Bucket Seat: Hyundai Palisade

When Hyundai first launched the Palisade back in 2018, everyone's immediate thought was "that is one big car" and they were not wrong. At the time, the Korean motor manufacturers largest SUV offering was the Santa Fe which also had a 7-seater offering but Hyundai decided to up the anti with this model, which was targeting the likes of the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner but offering a more premium level of comfort and style. From the launch model, I always said that the Palisade looked like a Cadillac Escalade and this updated version of the model cements my opinion as the styling, which I will touch on in a bit is very American. While the size of the car might intimidate some, you come to realise quite quickly that it's about the same size as their H1 vans, so the intimidation factor goes down.  I had the opportunity to spend a week with the new Hyundai Palisade in June, hoping to make the most of it over the long weekend and with all the family down, here is how it went. 

DESIGN

Hyundai's modern design language is doing all the things with their latest designs and with the Palisade adopting this, takes it from looking like an awkward giant to something beautiful. This is all thanks to the new front end which has that eye catching black chrome flat, mutli-panel grille and a revised head lights that look fitting to be part of Optimus Primes face. The bold styling is definitely doing it's job on this one with it being bold. The car gets noticed miles away and clears traffic on the fast lane almost as quick as those guys with the blue lights, and with the calming interior, it won't invoke any road rage to make you want to get out the car to cause physical harm to any other motorist. Maybe some of these VIP protection units should invest in these, also they look the part! The styling is still reminiscent of the American SUV and while this particular model came in Shimmering Silver, I played around with the configurator on the website and Abyss Black Pearl is the one to go for if you want to let your inner Rap star out. The headlamp design is rather interesting with C clamp shaped day-time running LED's and adjacent to it is the headlamp hub with a clear cover which exposes the three LED bulbs. Now, if you like me was wondering what the lights that extend out of the grille are, that my friends are the indicator lights, which form part of something cool which I will touch on later in the review. The rest of the design is very similar to the original Palisade with the side profile receiving minor upgrades and the tail getting revised LED lights and bolder styling. A new 20-inch black rim design adorns the large wheels on the Palisade which accentuates that macho look. The interior remains the same as the previous model and funny enough, the same as the Santa Fe but everything is designed pretty well and easy on the eye. 

PERFORMANCE

With a big car like this, many would be wary when they don't see a big V engine not present but Hyundai's 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine is more than capable of powering this monster on the roads. The high torque factor which comes in at 440nm propels the all-wheel drive Palisade quite quickly off the line for a car this size even with a full load, picking up speed quite easily on the highways as well. The engine produces 142kW of power so its a good balance of power and torque to compensate for the load you have. Hyundai claim a fuel average of 10.5L per 100km and with a fuel tank size of 71L, that is very achievable over long distance travels. As I said earlier, the sheer size of the Palisade might be enough to deter some from driving it but once you hop in behind the wheel, you get used to it quite quickly, plus with all the driving aids the car has, you probably in more control of this than something smaller. Look, its not the most nimble car to handle on the roads but in saying that, the ride comfort is exceptional and handling is a breeze. There is hardly much body roll on urban driving and the same could be said on freeway driving with it as well. the Palisade comes with multi-terrain driving modes which are accessible via the jog-shuttle dial on the center console, the 8-speed automatic gearbox still is the push button style which I've become quite accustomed too. Overall, I was pretty impressed at how the Palisade handles itself on the roads and the engine output on it. 

COMFORT

I feel like I can't write enough about this topic about the Palisade because apart from having a kitchen and bathroom, this thing is practically a house on wheels. The seats are more like sofa's and the cabin space is second to none. When it comes to luxury and a good price, this nails the brief. There are two models available locally, both exactly the same cars but one with a 7-seat configuration and the other with 8 seats. The main change to these two models is in one, the second row gets a bench seat to accommodate 3 adults, and the other having two single seat captains chairs as the second row. The 3rd row remains a collapsible bench three seater which has a 60/40 split. All seats are finished in leather trim with neat stitching and extra padding around the shoulder area. The front passenger and driver enjoy electrically adjustable seating with memory settings for the driver. Heating and cooling functionality is also available for them as well as the second row captain chairs. The Palisade has a three-zone climate control with driver and front passenger getting dual zone with the second row having the controls to set the climate for the rest of the cabin. The Palisade comes with a dual sunroof with the rear being fixed panoramic but still has electronic curtain should the sun be too hot. The car has mobile app connectivity for both Android and Apple devices, there is a wireless charging mat up front with loads of USB C ports scattered around the car. The smart design with the raised center console makes room for extra storage space for the driver and front passenger. The center compartment also has a cooling function should you want to store some liquids there for long road trips. 

FEATURES

The Palisade is a big car, so making sure you keeping the car in the lane is simple enough thanks to the lane keep assist as well as lane departure warning. The car also notifies you if someone is getting too close to you while traveling on the road. Another handy feature is the surround view camera which can be accessed at low speeds and automatically turns on when reversing. What makes this even cooler, is the guide lights that illuminate your path in dark areas that is clearly visible on the camera when reversing, doing away with the computer generate guide lines on the screen like many other cars. Also when indicating, depending on the direction, the camera under the side mirror activates and displays the side view onto the digital cluster making sure you have clear visibility of where you are turning. Parking the Palisade is made easy peezy with all these driving aids and park distance control. The safety features list is endless on the Palisade and makes this one of the safest cars I've driven in a long time, so rest assured it would be very difficult to bump this big boy into something. 

VERDICT

Overall, from what I intended on using the Palisade for, transporting 7-people in style and comfort along with luggage, it lived up to and exceeding expectations. Even driving it around on my own was fun, the Infinity sound system was enjoyment to my ears, the natural light that was being let through the dual sunroof warmed the cabin up nicely during winters cold mornings and even with the large luggage compartment being extended when the third row seats were folded down made for a nice rest area after my weekend run. It really is a great vehicle for a large family that enjoys hitting the road. While the price is steep, it competes well against the likes of the Everest and the Fortuner and in some cases offers more. It's still a bargain if you have to put it up against some of the larger German SUV offerings so it all depends on the individual that is buying it and what purpose they using it for. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.2L Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8-speed automatic
Torque	440Nm
Power	142W
Average Fuel Consumption	10.5L per 100km
Price	R1,121,900

 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D Executive

Hyundai's Santa Fe has been around for years and has always been the brands flagship SUV in the stable, that was until recently when the ginormous Palisade was launched locally but I'm not here to talk about that one, but rather the Santa Fe. Did you know Santa Fe means "Holy Faith" in Spanish? I just Googled that now because it is an odd name to give to a car, not sure of the Korean's are deep into religion or just like the town in New Mexico? Either way the latest rendition of this model see's a drastic change in design of the front which forms part of Hyundai's new design language and boy does it look good! Even though this model has been dethroned as their biggest model, the Santa Fe still does hold presence as I will elaborate on in the design aspect of this review but after spending some time in this car, its has its fair share of niggles but what you will appreciate is the honesty about itself and if you think it photographs well, you should see it in the metal!

DESIGN

As mentioned just a few lines up, the new Santa Fe has presence, and that is thanks to the bold new styling of the front of the vehicle with that massive new grille, its finished off in a brushed aluminum like look and really is the cars most stand-out feature when looking at it dead on. From a glance it oks like a fishnet texture but upon closer inspection, it gives a metal chains look. The front headlamps are integrated with the lines of the grille that extend outwards to the sides but at split, both horizontally and vertically by the new LED daytime running lights when illuminated look like the letter T, not sure if this was a specific design aspect but it looks kinda cool. The whole design seems smooth and well though out, with just the right about of creases and folds, that make the appearance of the car rather  elegant. The wheel arches are well pronounced with an extra edging to accentuate the large rims, which are 18" alloys in a stylish 5-spoke laser cut pattern. Moving to the rear, that's where most of the old styling remains with a familiar rear lights which follow the crease of the car with a solid read piece linking the two lights. Additional reflective lights adorn the rear bumper with skidplates at the bottom to match the front. The interior of the Santa Fe has a very modern look to it, with a floating center console which is finished in leather and plastic. The patterns and styling of the cabin are very arty and easy on the eye. 

PERFORMANCE

I had with me the 2.2D Executive model, which is the bottom of the two models offered locally. Its a front wheel drive SUV with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces 148kW and 440Nm of torque. The motor is tied to an 8-speed DCT box which isn't a CVT but I did have some niggles with at first with gear selection but that was mainly due to my heavy foot but over time I figured how to get the best from it. When driven properly the Santa Fe can give you between 8-9L per 100km, I managed to get it down to 8.2L per 100km on a long distance trip which I mainly used the cars cruise control to regulate the speed. The drive of the car is pretty good, given the size and weight you'd think there might be times when it would struggle but the car seems to get better as it goes. There were a few grips I had with the steering when full lock is done, you get a plastic knocking noise which annoyed me but it was soon forgotten as you straighten out and be on your way. 

COMFORT

I don't think you can fault the level of comfort afforded to you in the Santa Fe, the seats are large and luxurious, with a diamond stitching upper which is also on the second row seating. It's expected to have this sort of luxury in a large SUV like this, the 3rd row seating is finished off in the same leather but are much thinner in-terms of cushioning. They're very easy to lift and fold back into space to allow for greater trunk capacity. They also feature cup holders as well as addition storage space for mobile phones or other items. Second row passengers get to enjoy two USB ports for charging, aircon vent which is controlled by the front, seat pockets for storage and electric windows and moving to the front, driver and passenger have dual climate-control aircon and a leather wrapped dash. The center console is laid out quite differently with the gear-selectors being push buttons, which are normally reserved for high-end sports cars but here are Hyundai adding them to their Santa Fe. It does get a bit tricky when you're not used to it but it's refreshing to see. The drive mode dial is large prominent with PDC and camera buttons clearly placed. The float console has additional storage below which features a USB port as well as 12V socket. The rubberised mat makes sure that items place there don't go sliding around. The cars infotainment screen is large and features pre-loaded mobile apps for ease of connectivity with a multi-function steering wheel to control all aspects of the cars communication and vehicle information. 

VERDICT

Overall the Santa Fe solidified its value in the Hyundai stable to me, its a luxury large SUV with comfort features and finishes that would normally cost you a lot of money in European rivals. The cars drive is a smooth one and leaves you refreshed rather than tired. The design of it is bold and eye-catching, it exudes presence on the roads and it gets the attention it deserves. While we know there is a bigger model available now from Hyundai, I still think this would be the ideal sized SUV for a large family, with the option of having the two extra seats in the rear, mind you much of the luggage space does get compromised with the seats being utilized. I really enjoyed my time with the Santa Fe but I'm still intrigued to see how the larger Palisade goes but I guess I have to wait for that one. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.2L Diesel
Gear Box	8-Automatic DCT
Torque	440Nm
Power	148kW
0-100km/h	7.9 seconds
Price	R769,500

 

Bucket Seat: BMW X7 30d xDrive

When BMW said it was making a 7 seater luxury SUV, many thought the idea of having one wouldn't fit well with the brand as it was and always has been a sports based one but over the years there has been a massive trend shift with many preferring the SUV over the sedan. Apart from practicality and space, there is just a certain appeal that SUV's have of which normal cars cannot offer so in saying this, BMW forecasted well with the X7 as there is a massive void in the market for this type of car. Currently in the luxury 7 seater segment, there is only one other rival and that is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but with that current model being aged this puts the X7 in prime position to be the markets best offering. I got the opportunity to spend a week in the 30d xDrive Individual derivative of the X7 and while my expectations of the vehicle were high, it still managed to blow me away. 

DESIGN

Molding a car of this size and nature to look appealing isn't an easy feat, I know as I dabbled a bit in car design back in the day. There's always going to be be angles and areas that look awkward or off but I can't really say that's the case with the X7, yes the primary shape of the vehicle is very boxy but BMW worked well in making that a key design aspect of the X7, accentuating the bold character of the car by increasing dimensions of design elements to make everything fit and work. The grille for example, when first images broke, it was a major controversial talking point about it's size. It's the biggest kidney grille on any BMW ever made and seeing that the X7 is the biggest production model from the company, it would only make sense that the grille would be big to suit? The grille is active like all new models, so it opens and closes when there's a need to allow natural air into the radiator. With the Individual package, there were a lot of elements which had silver and chrome finishes, adding to the luxury allure of the car. The multi-spoke 22" rims gave the X7 presence. The lights are very similar to that of the 7 Series sedan but adjusted to suit the cars size, fused into that massive grille and add's dimension with the LED halo's and laser inserts in the middle. The back end lines up perfectly and I like the use of the solid chrome bar which is also present on the 7 Series Sedan, a sort of aspect to make it known that they are both in the same league. 

PERFORMANCE

Being the smallest engine in the line up, BMW's 3 liter TwinPower Turbo Diesel engine shouldn't be looked down upon as it was more than adequate to propel this monstrous beast along its way. Technical data, the motor produces 195kW with a Max Torque level of 620Nm, the claimed fuel consumption is 7L per 100km but I managed to get 8.3L per 100km during my time with it, which is still rather impressive for a car of this size. The weight being well over 2 tonnes doesn't pose an issue to the motor as it is more than adequate to handle the burden, and if the need did arise to need extra oomph, just flick into sport and make that 620Nm of torque do it's job. On a long distance trip, it proved to be quite delightful, as the car builds up speed over a long period the revs drop ever so slightly, giving you great performance and great economy. While the X7 does have some off road capabilities, I only had a chance to do some light gravel road driving with it and it gobbled that up as if it was nothing. 

COMFORT

While the X7 can be fitted in a 7 seater configuration I feel many are going to opt for the one I had, which is a 6 seater configuration where the second row compromises of 2 single seats with arm rests, thus giving the passenger a proper limousine feel to the car. The Individual package spec'd had quite a few options that elevated the luxury comfort levels in the car. The front driver and passenger seats both come with dual climate control, as well as heated and cooling seats, the cup holders can also be heated or cooled, depending what drink you have in them. The second row has the dual climate control aircon as well, they also have controls to operate the blinds, roof curtain and sun roof. The 3rd row of seats also have their own climate control for the temperature right at the back of the car and they too have their own glass roof but just a curtain which controls the sunlight. The ride is exceptional, whether it be on tar road or gravel, the suspension copes well on any surface it finds it self on.

TECHNOLOGY

BMW is always one for gadgets and like the new 3 Series we had on test previously, the X7 comes with all of that and more. Heads up display is bigger than normal on the X7 but pretty much the same info, the display screen is also the largest that can be found in any of the BMW models. It is touch screen and has gesture controls for the driver. The X7 also comes with semi-autonomous cruise control as well as reverse park assist, this feature being very handy as it isn't always easy judging spaces with a big car like this. The entertainment package in this car came with dual screens for the second row passengers who have their own entertainment console which has a DVD player for their personal watching preference, or they could hook their mobile device up and stream onto the screen. They could do this individually or share it amongst all the screens in the car. Bare in mind the drivers screen will switch off when in motion as to not distract the driver. The 3rd row seats are electronically controlled either from the back or the boot where by just pressing a button has them folding up or down. Pick of the tech for me has to be the laser lights, as with every new model that rolls out from BMW, the lights just keep getting better and better. The adaptive technology that it's fitted with continues to impress me. 

VERDICT

There's no beating around the bush with the X7, it's an expensive car built for people with expensive taste who need something bigger than the norm. It's a 7 Series on steroids but at the same time offers the practicality that only an SUV can give. With many wanted to see the car while I had it, it was clear that they were all equally impressed at what they saw. Pricing may be a daunting factor but in-terms of value for money, there's no denying this ticks all the boxes from what you would need to have a luxury SUV. It's presence on the road is formidable, cars move out of the way when they see you coming. Strap on a blue light to it and I could have gotten away with a lot of things. Despite it's size, the tech and driver assistants make it a breeze to park and navigate on the narrowest of roads. It really is something special that they've created here and to the right market will prove to be quite a hit. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3.0L Diesel Twin Power Turbo
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic Steptronic
Torque	620Nm
Power	195kW
Consumption	7L/100km
Price	R 1,554,500