Korean automaker, Hyundai has recently introduced the Verna facelift and the new-gen Creta SUV in the Indian market. The company is now ready to launch multiple new cars including the Tucson facelift and the new-gen i20 hatchback. Moreover, Hyundai is also testing the 7-seater Creta, rumoured to be called Alcazar and a 7-seater compact MPV. These 2 UVs are also likely to arrive in our market in 2021.
The Korean automaker is also exploring the Palisade full-size SUV for the Indian market. The company had launched the 2 previous generations of the Santa Fe SUV; however, the new-gen model is not likely to arrive in our market. Hyundai is doing feasibility study of launching the Palisade in India. It will be the brand’s flagship SUV in the country.
Hyundai had launched the Palisade SUV in the global markets in 2018. The SUV is currently available in left-hand-drive version only; however, Hyundai has started working on the right-hand-drive version of the SUV as well. The company is yet to finalise on what route the new SUV could be launched in India. The CBU model will be relatively expensive for the price sensitive Indian market. The Korean automaker could also utilise the Government’s relaxation on importing 2,500 cars without going through local homologation.
Dimensionally, the Hyundai Palisade is 4,980mm long, 1,975mm wide and 1,750mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,900mm. The Palisade is available as 7- and 8-seater SUV, which will rival the MG Gloster. For people not in the know, Kia’s flagship SUV – the Telluride is also based on the Palisade platform.
The Hyundai Palisade is powered by a 3.8-litre V6 direct injection petrol engine that is capable of producing 291bhp of power and 355Nm of torque. The India-spec model could receive the 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that is good for 200bhp and 441Nm of torque. Delivering power to the wheels is an 8-speed automatic gearbox with a multi-plate torque converter. The SUV comes with both two-wheel-drive (2WD) and HTRAC four-wheel-drive (4WD) options.
