Will we get the semi-rugged Hyundai Palisade XRT?

The updated Hyundai Palisade flagship SUV was unveiled earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show, bringing revised interior and exterior design cues, new infotainment and safety features, and advanced driver assistance systems.

The new Palisade is headed Down Under for a Q3, 2022 launch, but one model remains a question mark for the local market. Unveiled along with the standard Palisade variants was the new ‘semi-rugged’ model called Palisade XRT.

Joining the range for the first time, the Palisade XRT is a dark-themed, adventure focused model aimed at active families. Features exclusive to the XRT model include dark-finish, rugged-themed 20-inch alloy wheels, rugged-look front and rear fascia with skid plate design element, rugged-look lower door trim, dark-finish front grille, black roof rails, and black leatherette seating surfaces.

The US market XRT model pairs a 3.8-litre petrol V6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system, the later features downhill brake control, AWD lock, and special Snow and Tow drive modes.

If introduced in Australia, the Palisade XRT is likely to swap the V6 for a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine.