Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Brings Flagship Palisade SUV To Malaysia

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) seems to be playing a more premium (and some say niche) game especially with its recent introduction of the Kona Electric and Staria. Today, it officially introduces the Hyundai Palisade to Malaysia.

The Palisade is a full-sized SUV chiefly for markets like the USA and the Middle East which favour larger vehicles. For Malaysia, it will come with 2 engine choices and 2 seating layouts. The Palisade Executive variant will use the 2.2L CRDi turbo diesel engine while the more premium Palisade Luxe will be powered by a 3.8L Lambda II GDI V6 petrol engine. Each Executive and Luxe variant will further have a choice of either 7 or 8 seats.

The 3.8L V6 engine produces 295 PS @ 6,000 rpm and 355 Nm @ 5,200 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission for an official 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. Meanwhile, the R2.2 diesel engine puts out 200 PS @ 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,750 rpm. It is also mated to the same 8-speed automatic and has a 0 – 100 km/h time of 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 190 km/h. Unlike its petrol sibling, the diesel has Hyundai’s HTRAC active on-demand 4WD system.

The HTRAC system keeps track of the driving surface and condition and optimises torque delivery to the front and rear wheels. Besides the Drive mode (Comfort, Eco, Sport, Smart), there is also Terrain selection (Mud, Sand, Snow) for traction.

Front and rear exterior lighting are all LED units, including the puddle lamps in the wing mirrors. Both variants are also fitted with dual powered sunroofs.

The Palisade is a large vehicle by Malaysian standards. Using a wheelbase of 2,900 mm, it has a body measuring 4,980 mm long, 1,975 mm wide, and 1,750 mm tall, and sits on 20″ alloy wheels. In comparison, the flagship Mazda CX-9 is 5,075 mm long, 1,969 mm wide, 1,747 mm tall, on a 2,930 mm wheelbase.

With its size, it is able to offer an 8-seater (2-3-3) configuration or a more deluxe 7-seater (2-2-3) layout with captain seats in the 2nd row and a walk-through to the 3rd. The 7-seater comes with nappa leather upholstery while the 8-seater is leather. The front seats feature a 12-way adjustment (with cushion extension and lumbar support) for the driver, and 8-way adjustment for the passenger. Both these seats have heating and ventilation functions which are also available in the 2nd row seats. However, the 8-seater version only has heating function for the 2nd row. Access for the 3rd row is via a smart one-touch fold button on either the base of the 2nd row seat or the top of its backrest.

The 3rd row seats can also be easily folded from the cargo side to expand the 311 litres of boot space to 704 litres (VDA). Further, the smart liftgate system is motorised and is able to detect the proximity of the key fob (1 metre) for hands-free opening; no more shadow kicking the bumper.

Passenger comfort is enhanced by the 3-zone climate control, with independent controls for the rear available in the 2nd row. Other creature comforts include 6 USB ports, a wireless charging pad, 4 12V outlets, and curtain shades for the rear door.

In the cockpit area, the driver gets driving info and features from the head-up display, 7″ digital instrument cluster and the 8″ infotainment touchscreen. Just like the recent Hyundais, this infotainment unit also has convenient wireless connectivity for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There is also a Quiet Mode which mutes the speakers at the rear.

Other notable features include a tyre pressure monitoring system, rear view camera with dynamic parking guide, auto wipers, paddle shifters, rear occupant sensor and alert, Safety Exit Assist, and Trailer Stability Assist.

Besides the powertrain output difference, the key difference between the diesel and petrol variants is the availability of Hyundai SmartSense driver assistance in the petrol variants. It includes Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert. The diesel variants make do with a regular cruise control, and warning systems for Blind Spot Collision and Rear Cross Traffic Collision. The sighting of a front radar module and camera is also the main way to spot the difference between the petrol and diesel variants (the latter doesn’t have them).

Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail and Distribution of Sime Darby Motors Malaysia said, “The demand for family-friendly SUVs continue to grow as discerning vehicle owners look for versatility and comfort in tandem with smart safety features. The launch of the new Palisade is well-positioned in the Malaysian market, in line with Hyundai’s strategy in leading the way with innovation. We are optimistic that the introduction of Palisade will be a game-changer for this segment.”

Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM said, “The Hyundai Palisade is designed with a wide range of cutting-edge features that offer practical usage. The perfect combination of comfort, style and functionality presents enjoyment for in city as well as countryside drives. The recent range of new launches place Hyundai on a strong footing as we solidify our position as a premium choice, driven by innovative expertise.”

There are 5 exterior colours to pick i.e. Timeless Black, White Cream, Lagoon Silver, Steel Graphite, and Moonlight Cloud. Interior colour choices are Black (leather) / Black (trim), Warm Grey (nappa leather) / Navy (trim), and Burgundy (nappa leather) / Black (trim). The latter is only available for the 7-seaters, and any exterior colour except Moonlight Cloud.

The Hyundai Palisade is fully imported from South Korea and has the following retail prices:

Diesel

• EXEC 8 : RM328,888
• EXEC 7 : RM348,888

Petrol

• LUXE 8 : RM338,888
• LUXE 7 : RM358,888

All variants come with a standard warranty of 2 years or 50,000 km (whichever comes first). There is also an optional upgrade available to extend warranty coverage. By adding RM 11,000 (for LUXE 7 and LUXE 8), and RM12,000 (for EXEC 7 and EXEC 8) you can upgrade the vehicle’s warranty to 5 years or 300,000 km (whichever comes first) and receive free service maintenance of 3 years or 50,000 km (whichever comes first).

To view the Hyundai Palisade, you may visit the Hyundai Ara Damansara showroom at Sime Darby Motors City, or the Hyundai Old Klang Road, Gurney Paragon and Skudai showrooms. Check https://www.hyundai.com.my/showroom/palisade/ for more information.