Hyundai Palisade Hybrid: Big Luxury SUV Goes Electric-ish in Oz

Hyundai has taken its biggest SUV, the Palisade, and given it a dose of electricity. The result? The new Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy — a rolling lounge room with a greenish twist.

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre turbo hybrid that uses a dual-motor setup: one motor drives, the other recoups energy. That means smoother take-offs, quieter cruising, and better efficiency without forcing you to plug in. A six-speed auto keeps things familiar, while clever touches like Stay Mode (keeps the climate control and stereo running with the engine off) and Vehicle-to-Load (powering laptops, camping fridges, or the coffee machine) give it an EV-style party trick or two.

The outside is less “people mover” and more “block of flats on wheels.” An upright windscreen, chunky vertical DRLs, and 21-inch alloys give it real carpark dominance. It’s bold enough to make a Kluger look apologetic, and that’s before you factor in the sheer size.

Step inside and it’s clear Hyundai aimed for “family luxury” rather than just “big seats.” The dashboard is dominated by a panoramic curved display with twin 12.3-inch screens, backed by a head-up display so you don’t miss the traffic lights. There are powered and heated third-row seats, an in-car UV-C sanitiser to keep phones and gadgets germ-free, and even a Digital Centre Mirror to see past luggage mountains. Seven-seat versions swap the middle bench for captain’s chairs with Relaxation Mode, because apparently Hyundai thinks your teenagers need reclining thrones.

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ABOVE: Hyundai’s all-new Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy

Practicality hasn’t been forgotten: USBs everywhere, more legroom across the second and third rows, and cargo space that’ll swallow camping gear whole. It’ll even tow 2,000kg, which covers boats, caravans, or whatever else you fancy dragging along behind.

Australia’s Palisade isn’t just a copy-paste of the global version either. Engineers tested and tuned the suspension here to deal with local roads, so it won’t shudder every time you hit a Sydney pothole. Safety is the full buffet: 8 airbags, Highway Driving Assist 2, Smart Cruise Control, Blind-Spot View Monitors, and driver monitoring to keep you honest on long road trips.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO Don Romano describes it as “a thoroughly evolved successor,” which is car-speak for “it’s bigger, plusher, and cleverer.” For families who like the idea of luxury with a touch of electrification, it’s a tempting package.

The new Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy is available now in eight colours and four interior trims. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but expect it to land well above your garden-variety SUVs — and below the Euro tanks it’s eyeing off in the school pickup line.

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