Launched in 2018, the Palisade is already a bit of an oldie. Despite its age, Hyundai’s largest SUV is still a hot commodity. Deliveries through April were up 30 percent in the United States, reaching 34,394 units. If this spy video is any indication, the three-row family car will be retired in the near future to make way for the second-generation model.
Caught in an underground parking lot in South Korea, the next-generation Palisade is wearing heavy camouflage to hide what appears to be a production body. Knowing Hyundai isn’t afraid to make radical styling changes, we wouldn’t be too surprised if this is a complete redesign. We can already see glimpses of new headlights and a new grille peeking through the mesh camouflage. Additionally, the front fenders are partially open, revealing prominent creases above the wheel arches.
Those 18-inch wheels look a bit small for such a large body, but Hyundai will surely offer larger wheels on the production model. This is just a prototype; hence why not all the body panels are the same color. The bigger changes are likely at the rear, where Hyundai has taken the trouble to apply additional camouflage. The exhaust tips are sticking out, probably due to engine/emissions testing. The camouflage trim on the parking sensors suggests that the prototype is unlikely to be far from a production vehicle.
The car’s paparazzo also got a look inside, where Hyundai has covered up the dashboard. However, we can see almost everything else, including the rounded door handles, wood trim, and a few buttons mounted on the ceiling. The quality may not be up to par, but that’s to be expected in a pre-production prototype. The Palisade for customers will certainly have nicer materials, so don’t judge the interior’s fit and finish just yet.
About a year ago, reports emerged from South Korea that Hyundai was planning to launch the next-generation Palisade with a hybrid powertrain. Additionally, the naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V-6 was reportedly going to be replaced by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. The 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel currently offered in some global markets may be discontinued.
Engineers are believed to be extending the wheelbase compared to the current model, which measures 114.2 inches between the axles. That should allow for more legroom, especially for second- and third-row passengers. The new Palisade will carry the internal codename “LX3” and will be paired with the all-electric Ioniq 9. The two will not be related as the EV will use a dedicated E-GMP platform, the same one that underpins the smaller Ioniq 5 and 6 models.
The Palisade will likely go on sale next year and land in the United States in 2026MY.
