SPECIFIC PALISADE

• Published date: 11 March 2021

What’s the point? Well, large $100k-plus SUVs are a thing among European makers and Hyundai NZ likes to think of itself as one of the more premium mainstream brands. The pricing and sales of the Santa Fe (both very high) seem to bear that out.

That, and the fact that Palisade occupies a rather unique space because you can have it as a seven or eight-seater. The latter is a rare thing and while Hyundai NZ expects most buyers to opt for seven chairs (which go with the top Limited model), the fact you can have eight is the Palisade’s USP. It’s proof positive that this is a seriously big vehicle and people-focused machine.

You could count many rivals for the Palisade, including high-end Japanese SUVs and the lower end of the large Europeans (BMW X5, Volvo XC90). But most you can think of will be five or seven-seaters. The exceptions are mostly heavy duty off-road vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Palisade isn’t that: it’s a unitary construction SUV with more car-like road manners and more modest off-road ability; although it certainly has some, with three “Terrain“modes on the AWD models.

To get a crossover driving experience with that number of chairs you really have to look at a traditional people mover. And for whatever reason, Kiwis seem to hate people movers.

Massive American-style SUVs, though? Love those.

So enter the Palisade. And let’s start on the inside. We’ve spent some time in the Limited seven-seater, which is the model expected to do most business.

Up front you might be a bit disappointed to find the dashboard and console are very similar to the Santa Fe, even though the Palisade gets a sweeping binnacle covering both the instrument panel and 10.25in touch screen (they stand separately in the Santa Fe). Nicely made and functional, but you’re not getting a whole lot more for your $100k-plus.

A bit less even, because while Palisade gets all the driver-assistance and safety tech of the smaller Santa Fe, it’s missing some touches like its smaller sibling’s completely virtual instrument display. The reason is simple: Palisade was launched back in 2018 in left-hand drive, whereas the current Santa Fe only landed late last year, so the smaller model is the newer one.

It gets more impressive as you move back. In the seven-seater, the second row contains two captain’s chairs, with a substantial amount of real estate around to allow you to enjoy something approaching business class road travel. You really can stretch out.

The third row...