Hyundai has taken the wraps off its latest Palisade SUV in South Africa, and the refreshed version promises to offer a host of new features, both inside and out. The Korean automaker has made several design changes to the car, both on the exterior and interior, and it boasts of new safety and infotainment features that are sure to make it popular with South African drivers.
According to Stanley Anderson, the sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, the 2023 Palisade is an upgrade over its predecessor, offering bold design and convenience features that make it a great choice for families who want luxury, comfort and safety in their daily drive. “The design, fit and finish of the Palisade are of a very high standard,” Anderson said. “The 2023 Palisade is now, more than ever, a perfect luxury family vehicle for daily use as well as memory-making road trips.”
One of the standout features of the refreshed Palisade is its bold new exterior. The car has undergone several design treatments that give it a premium, eye-catching appearance, including new front and rear bumper fascia, a new front grille, new headlamps and daytime running lights, and a new multi-spoke alloy wheel design.
The design of the 2023 Palisade conveys dignified refinement with clear differentiation worthy of a flagship SUV. The wider, cascading black chrome grille contains rugged parametric shield elements for a premium appearance. The headlight signature features new vertically connected LED composite lights that frame the grille, creating a sharp-edged, technical appeal. New, 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels fill the wheel openings for a premium flagship presence.
The car’s aerodynamic design features a sharply angled A-pillar, rear spoiler side garnish, optimised front cooling area with an extended internal air guide, aero underside panels, and rear wheel aero deflectors, which not only adds to its overall visual appeal but also enhances its fuel efficiency.
The interior of the 2023 Palisade has also been given an upgrade, with new luxury and utility features designed to enhance the driving and ride experience. The car boasts of a new instrument panel, driver’s instrument gauge cluster and audio interface design, a new steering wheel design, new seating surfaces and materials, and second-row armrest angle adjusters (in the 7-seater derivative).
The infotainment system has been upgraded as well. The car now features a wider high-definition infotainment display screen (with a split-screen function), enhanced USB-C ports that replace USB-A ports (with quicker cell phone charging up to 3 amps), enhanced wireless device charging (from 5W to 15W), enhanced dynamic voice recognition, an Infinity 12-speaker sound system, and new customisable user settings.
The Palisade’s infotainment system can now connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and the Quiet Mode setting lets rear passengers rest or sleep while the front-seat occupants can listen to music, radio or podcasts. Rear air conditioner settings can also be controlled from the display screen in front, while second-row passengers have their own climate control settings panel, with buttons for seat-warming or seat-cooling which has been added in the 2023 Palisade.
The car’s safety features have also been given an upgrade, with Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert that monitors the rear seats to detect the movements of children and pets, reminding drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle. If the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves and locks the vehicle, it can sound the horn and flash the headlights. The system is designed to help prevent children and pets from being forgotten in the car, but it can also help in case children accidentally lock themselves in.
Hyundai also equipped the Palisade with a Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system. This advanced technology helps the driver avoid collisions with objects in front of the vehicle while driving. If the system detects a sudden slowing of a preceding vehicle or a forward-collision risk, such as a stopped vehicle or a pedestrian, it provides a warning. If the risk of collision remains, it can assist with emergency braking.
The Palisade’s safety features extend to other scenarios as well. For instance, while driving through an intersection, the system can assist with emergency braking if there is a risk of collision with oncoming vehicles detected from the left or right. Additionally, while changing lanes, if there is a risk of collision with an oncoming vehicle detected in the next lane or a preceding vehicle in the next lane, the system can assist with steering to help avoid a collision.
Another important feature is the Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist. These features help the driver keep the vehicle within the lane while driving, providing an added layer of safety on the road. The Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Blind Spot View Monitor also help drivers avoid collisions with rear-side vehicles when changing lanes. The Safe Exit Assist can help avoid collisions with a rear-side vehicle detected when exiting the vehicle.
Other safety features include the Driver Fatigue Detection and Driver Attention Warning, which help detect indications that the driver might be tired and warn the driver to take a break. The High Beam Assist can help switch high beam lights on and off at night for approaching vehicles in the oncoming lane. The Palisade also features Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, which can help avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles detected on the left or right side of the vehicle while reversing.
The new Palisade is not only equipped with advanced safety features but also has a very rigid structure, with strategic use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) in key areas to provide increased tensile strength. The use of AHSS has several benefits, including lighter overall vehicle weight and greater vehicle strength and rigidity without the excessive costs of more exotic lightweight materials.
The Palisade has scored a full five-star rating in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), a testament to the vehicle’s safety features and design. With its robust underbody and side structures designed to increase energy absorption and cabin intrusion in a severe collision, the Palisade is an SUV that prioritises safety above all else.
The new Palisade is available in South Africa in five exterior colours: Shimmering Silver, Moonlight Blue, Graphite Gray, White Cream, and Abyss Black. With its advanced safety features, rigid structure, and impressive rating in the ANCAP program, the Palisade is a vehicle that provides drivers with peace of mind on the road.
Both the 7-seater and 8-seater derivatives are priced at R1 099 900. Included in the package is:
· Hyundai’s 7-year/200 000 km warranty (consisting of the 5-year/150 000 km manufacturer’s warranty, with a 2-year/50 000 km powertrain warranty extension);
· Roadside assistance for 7 years or 150 000 km; and
· A 7-year or 105 000 km service plan (service interval is 15 000 km).
