I spoke earlier of Hyundai’s super-sized Palisade SUV – two luxury grades – the entry Palisade and the highly equipped Palisade Highlander, both available in petrol and diesel. I drove the entry 3.8-litre V6 petrol front wheel drive at $60,000 and the 2.2-litre  turbo-diesel all-wheel drive Highlander at $75,000 – both in 8-speed automatic.

Big yes, but impressive, active safety elements masking its bulk on road. The Palisade has an 11.8 metre turning circle, only 400mm wider to Hyundai’s smaller Sante Fe and its very nimble around town – easy to park with good visibility aided by an excellent rear view camera and comprehensive parking sensors. The petrol sweet and responsive, the diesel despite 200 kilos heavier the nicer from my perspective with a really good level of torque from 1,750 revs. The petrol sits on 18-inch alloys, the diesel on 20 inch and both come with full sized alloy spares.

I managed 12.8L/100 in the petrol, 9.1L/100 in the diesel, both figures in hard city driving. Leather seats in both grades very accommodating even in the third row with excellent shoulder room and easy access aided by the second-row seats one touch folding. Good ISOFIX child seat restraints too plus up to five top tether child seat anchors. It may be big and bulky but there’s so much to like on this supersized Hyundai Palisade.

I’m David Berthon

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