Sitting at the top of the South Korean marque’s non-electric SUV range, the Palisade 7-seat SUV currently starts from $66,800 and can be powered by either a petrol V6 or turbo-diesel four-cylinder.
Its successor adopts a more angular and squared-off design, combining futuristic five-bar LED headlights with a fresh interpretation of the brand’s design language. In profile, there’s arguably a bit of Range Rover about the D-pillar and taillights treatment.
It also features striking new 21-inch alloy wheels, at least on some variants, with a Genesis-like, multi-layered design. Australian specs and trimmings are yet to be outlined.
For the 2026 model, the interior of the Hyundai Palisade is now a very modern and upmarket environment, borrowing elements from the new Santa Fe Calligraphy. A capacious centre pod houses wireless charging and cupholders. Mercifully, Hyundai has retained knobs and switches for radio and climate functions, so ergonomics should be second-to-none. A massaging driver’s chair is a high possibility for local inclusion, too.
Powertrains have not been officially revealed as of yet, but sources are indicating a carry-over 3.5-litre petrol V6 with 206kW, and a 2.5-litre turbo hybrid generating around 246kW with fuel consumption around the 7.0L/100km mark.
This is the most noteworthy inclusion due to Australia’s growing appetite for hybrid cars. The hybrid is sure to benefit from Hyundai’s upcoming hybrid technology which focuses on power and efficiency. We may also see this new powertrain appear in Genesis models in the future, albeit oriented north-south, rather than east-west in the Palisade.
Hyundai will be eager not to forfeit its five star ANCAP rating from the outgoing Palisade, and is sure to feature a centre front airbag with a possible increase in airbag count from today’s seven. As always, a local chassis test and/or tuning program is expected to take place.
An on-sale date for Australia is yet to be confirmed, but it is likely to land here in Q2 or Q3 of 2025.
