It’s curious that any internet search classifies the Hyundai PALISADE as a midsize SUV. The Santa Fe is Hyundai’s true midsize SUV. To put the PALISADE’s size in perspective, it’s a mere two inches shorter than the Toyota Land Cruiser, which is officially classified as a large SUV. Two inches is about the size my waistline grows during the holiday season.
Which means that the sizable PALISADE, which now only comes as a highly efficient fuel-sipping hybrid, gives you a luxurious amount of space inside its three-row cabin. We’re talking Business Class accommodations in terms of stretch-out space and amenities—especially if you’re seated in the middle-row captain’s chairs. (For reference, the wheelbase of the PALISADE is almost five inches longer than a Land Cruiser’s.) The PALISADE’s interior is tastefully minimalist in terms of extraneous trimmings and colors, yet still manages to exude a very luxurious feel. Every surface you can see is made of premium materials and boasts very high craftsmanship. Everything you touch feels soft, plush, and smooth.
The PHP 3,980,000 PALISADE Hybrid’s cabin is packed with intuitive technologies, one of which is fingerprint recognition for Audio, Visual, Navigation (AVN), and engine start—making the ride secure as it is personalized. It boasts power seats for all three rows, driver and passenger lumbar support, and ventilated front and middle-row seats. Both first and second rows are fitted with relaxation seats, allowing passengers to luxuriate in comfort. The seats even have a very effective massage feature that reaches from your back all the way down to your calves—a real boon whether you’re stuck in traffic going to work or on a long drive out of town. The second- and third-row seats fold fully flat with a push of a button, which quickly becomes an amazing feature when you’re loading all your purchases from Ikea. It even has Stay Mode, which lets you enjoy music and AC for up to 40 minutes without turning on the engine.
Separating the front seat occupants is a deluxe console box with a disinfecting UV-C tray, which adds a thoughtful layer of hygiene and convenience. There are dual sunroofs to make driving under a starry night simply magical. The PALISADE’s 12.3-inch infotainment display provides a vast screen (integrated with the instrument panel) where both the driver and passenger can access the vehicle’s numerous functions. Moreover, the PALISADE Hybrid boasts a Head-Up Display which shows the vehicle’s speed and other info directly in the driver’s field of vision. Switching between driving modes (Auto, Mud, Sand, Snow) is made easier with the PALISADE’s Drive Mode Integrated Control. Further enhancing the drive is a superb-sounding 14-speaker Bose premium audio system and automatic rain-sensing.
I started off this article with the PALISADE’s interior, because that’s where people spend the most time with any car—and where they will truly experience the “premium-ness” of this particular vehicle. But the exterior also needs to connect with potential buyers first before he or she even decides to check out the interior. And in this regard, the PALISADE delivers.
Tall and boxy is the way to go when it comes to big high-end SUVs now—and the PALISADE is exactly that. Commanding presence is projected by the distinctive front end, the slab sides, the upright windows, and the huge 21-inch wheels—the same design executions you’ll find in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan or a Range Rover (both of which have the same side profile as the PALISADE). Like the inside, the exterior is thankfully free of extraneous chrome, with Hyundai opting to embellish the finishes with contrasting silver trim, most prominent of which is on the D pillar. Lighting elements always stand out on upscale models, and the PALISADE’s light show from its LED head- and taillamp clusters are simply stunning, especially at night. The paint finishes, particularly the deep green Robust Emerald Pearl, which becomes black at night, are absolutely gorgeous. Like a true luxury SUV, the PALISADE balances an assertive SUV stance with upmarket elegance.
It’s almost no surprise to know that the all-wheel drive PALISADE drives and rides as well as it looks. Hyundai has greatly improved its chassis dynamics over the last ten years—and the PALISADE, being a flagship model, certainly proves that point. It glides with limo-like silence on the road, especially in EV mode. There is a total absence of road, engine, and wind noise, even at 100 km/h. Bumps and potholes are effortlessly absorbed without jostling the passengers; still, the suspension retains enough firmness to handle sweeping curves confidently.
Credit also goes to Hyundai’s cutting-edge e-Comfort Drive, which helps deliver a smooth, stable ride on any terrain with Electrically Controlled Ride Comfort technology; e-Dynamic Drive, which employs advanced technologies that ensure precise handling and stability; e-DVTC, which controls the brakes and drive motor to apply torque vectoring in the steering direction when cornering, enhancing handling and driving stability; e-Ride Gen1, which manages the electric motor to reduce vehicle pitch motion and provide a smooth ride; e-Ride Gen2, which controls the vehicle’s motion so that the occupants experience less shaking and more linear acceleration; e-EHA, which modulates the motor during sudden steering maneuvers to maximize grip, reducing skidding and enhancing stability; and e-Handling, which adjusts torque to optimize traction, improving stability and enhancing driving dynamics.
Further abetting the PALISADE’s exemplary performance are the superb 265/45-21 Pirelli Scorpion tires (the same tires you’ll find on a Lamborghini Urus). Overall, a BMW SUV might handle better, but the PALISADE delivers a more supple and comfortable ride.
The PALISADE Hybrid is powered by a 334ps/422Nm turbocharged 2.5-liter GDI engine mated to a hybrid system and a 6-speed automatic that delivers power to all four wheels. This combo delivers a responsive and fun-to-drive experience on the road, while delivering hybrid levels of fuel consumption—Hyundai quotes up to 1,015 kilometers of driving range. That’s a hybrid economy car fuel economy in a large luxurious vehicle–amazing. Gratifyingly, for spirited drivers, acceleration is very strong and utterly effortless, making the whole PALISADE ownership experience a highly satisfying one indeed.
On the safety front, the PALISADE Hybrid is equipped with Hyundai SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with additional features such as the Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist, Side Parking Distance Warning, and even a washer for the rear camera. These useful and convenient features make each drive stress-free.
All things considered, the Hyundai PALISADE Hybrid is a bona fide luxury 7-seater without necessarily having a luxury car label on the grille. It redefines and personifies sophistication and sustainability for the modern Filipino who desires both refined luxury and future-ready technology.
Photos by Mica de los Reyes
