Hyundai Palisade 3.5 V6 7-seater Sunroof (A) Facelift Review

The new grille adds even more visual heft to the already sizeable Palisade

It all begins with the car's new face. It's much wider, has a new parametric design, and when paired with the redesigned head lights, just adds a ton of visual heft to the (already huge) car.

If you thought the design of the Palisade was already domineering, this updated one is exponentially more so.

Inside, there's a host of equipment updates. You now get the fully digital cluster seen in other modern Hyundai cars, as well as an updated infotainment interface. The design of the steering wheel is also new. And, the air-con vent design has been updated such that it runs across the width of the cabin - not functionally that consequential, but it does help make the cabin feel more contemporary. 

Second row passengers have the luxury of comfortable individual seats with ventilation

One notable change is that the Palisade is now offered only as a seven-seater variant, rather than the eight-seater previously.

While this certainly improves quality of life for the second row passengers, it does rob the Palisade of one of its more unique selling points - seven-seater SUVs are much more common compared to eight-seaters, though the everyday usefulness of an eight-seater can be a matter of debate.

However, passengers will feel comfortable whether in the second or third row. You have handy access to USB C ports, the seats are plenty spacious and comfortable, and the second row of seats even have ventilation.

Feel me now

The blind spot camera appears when you indicate, useful for seeing how close you are to the kerb

For a car as sizeable as the Palisade is (it's basically five metres long), it actually doesn't feel overwhelmingly big to drive on the road. The light steering helps, and of course having a 3.5-litre V6 lump certainly helps. You'll be surprised by how 'not-that-big' it feels on the road. The lane departure warning system, which helps steer you back into the lane, also helps to manage the car's overall size.

There are also plenty of features to help you navigate tighter spots, such as the blind spot camera that appears when you signal, as well as the useful 360-degree top-down camera view (especially useful when parking).

As far as comfort goes, the Palisade is hard to fault. It negotiates bumps on the road with ease, and even going over humps you don't really feel inclined to slow down that much.

Standing out

Need more hauling space? The second and third row of seats can be folded at one touch of a button

The updates to the Palisade help improve overall quality of life, thanks to more equipment and increased overall comfort. And the new design certainly adds to its overall distinctiveness and sense of imposing presence on the road. It really does stand out.

The big question, pardon the pun, is whether anyone needs a car this big. The answer, inevitably, is of course yes. The appeal may be somewhat niche, but there's certainly a market for it. Like super tall basketball players, sometimes not blending in is precisely the point. 

The fact that it's now only a seven-seater does rob the Palisade of some of its utilitarian uniqueness, but its worth noting that at its $302,999 price point (as of 23 Mar 2023), it's still the cheapest full-size seven-seater SUV you can get. And honestly, you're getting quite a lot of car for the money.

So yes, if you really want to go big, then the Hyundai Palisade is certainly worth checking out.

Looking for a seven-seater SUV? Here are some alternatives to consider:

The facelifted Skoda Kodiaq L&K has a sharper looks and improved performance

The Kia Carnival offers ample space and undeniable grandness

The Peugeot 5008 brings additional style to a familiar family-friendly recipe

See just how big this Hyundai Palisade is in our video review here!