Hyundai Palisade 2020 Philippines Review: The bigger they are

It wasn’t a little over 10 years ago when the pinnacle of luxury motoring is executive sedans and saloons. With their luxurious amenities, extravagant interior materials, and plushy comfortable ride, these low riders are definitely your local congressman or business tycoons, cars of choice.

Then the automotive industry experienced a shift. The transition to large, barge-like SUVs was not as quick as the advent of crossovers and improvements to ride quality and power delivery ushered in a new era in the market for luxury car brands.

Rappers and celebrities were on to something riding their Lincoln Navigators and Cadillac Escalades around town. Nothing just beats a full-on SUV when it comes to overall potential in becoming a fancy, swanky rich-person mobile.

Nothing beats an SUV at road presence

Hyundai on their part realized this trend early on, taking advantage of this shift to transform their brand image from the 90s, being a run-of-the-mill niche manufacturer churning out uninspired econoboxes to going all-in on the Crossover craze. At least locally they started to release winner after winner of reliable, economical and definitely “not bad” crossover SUVs from the Santa Fe, Tucson and even the under-appreciated Vera Cruz.

These crossover models have served as the corner-stone for what Hyundai is today, a brand that can go toe to toe with the best of them and the Hyundai Palisade is the culmination of all their efforts. The Hyundai Palisade is a 7-seater as a mid-sized Crossover SUV and it definitely toes the line with the “mid-sized” part of that statement.

Compared to other local mid-sized SUVs such as the Montero Sport and the Fortuner it absolutely dwarfs both in all dimensions except for height. It’s more comparable to American mid-sized crossovers such as the Ford Explorer. Read on the Hyundai Palisade 2020 Philippines Review to see how Hyundai intends the Palisade to do battle against its USDM rivals on their very own turf.Let's get started with Philkotse.com

Is The 2020 Hyundai Palisade The Perfect Family SUV?

You don’t have to be up close to the 2020 Hyundai Palisade exterior to appreciate its sheer size. With the design cues taken right of the pages of Rolls Royce’s and BMW's playbook, its large grille just sticks out like a large rolling down the highway.

Adding to that menacing, imposing presence are distinct “crocodile-eyes” style headlamps with vertical lined LED lamps for DRLs.

The headlamp implementation is similar to the Hyundai Kona compact crossover with a split 2 level design but given the Rolls Royce and BMW treatment of “supersizing”.

The rear design is consistent with the front’s design language. You have brushed metal-like material that flanks the vertically placed tail lights.

A subtle rear spoiler keeps things interesting as well as a rear diffuser made of the same brushed metal-like material at the bottom that houses the dual exhaust. Whether coming or not, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade gives its Teutonic rivals a run for their money.

The Hyundai Palisade front design in is like a supersized Kona

If that does not convince you of the sheer size of the Hyundai Palisade exterior, even the side profile of the car articulates its size. You will find cavernous wheel wells under muscular car-lines that create a subtle fender bulge that houses 20 inch, hot-line bling mags with 245/50/r15 tires.

The side profile evokes heavy Escalade feels, with a chrome body line that starts from the A-Pillar running all the way around the door lines and sharply drops to the C-Pillars, giving an almost shark-like profile. The entire effect gives the 2020 Hyundai Palisade an almost Floating Roof-line.

You’d just have to see the Hyundai Palisade in the metal to fully appreciate the look, which I think looks just awesome, many cars and SUVs nowadays barely give the side panels any attention and when they do, go insanely overboard.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is a breath of fresh air in a sea of mediocrity.

The rear view of Hyundai Palisade 2020

2020 Hyundai Palisade interior is where you know Hyundai is putting out all the stops on their local flagship. Decked in quilted, full Nappa leather, dyed in reddish maroon, it lets you know that this is Hyundai’s luxury model and they got you covered.

The same materials adorn the side door panel inserts no other words can describe the interior but, sublime. The soft-touch materials on the dashboard just scream decadence.

Try saying "Decked in Nappa Leather" 3 times fast, it still won't be enough

On the massive center console like the transmission buttons and climate control stack as well as different drive mode options. moving up the console it leads you to the floating infotainment stack featuring an almost table-like 10.2-inch screen.

Personally, I think Hyundai vehicles are untouched for its infotainment game (pun intended) with its intuitive interface and smooth interface transition. In case you were wondering, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade seats 7 occupants with a 3-row setup with the 2nd row being the best seat in the house.

If you’ve ever wanted to bring along your comfy lounge chair with you on trips, the aforementioned Nappa Leather material on the supportive captain seats would be the next best thing and thanks to the triple-zone climate control, you don’t, have to rely on the driver to keep you cool hot lunchtime commutes to the country club.

It's the next best thing to you comfy LA-Z Boy

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If you do so choose to drive the 2020 Hyundai Palisade instead of being chauffeured around town, you will be happy that thanks to its 2.2 liter D4HB R-Line VGT Diesel engine it makes sufficient power to the tune of 197 hp @ 3,800 RPM and 441 Nm of torque at a very early 1750-2750 RPM.

Power is enough to propel the AWD Palisade from a standstill to 100 kph in 10.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 190 km/h. The Hyundai Palisade 2020 runs on Macpherson Struts upfront and a Multi-Link, Self Leveling Independent Suspension in the rear, further solidifying its Crossover identity. The ride is smooth and uneventful without being boat-like and nauseous.

It takes a full 10 and a half seconds to get the Palisade to triple digits

Noise and vibration levels are well regulated and shushed but not as well as German brands, some road noise still permeates the cabin, and some bumps and imperfections are evident, no thanks to those massive, low-profile wheels. Lugging around the 2,670 kg Palisade, which by the way is quite light for a vehicle in this class and this size, nets a penalty on fuel economy at 6-7 km/l in the city.

The 8-speed Automatic Transmission is properly tuned but starts hunting for gears when facing an incline or accelerating on the highway, but the fact Hyundai listens to its customer by offering a diesel option on their Luxury Mid-sized SUV is another point on how Hyundai knows that nothing beats the torque figures of diesel fuel in an SUV car.

The beautiful center console is as big as a country mile

>>> Related: Hyundai Palisade for sale at best prices on Philkotse

Hyundai’s 2020 flagship SUV isn’t lacking in safety features and electronic goodies, You get a total of 9 airbags, Anti-lock brakes and with Electronic and Downhill brake Control, Blind Spot Warning, stability control, hill start assist, a 360 camera to check your surroundings and for those who wish to bring a trailer with them, Trailer Stability assist.

Toys such as a highly adjustable power tailgate, massive sunroof, paddle shifters to control the 8-speed automatic as well as Multi-Terrain and Drive Selector modes, cruise control, 7 USB ports, backlit glass and so much more come standard in the 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Hyundai seems to have included everything but the Kitchen Sink on this one.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade comes with a full suite of safety features

>>> Check out the in-depth review of Palisade's rival for further reference: What the Ford Explorer 2020 Philippines might offer?

Priced at Php 3,240,000 the Hyundai Palisade is quite prohibitive but considering its much pricier rival the Ford Explorer, it can be a relative steal. The CX-9 another competitor is cheaper however doesn’t have Hyundai’s amazing diesel engine as well as many interior amenities.

Add the fact that the Hyundai Palisade 2020 Philippines also looks so much better is a huge plus. Hyundai hedged a lot of bets behind the Hyundai Palisade, but if the SUV’s looks, performance, after-sales value, and overall countenance are any indication they may have got themselves a winner.

The Hyundai Palisade is a culmination of all of Hyundai's efforts of shedding its econobox identity

>>> Keep posted on Philkotse.com for the more full-scale car review by our experts.