📖 6 min read

Some cars look big in photos. The Hyundai Palisade looks big in photos too, and then you see it in person and realize the camera has been lying to you the whole time.

That is basically the vibe with the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid in this first-look walkaround. Suneel’s first reaction says it all: “fabulous, fantastic, and huge.” And the more he explores it, the more the Palisade starts to feel less like “just another seven-seater” and more like Hyundai’s attempt to bring a proper premium, executive family SUV into Pakistan.

Let’s break down what stood out most in this first look.

The first thing you notice up front is the horizontal DRLs. They stretch the face wider visually and give the Palisade a strong road presence. The parametric front grille looks upscale without trying too hard, and the overall front end is described as “huge” , not in a cartoonish way, but in a confident, premium way.

There is also a light strip effect that runs across the front (a design cue we usually associate with modern EV styling), which adds to that “new-era” look.

On the side, the Palisade gets 21-inch wheels with a machine-finished and gloss combination that the reviewer clearly loves. Paired with Pirelli tyres, it signals Hyundai is aiming this at a higher-end buyer, not just someone upgrading from a compact crossover.

Other design details that help it look expensive:

Body-colored cladding (instead of cheap-looking black plastic)

A character line that flows from the front to the rear fender

Matte chrome trim along the lower doors and rear bumper area

Roof rails for practicality and presence

At the rear, the theme continues with clean, modern lighting. You get:

Stylish rear lamp design echoing the front’s horizontal idea

A spoiler with a concealed wiper

Palisade badge and hybrid badging

Some people apparently confused it with MPVs like the Staria or Kia Carnival just because it is big, but the point is clear: this is an SUV, not a van.

A key takeaway from the video is how Suneel frames the Palisade: it is not an off-road bruiser, and it is not pretending to be one.

He places it in the D-segment, big SUV category and repeatedly calls it an urban mobility solution, a vehicle made for:

families travelling together in comfort

executives wanting a premium cabin

people who want a true 7-seater without the “third row punishment”

This matters because Pakistan’s market has long been dominated by rugged ladder-frame SUVs as the default “big car.” The Palisade comes with a different philosophy: monocoque comfort, insulation, stability, and luxury.

Powertrain: 2.5 Turbo Hybrid + AWD

Under the hood, the unit shown is described as a 2.5L turbocharged hybrid, producing:

Those are strong figures for a family SUV, especially one aiming for comfort and smooth performance.

Suneel also mentions a very ambitious company claim: 1,000+ km on a single tank. He rightly says this needs proper testing in an expert review, but it is still an attention-grabber in a market where fuel economy is not a “nice-to-have”, it is a survival trait.

And here is the important surprise he admits he forgot to mention earlier:

So yes, it has traction capability and multiple terrain modes (snow, mud, sand), but Hyundai is still positioning it as comfort-first, city and highway-friendly.

With all seats up, cargo space is described as not massive, which is normal for many 7-seaters. Suneel suggests that if you plan long highway trips with a full cabin, a roof carrier might make sense.

One genuinely practical win: a proper spare wheel.

In many hybrids and plug-in hybrids, brands delete the spare tyre (and owners hate it). If you are the “old school” type who wants a real spare, the Palisade seems to deliver.

Here is where the Palisade earns its headlines.

Suneel explains what most people already know: a lot of vehicles are “7-seaters” on paper, but the third row is basically a legal prank. You can climb in, sure. Then you regret your life choices.

In the Palisade, he shows a motorized entry system, presses a button and the seat moves to create access. He slips into the third row easily and then delivers the key verdict: it is actually comfortable.

The third row seat can move and recline

The cabin feels open thanks to large quarter glass and dual sunroofs

Heated function for the third row

Premium materials and consistency in feel across rows

The “third row citizen treatment” is real in many cars: first row gets luxury, second row is decent, third row gets sadness. Here, the reviewer says it does not feel like that.

And that alone can be a deal-maker for large families.

The second row setup is captain seats, which adds to the premium, executive feel. Hyundai clearly wants this car to feel like a lounge, not a bus.

Second row highlights mentioned:

Heated and ventilated seats (ventilation here, while third row is heated only)

A “boss seat” control that lets a passenger adjust the front seat from the rear (useful for chauffeur-style comfort)

Roller blinds (manual) and privacy glass

The cabin is designed to make even non-driver passengers feel like they matter, which is a refreshing concept in a world where most cars worship the driver and ignore everyone else.

Up front, Suneel calls it a cockpit, and he is not exaggerating.

You get two 12.3-inch displays in a panoramic layout. The dashboard uses layered premium materials:

Soft nappa leather with stitching

Heated and ventilated front seats

Multiple storage zones, wireless charger, USB-C ports

His only real complaint: the steering adjustment is manual, not electric, which feels slightly out of place given how many things are motorized even in the third row.

Still, the overall takeaway is that the cabin feels super premium, with smart layout and practical storage everywhere.

The Palisade shown includes Hyundai’s ADAS suite (Hyundai SmartSense), and Suneel walks through features like:

Forward safety systems and collision avoidance settings

Lane safety and lane keep assist

Blind spot monitoring and blind spot safety

Driver attention warning and fatigue monitoring

Parking safety features and camera settings

Multiple drive modes (Eco, Sport, and a customizable mode)

Terrain modes (Snow, Mud, Sand)

That is the kind of equipment level that can shift buyer expectations in Pakistan’s SUV space, especially for people cross-shopping imported options.

Booking and Price Expected Soon

This first look is of a CBU imported unit (not locally assembled). Suneel mentions Hyundai Nishat’s expected timeline:

Deliveries potentially around August

But he also hints that booking and pricing could be announced very soon, possibly within the month.

Naturally, the biggest question is price. And in Pakistan, price is not just a number, it is the entire storyline. If Hyundai positions it too high, it becomes a niche flex. If priced smartly, it could seriously disrupt the “big SUV” conversation.

You can watch the complete review here:

Final Verdict from the First Look

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is not trying to be a ladder-frame off-road truck. Its strength is:

stable monocoque ride with less body roll

high-end materials across all rows

hybrid efficiency that could matter a lot in Pakistan

And most importantly: it feels like a true 7-seater, not a “5 plus 2 seats if you hate the last two people” situation.

If Hyundai nails the price, this could become a very strong alternative for buyers who want size and presence, but also want their family to travel in actual comfort.

Stay connected with us for its price reveal and launch updates — follow PakWheels on Google News.