WHAT SHE SAID: Hyundai Palisade a bargain at ‘only’ R1 million

The Hyundai Palisade has created quite a stir since its recent local arrival. Just a pity for the wrong reasons.

Most of the comments around the Korean carmaker’s new flagship SUV is centred around its price tag and not the car itself.

“What, a Hyundai that costs R1 million?!” is the stock standard response to the Palisade’s R999 900 sticker. The words uttered in disbelief that a manufacturer that gave the world affordable cars like the Atos and i10 now has the audacity to slap seven figures on a price tag.

A seven-figure bargain

The irony is that the Hyundai Palisade is actually a bargain for a million bucks. Seriously. In the light of how expense cars have become, I’m not smoking my Weet-Bix in saying that.

On the South African landscape you are simply not going to find a comparative package at a lower price. It is a seven/eight-seater SUV kitted to the brim with bells and whistles packaged in some very attractive styling.

The Palisade has three seats in its third row. You have the option of either two captain’s chairs or another row of three seats in the second row, with the price staying unchanged.

ALSO READ: Palisade: Most expensive Hyundai worth its R1m price tag?

Before the Palisade, Hyundai’s flagship SUV was the Santa Fe. While the latter might also be a seven-seater, the big difference lies in the boot space behind the third row of seats. Like many other seven-seaters, the Santa Fe does not have acres of boot space when the third row is not folded down.

Size does matter

In the Palisade, there is a ginormous 509 litres of boot space on offer. If you can’t top of your head how big that is, take note that it is a full 39 litres more than a Toyota Corolla. And also know that the Corolla’s boot can swallow four golf bags!

You have two other options for transporting the same number of passengers as in the Palisade with similar or better performance, in similar comfort and with (sort of) the same luggage space. It’s either a luxurious van or premium seven-seater, of which both starts at well over a million and even pushes through the two bar-barrier. And even at that price, the premium seven-seaters can’t match the Palisade for boot space!

The other brands will of course argue that the carmaker that brought the world the Atos’ products can’t be considered as premium. But to be fair, the Palisade is as premium as you could ever wish for in a Hyundai. If you are prepared to look past the badge, you will appreciate this.

Premium touch

The cabin is elegantly finished with soft-touch materials that will not look out of place in any premium brand. This is supported by a host of creature comforts like heated and ventilated seats in the seconds and third rows, features that will set you back another pay cheque as optional extra in a proper premium car.

Not to mention Rear Seat Quiet Mode, which keeps the music that is played in the first row from being transmitted to the second row. A very impressive set of safety specifications further enhances the Hyundai Palisade’s credentials.

Pulling power

Last but not least, the Hyundai Palisade is powered by the same engine as the Santa Fe. This tried and trusted 2.2-litre turbo diesel mill sends 142 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Despite the car’s almost two-ton weight the powerplant meets your requirements when you the urge. And relatively frugally too. We managed 11.5L/100 km over 350 km, which is more than acceptable.

The is very little not to like about the Hyundai Palisade. It does everything it says on the box and more. Not bad for “only” a million rand.

For more information on the Hyundai Palisade, click here.