Nightmare for Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol? Hyundai Boulder Concept previews hardcore body-on-frame off-roader

---

Hyundai has today revealed its answer to the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol and Ford Bronco at the New York International Auto Show. 

Known as the Boulder, Hyundai’s large SUV previews a new body-on-frame platform promising substantial payload, braked towing capacity, and genuine off-road prowess — positioning a peg (or more) above the dealer-optioned Hyundai Santa Fe XRT. 

While the Boulder has been stressed as a one-off, technical demonstration, Hyundai claims the underpinnings of its ‘Art of Steel’ styled four-wheel drive will be adopted by forthcoming ladder-chassis production cars.

Hyundai Australia has frequently hinted at its willingness to debut an American-styled (and potentially constructed) dual-cab ute to the local market. The Boulder could preview both the styling and presence of a future, bespoke-platformed or Kia Tasman-derived ute for Australia. 

The Boulder concept is marginally smaller than the Tasman, measuring 4915mm long, 2167mm wide, and 2065mm tall, with a 2964mm wheelbase. It is more similar in size to a Toyota LandCruiser 300-Series or Nissan Patrol. 

Outside, the Boulder features sharp, angular styling with bright LEDs for its stacked headlamps, near-body width roof-mounted lightbar and pixel-style DRLs integrated into the chunky rectangular grille and  wing mirrors.

The Boulder wears beefy 37-inch tyres on rugged 18-inch alloy wheels. A full size spare mounted to the rear tailgate furthers the Boulder’s off-road intentions, as do chunky flared arches, retractable side-steps, and overhead ‘safari’ windows. 

Entering through the Boulders’ ‘suicide’ doors, the interior is finished with ‘high wear’ materials, an abundance of grab-bars, plus tactile controls for the climate, radio, and differential locks similar to an Ineos Grenadier. 

The Boulder’s square steering wheel sports scroll wheels and two large buttons to control both the drive mode and ‘XRT’. Next to it is a conventional, physical automatic gear selector and electronic handbrake.

Perhaps the strangest parts of the Boulder’s interior design are four small digital screens in the centre of the dashboard, rather than a large, singular infotainment touchscreen, and the lack of a driver instrument cluster, instead using an elaborate, windscreen-wide digital HUD. 

Hyundai claims the Boulder is a demonstration “giving American customers more of what they want,” according to President and CEO, José Muñoz. “Our body-on-frame Boulder Concept SUV is a four-wheeled love letter to the off-road way of life,” he said.

Muñoz elaborated on Hyundai North America’s future product goals to 2030, claiming to debut a Boulder-derived medium body-on-frame pickup “[alongside] 36 new Hyundai vehicles [which will enter] segments we have never competed in before”

“We are doing it the right way: designed in America, built by Americans for American customers,” he said. It is currently unclear if Hyundai North America’s future off-road products will be offered in Australia.