An image of the facelifted Hyundai Palisade three-row SUV emerged two days ahead of its official unveiling in a Hyundai Motor America YouTube livestream thumbnail.
The updated Palisade was set to make its debut at 11.45pm on April 13 via a YouTube livestream event from the New York Auto Show, with the SUV slated to arrive in Australia between July and September this year.
An image of the facelifted Hyundai Palisade has appeared online
This marks a short turnaround for a facelift for us as the three-row Palisade only launched in December 2020 after the Hyundai’s Australian arm stuck its hand up to take the seven- and eight-seat SUV as a direct more rival for the Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-8 than its existing Santa Fe.
But a report from The Korean Car Blog shows the livestream video had a full image of the yet-to-be-unveiled Palisade attached as a thumbnail, instead of the teaser image now being used.
Bold design to target Kia Telluride
The image shows an updated Palisade wearing an even bolder front end with a larger grille that opts for a square shape instead of the anvil-like opening used on the existing model. The new Palisade’s lower air intake is also more consistent with the grille and filled in with a checkered pattern.
Sitting on either side of the grille are the notably extended daytime running lights that expand beyond the lower housing and into the upper headlights.
Overall the facelifted Palisade’s design mirrors that of the official teaser image that was released by Hyundai last week, meaning that the leaked image is likely legitimate.
The appearance is altogether more aggressive than the existing Palisade, with the butch makeover possibly designed to lure buyers away from its Kia Telluride sibling which is closely related under the skin but is not sold in Australia due to manufacturing bottlenecks.
As per tradition in a reveal event, the leaked Palisade appears to be the range-topping model which is adorned with large wheels, silver accents on the exterior and features heavy use of chrome within the grille and around the windows.
The use of additional reflectors on the front wheel arches hints at the photographed Palisade being designed for the US-market – as the original was – but these features are unlikely to be found on models shipped to Australia.
Bigger screens and more safety
Internal product presentations reported by CarBuzz have also pointed to the Palisade receiving a number of upgrades in terms of technology and safety on US-market models and likely also here in Australia.
The Palisade will reportedly replace the 10.25-inch centre touchscreen with a larger 12.3-inch unit and add features such as a digital rearview mirror, a digital key function and water-repelling windows.
Hyundai is also said to update the AEB system to now include the ability to detect intersections and function when the vehicle is reversing.
The Palisade is offered in either seven- and eight-seat configuration
Seven- and eight-seat options to continue
The Hyundai Palisade exists as a unique SUV option for the Australian market thanks to the availability of eight- and seven-seat options, with the latter incorporating more luxurious captain’s chairs in the second row instead of a three-seat bench.
Ordinarily, buyers seeking the practicality of seats would need to look to people movers like the Volkswagen Multivan and Caravelle, Kia Carnival, Hyundai Staria or Toyota Granvia.
Hyundai is expected to offer a familiar line-up of engines with the Palisade currently offered with either a FWD 217kW/355Nm 3.8-litre petrol V6 or a more fuel-efficient 2.2-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder 147kW/440Nm with AWD.
More information on the exact specification and timing of the updated Hyundai Palisade will be announced closer to the launch date in the third quarter of 2022.