Hyundai Palisade

Upon entering the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, you will definitely appreciate its cabin that not only has a premium vibe (thanks to its Nappa leather upholstery) but also offers class-leading spaciousness. The abundance of soft-touch materials make the Palisade’s interior a space for relaxation while on the road. The power relaxation driver, passenger, and rear seats all provide excellent ergonomics. The driver’s seat even has a massage function similar to other luxury SUVs. My only gripe with the interior of this hybrid vehicle is the potential of its third row to be cramped for tall and bigger adult passengers. 

Inside the Palisade, the driver has access to a 12.3-inch TFT LCD display (as the instrument cluster) and a hi-tech head-up display, proving that Hyundai can keep up with the best in terms of modern technology and innovations. All passengers can enjoy a 12.3-inch integrated infotainment display, which offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth with voice recognition. The infotainment system is linked to a premium 14- speaker BOSE sound system. The SUV also has 3 USB ports at the front and 4 at the rear. Aside from these, its console box with a UV-C and long sliding trays enhance the interior's functionality and luxurious vibe. Overall, the Palisade’s interior is designed to cater to the evolving needs of passengers at the present time.

The exterior of the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid kind of reminds me of the Cadillac Escalade’s build, but smaller. Compared to its predecessor, the hybrid model is now given a more modern look that has a mixture of elegance and brashness. At the front, it sports a hypermodern fascia with a new wide, square-shaped radiator grille featuring chrome horizontal lines at the center. It is given full LED headlamps, vertically-arranged LED DRLs, and a dynamic welcome light, all of which give this SUV a distinctive flare at night. On the sides, it has electrically-adjustable power folding side mirrors with a heating feature.

This car is uniquely beautiful not only at the front but also at the back. It also has  vertically-arranged LED combination lamps at the rear. To enhance its brash side, it is given a rear spoiler with an LED high-mounted stop lamp. In addition, for better aesthetics and natural air ventilation, the Palisade offers a dual sunroof with power tilting and sliding mechanisms as well as a one touch safety feature. It also has roof rails on top for drivers who frequently go on out-of-town trips with family and friends. 

The Palisade is 5,065 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, 1,805 mm in height, and has a 2,970 mm wheelbase. It runs on a beautiful set of 21-inch alloy wheels.

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid utilizes a suspension combination of a MacPherson strut at the front and a multi-link at the rear. If you want a comfortable cruising experience with your family and friends, then this hybrid vehicle can offer it. Thanks to its suspension system, the Palisade Hybrid has good stability and smooth turning ability, overshadowing the fact that it has a big build for a mid-size SUV. It can also absorb bumps effectively, ensuring that there is no ‘hilo’ factor (i.e., motion sickness) among all passengers during longer trips. 

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is powered by a combination of a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces a power output of 262 PS and 353 Nm of torque, and an electric motor with a 1.65 kWh battery pack. As a result, its hybrid powertrain produces a maximum combined power output of 334 PS and a maximum combined torque of 422 Nm. It runs on 6-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. Performance-wise, its engine has more power compared to the Mazda CX-90 AWD HEV Turbo Exclusive’s (284 PS) and the Kia Carnival Turbo Hybrid AT’s (245 PS). Hence, this hybrid SUV would run great at high speeds on free-flowing highways. This can also be used as a daily vehicle for city driving since it has better fuel economy compared to its gas-powered predecessors and competitors. 

In terms of safety, the Palisade Hybrid comes with Hyundai's ‘Smartsense,’ a set of advanced driver assistance systems. It includes smart cruise control with stop and go feature, assistance systems for reverse parking collision avoidance, lane following and keeping, forward collision avoidance, and manual speed limiting, as well as monitoring systems for blind spot and surround views, and an all-around parking distance warning. This hybrid SUV is also equipped with advanced and standard safety and security features. It has seven airbags in total: driver, passenger, two side, two curtain, and driver’s knee. It utilizes disc-type brakes for both front and rear. Its braking setup is equipped with an anti-lock braking system with multi-collision brake and an electronic stability control.

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid may have a higher starting price than the Mazda CX-90 HEV or the Kia Carnival Turbo Hybrid, but its more powerful engine, class-leading spaciousness and ergonomics, and state-of-the-art safety and technological features more than make up for it. For HEV standards, the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is a modern-generation contender.