Hyundai has decided to call its upcoming “large” SUV Palisade, continuing the tradition of naming its SUVs after places noted for their connection to recreational lifestyles. The new vehicle will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of November.
The new 2020 utility will be roughly the same size as its mid-sized competitors — Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner, among others — and feature seating for up to eight.
It’s named after the designation for a line of coastal cliffs or bluffs, but has a tie-in to southern California through the connection to the affluent California Palisades region, which features a plethora of outdoor recreationalist activity settings (such as beaches, parks, hiking trails and bike paths).
Not much is known about the upcoming model, outside of Hyundai’s assurance that it will offer a bold exterior, in line with that of the 2019 Santa Fe, which conveys a solid feeling of safety and security, combined with the premium style worthy of a flagship SUV.
The vehicle will bear a family resemblance to Santa Fe (the 3-row version of which it replaces) but with the appropriate differentiation. It will also take some of its cues from the recently introduced HCD-2 Grandmaster concept (particularly its size and square proportions) and will likely share mechanicals and profile with the Kia Telluride, which will precede Palisade to market by a few months.