The Hyundai Palisade is a Dreamliner on wheels

The Hyundai palisade is a great Aussie tourer that feels like a Dreamliner on wheels. Korean cars have evolved in leaps and bounds scooping many awards of late and the Hyundai palisade can be both tourer and commuter. It is whisper quiet, comes with all of the premium creature comforts without the badge or sticker price of luxury SUVs. It drives very much like a car but has the cavernous interior of a high end SUV, borrowing many design cues and touches from the Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury marque. It has an agility that defies its size which makes driving very pleasurable and addictive. The model reviewed below is the 2021/2022 Palisade Highlander which has the bold on-road presence of an American SUV with curves in the right places so its not too boxy.

Likes
1. Captains armchairs – Available on the 7 seater variant. This reduces the number of seats from 8 to 7 but offers an additional level of comfort and luxury as well as a middle aisle for access to the back row
2. Heated and ventilated seats – This includes both the front and second row seats
3. Fuel capacity and economy – It has a great range of around 800-1000kms from the 71L diesel tank. This makes it perfect for long Aussie road trips. The diesel is also very frugal for a vehicle this size. The newest 2026 models are available in hybrid *
4. Gearbox & Drivetrain – The 8 speed automatic and the HTRAC AWD system is very smooth and refined with plenty of lower end torque. There are different driving modes to choose from including Comfort, Economy, Sports and Smart mode which adapts to your driving style. Note – this is not a 4×4/4WD so not designed for extreme offroading
5. Heads up display – It displays the speed limit and your current speed at eye level on the windscreen. Simple, cool and useful
6. Rear Cross traffic safety – Very useful when reversing to warn of oncoming traffic
7. Full Sized Spare – It’s nice to have a full sized spare wheel under the chassis
8. Passenger Talk – A useful and fun feature to chat to the last row via the intercom. “This is your captain speaking. We are now cruising at maximum altitude!”
9. Sunroof and moon roof – The panoramic roof provides an abundance of natural light to create an open ambience in the cabin but it can also be closed if it’s too hot
10. 360 degree cameras – The cameras are awesome and provide great visibility via a birds eye aerial view that is extremely useful when negotiating tight parking spots or ramps
11. USB ports and cup holders – There are 8 USB ports and an insane 16 cup holders!
12. Cabin Storage – There is a great little storage cavity on the floor between the front seats which is useful for a handbag, mini backpack or jacket. Just don’t forget it!
13. Smart Liftgate – Very handy when shopping! No remote or feet are required. Simply stand behind the boot for a few seconds and the proximity sensor will automatically open it.
14. Screen Mirroring – The 10 inch screen is not class leading but its amply sized with both Apple and Android CarPlay available as a standard feature
15. Styling – As mentioned in the introduction, the styling is bold, distinctive and very American but also looks smart and stylish. There are a lot of chrome accents. For me the styling is a positive – this is a car that means business, a bit like a “don’t argue” fend in state of origin.
16. Sound System – The Infynity sound system is very good and fills the cabin with quality sound

Quirks
1. Third row Stadium seating – The third row floor is elevated, to accommodate the full sized spare tyre under the chassis. third row. The middle seat in the third row is also only suitable for a child. This means the third row is really a 2 seater not a 3 seater. When testing the 3rd row on longer road trips it was still comfortable though.
2. Push button gears – This takes a bit of getting used to at first but is fine after a few drives. Personally I prefer a gear stick.
3. Auto locking – Auto locking when you walk away is not available despite the proximity sensor. To lock or unlock the car you can either press the button on the door handle or use the remote
4. Wireless CarPlay – Wireless charging is available but Carplay still requires a cable.
5. Kerb visibility on ramps – if descending down a spiral ramp, there is zero kerb visibility so it’s easy to scrape the wheels when first getting used to the car. This is due to the fact that the kerb is beyond the field of vision due to the large front bonnet, height and size of the car. Luckily the 360 degree camera can help.
6. Steering Autocorrect – Initially this seemed a bit annoying and distracting at first and can be switched off or made less intrusive. However this feature grows on you and after a while I did not mind being nudged. Not only is it safer but it also reduces driver fatigue
7. Wishlist features – Tray tables, Foot rests and in-seat Massage would be awesome features to add more luxury touches though these are not essential features. These are very much first world wish list items but given it already has everything else, why not!

Vitalstatistix

Summary
In summary, the Hyundai Palisade is a wonderful car that is well built for Australian roads, particularly if you enjoy touring, long drives, airport trips, camping or have kids and grandparents. It is very dynamic for its size, has a cavernous interior and a good suspension that absorbs bumps. There is so much to like and admire and very few niggles. Passengers will often relax into a contented dreamlike state state and snooze off once you get onto a motorway and they will still feel refreshed when you reach your destination. This is why I like to describe it as a Dreamliner on wheels!

* The 2026 model (pictured below) adds a hybrid drivetrain, more power, better mileage, a new range rover type styling and more luxury touches including massage and leg rests but the sticker price has also been increased.