Big fella’s diesel push is over and choice has reduced to a plush flagship.

ARRIVAL of the new Palisade has confirmed diesel is now entirely gone from Hyundai’s sports utility family and that petrol-electric is the new way.

As expected, the new generation of South Korea’s biggest off-road capable bus has followed in the tracks of the latest Santa Fe in expunging the 2.2-litre turbodiesel for a hybrid petrol.

Though technically similar to the engine we now know in the Santa Fe, the one for Palisade is larger capacity and much brawnier - a 2.5, with twin electric motors to assist, rather than the Santa Fe’s 1.6-litre with a single electric involving.

The Palisade powertrain offers 245kW/460Nm, a big lift on Santa Fe’s 172kW/376Nm, marries to a six-speed auto and is claimed to achieve 7.6 litres per 100km economy, whereas the diesel Palisade topped at 8.4.

As with Santa Fe, the towing rate has diminished. Previous Palisade in their 147kW/440Nm diesel formats could haul 2200kg. The new model is pulled back to 1800kg.

Hyundai NZ’s Palisade announcement has been long-awaited; the new model has provisioned across the Tasman for almost a year.

Today’s announcement was a prepared statement, which gave no indication of potential sales.

However, Hyundai NZ will realise this model will raise the same challenge for customer conversion as Santa Fe, which has struggled to regain the strong acceptance its predecessors enjoyed.

Because? The now defunct diesel was the solid favourite in the New Zealand market in both SUVs.

It accounted for more than 80 percent of the previous models’ volume. The driving and performance dynamics from petrol- electric are very different to those from compression ignition. And achieving optimal economies can be more challenging from the new way.

Local fan preference has cut no sway with headquarters in South Korea. Seoul is on a emissions-lowering mission and diesel doesn’t work for that.

In North America Palisade also continues with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine developing an anticipated 214kW/353Nm, also eight-speed, and in the choice of two- or all-wheel drive configurations, with a braked towing capacity of 2250kg.

However, that drivetrain has not come to this part of the world.

In today’s media share, the distributor focused on talking up the new cars technology - among features are a vehicle-to-load feature, like that provisioned to its electric cars, which can run small appliances. They also promote that the car here has received an Australasian damper tune.

Local general manager Leighton Agnew is also taking up the car’s comfort, refinement and handling, plus is assuring there is greater quietness from its operation and a more premium feel.

The latter statement reflects that, in retaining Palisade, Hyundai NZ has also finessed to the finest trim choice, behind the Calligraphy badge, and offers it in eight seat format as standard, with a seven chair provision optional. The price is $129,990.

Palisade’s stylists were going for a “substantial, premium silhouette”.

The new look delivers continuity with Santa Fe in respect to overall blockiness, but Palisade is even stronger in its lighting, going its own way with a set of distinctive vertical LED daytime running lights and a horizontal centre positioning illumination patter.

It takes a bold new-look grille with active aero shutters. Also obvious is a much shorter front overhang, as per the Santa Fe direction, while the D-pillar and larger side glass are reshaped to provide a more spacious third row and improved outward visibility. It also has a 68mm lengthened wheelbase to create more interior room; overall it’s 63mm longer than the current choice.

Large diameter alloy wheels continue to be a thing. As per the previous car, it abides up to 21 inch rims.

The redesigned cabin delivers dual 12.3-inch displays for infotainment and instrumentation, additional soft-touch materials, a reshaped centre console with wireless device charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and available 14-speaker Bose audio. Cup holders and 100-watt-capable USB-C ports are available to every occupant.

Hyundai is drawing attention to this generation having an expanded suite of active and passive safety technologies.

The suite includes a built-in dash cam, available digital rear-view mirror, advanced rear occupant alert, digital key access, and updated adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning, driver attention alert, high beam assist, lane keeping, rear cross-traffic avoidance, and remote smart parking technologies.