is a family vehicle, safety is a priority in such a vehicle. It has six airbags, adaptive cruise control with lane assist, and forward collision avoidance assist, among other features.

Hyundai made the decision to leave the engine untouched, as is generally the case with model facelifts. Beneath the bonnet is the original 2.2-litre turbo diesel motor, still producing 142kW and 440Nm through an AWD system. With a vehicle this size, the engine could do with an upgrade as it doesn’t have the longest legs at highway/overtaking speeds. There are many drive modes on offer here, and what’s nice is that there is a significant and noticeable difference in dampening should you shift from comfort to sport or the other way around.

Only two variants of the Hyundai Palisade are on offer, a seven-seater and an eight-seater. Both are kitted with identical features and powered by the same drivetrain with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Hyundai has kept things simple by having both variants at the same price point - R1 099 900. Standard is Hyundai’s 7-year/200 000km warranty and a 7-year 105 000km service plan with roadside assistance for 7 years or 150 000km.

Gugu Masuku