Since it went on sale for the 2020 model year, the Hyundai Palisade has been a huge success. In the US, Hyundai shipped 81,905 units, up from 28,736 in 2019. To keep sales rolling in, Hyundai's three-row luxury SUV is getting a design refresh as part of a mid-cycle update.
A leaked presentation slide confirmed the Palisade facelift will arrive next year. Ahead of production, Hyundai has started testing a pre-production prototype of the facelifted Palisade, shown in photos shared on Instagram. The prototype is heavily camouflaged, but the grille appears to be inspired by the new Tucson's bold three-dimensional grille with Hyundai's Parametric Hidden Lights technology.
The headlights also look slimmer, and we expect the front bumper will get some minor styling revisions. At the back, the vertical taillights appear to be narrower, but we'll have to wait for the prototypes to start shedding camouflage to get a clearer look at the design changes.
More changes are expected inside the cabin. Rumors suggest the Palisade facelift will be updated with a larger infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster. The range-topping trims already come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, but the refreshed version will reportedly borrow the Ioniq 5's larger 12-inch touchscreen.
There are also rumors the updated Palisade will share the same rotating "Crystal Sphere" gear shifter found in the Genesis GV60. Under the hood, engine options should carry over. In the US, the Hyundai Palisade is offered with a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 generating 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, sent to either front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid version could also join the Palisade range as Hyundai offers electrified versions of the new Tucson and Santa Fe.
We expect the US version will arrive later in 2022 and go on sale for the 2023 model year. In South Korea, the Hyundai Palisade facelift will reportedly debut in March next year.