5 questions about the new 2020 Hyundai Palisade answered

Unveiled at the last Los Angeles Auto Show, the new Hyundai Palisade is now arriving on the market.

We look at updated pricing and info for the Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai’s brand-new full-size flagship SUV.

Of all the new vehicles unveiled at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, the Palisade is one of the most important and most significant. Anyone who was ever gotten one ounce of enjoyment out of driving a car will scoff at the previous statement, but pleasing that person isn’t what Hyundai’s new Palisade is about.

It’s about being a spacious, three-row family SUV with a lot of standard safety features, plenty of connectivity tech, and a ton of versatility. It’s about offering families a more upscale model with plenty of value and that won’t repeat the same errors Hyundai made with the Veracruz. Remember the Veracruz? No? No one does.

What’s new about 2020 Hyundai Palisade?

It’s an all-new model with a new design language and brand-new interior styling. As Hyundai’s new flagship model, it’s a trend-setter, not a follower. That means that there aren’t that many things seen on the Palisade that you will find in other Hyundai models.

Inside, there’s a big 10.25-inch screen housing the infotainment system and some luxurious features such as quilted Nappa leather, heated and ventilated seats in front and in the second row, and multiple-zone climate controls. It uses an innovative roof vent diffuser to distribute air intelligently to the right areas of the cabin while being quieter and reducing air drafts.

Hyundai says there will be an available 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster in the new Palisade as well as an available blind view monitor which uses a camera to display an image of what is happening in both blind spots on the center display.

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The second and third rows can feature power-folding seats and there’s a technology called In-vehicle intercom with something called Kid’s Quiet Zone which cuts the speakers in that area of the Palisade to not disturb the little monsters in the back.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are there, and you can connect two Bluetooth devices in order to use one for calls and the other for audio. Seven USB ports are found in the 2020 Palisade.

Measuring almost 5 meters in length, the 2020 Palisade is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that delivers 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

What’s the 2020 Hyundai Palisade’s price?

Pricing was officially announced in June. The Palisade will start at $38,499 for a base front-wheel drive version. All-wheel drive models will start at $40,499.

There will be six versions in total with a top-of-the-line Palisade Ultimate starting at $53,999. Four versions will offer room for 8 passengers while the two top models will switch the middle seat for three with two captain chairs.

The Palisade will be slightly more affordable across the board than the Kia Telluride and will also replace the Hyundai Santa Fe XL which goes out of production.

When will it arrive on the market?

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade’s release date is set for summer 2019.

Which other cars should you check out if you’re thinking of buying a 2020 Hyundai Palisade?

The Volkswagen Atlas and Ford Explorer as mentioned previously, and also the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. That said, you will probably pay a bit more for the Hyundai Palisade, but there will be more features and luxury found inside. At least, that’s Hyundai’s plan on paper.

What do we think about it?

Korean automakers traditionally don’t do too well when they try and go upscale. The Veracruz was a spectacular failure as was the Kia K900. The Kia Cadenza is dying a slow death in dealerships. If Hyundai tries to take on the Acura MDX, Volvo XC90 or Mercedes-Benz GLE with the Palisade, they will fail. Pricing will be key and if the value is there, the 2020 Palisade will likely do well.