Hyundai's Toyota Fortuner Challenger: All You Need To Know
The Toyota Fortuner continues to be in great acceptance in India. The D-SUV segment itself has lately seen a noticeable rise in footfalls. Hyundai is now known to be readying a Fortuner challenger. As confirmed by Autocar India in June last year, the Hyundai Palisade, already a familiar name in many global markets, will be brought to India by 2028, to dethrone the Toyota. Here is everything to know about it.
Hyundai unveiled the current generation Palisade in late 2024. Like before, it is a large SUV with an imposing road presence. It gets vertically slatted LED headlamps and tail-lamps, a wide front grille, and prominent body cladding. The overall styling feels premium. The bodywork has clean lines, smooth surfaces and the SUV has a more upright stance.
You may find portions of this design to be Range Rover-esque. The (global) Palisade rides on 21-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels. The body cladding, D pillars and roof rails feature a Silver finish.
Even budget-friendly Hyundai models are quite generous with technology and equipment. The Palisade being the carmaker’s flagship, offers a long line of features and has a cabin that looks modern and feels premium.
It will be a three-row SUV, capable of accommodating up to 8 occupants. Customers, however, have the option to choose it as a more luxurious product with reclinable second-row captain seats. This configuration is likely to be brought to India as well.
The equipment list will include a dual-screen setup (two 12.3-inch displays functioning as the central touchscreen and instrument cluster), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 14-speaker Bose audio, a three-spoke steering wheel, physical controls for all necessary vehicle functions, a large front armrest, wireless charging bay, digital key, a fingerprint sensor to start the engine and enable valet mode, rear parking camera cleaning system, panoramic sunroof, powered seats with heating and cooling, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality (Palisade will be a hybrid!), a built-in dashcam, ADAS and more.
The India-spec Palisade is expected to come with Hyundai’s next-generation hybrid system. The global spec is also available with a 3.5-litre petrol V6, which is unlikely to be brought to India. The hybrid setup will pair a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with electric motors, delivering a combined output of 334 hp and 460 Nm. Hyundai claims a fuel efficiency of 14.1 kpl for this setup. The total driving range is said to be 1015 km.
The powertrain, according to the manufacturer, will deliver significantly better performance(19% extra power and 9% improvement in torque) and fuel efficiency (up to 45%) compared to non-hybrid petrol engines. It will come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and will likely have both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options available. The vehicle will also offer selectable drive and terrain modes.
The Palisade’s hybrid system will also enhance its ride quality and road manners. Its ‘e-Comfort Drive’ system will help reduce body movement over bumps and improve overall ride quality. The SUV will also come with features like torque vectoring and dynamic torque distribution to further enhance stability, and reduce understeer, improving cornering performance in the larger picture.
The palisade is clearly aiming for the Fortuner. The Toyota is available with a 2.7 naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 2.8L turbocharged diesel engine. The diesel makes 201hp and 504Nm and is very popular among buyers. Given Toyota’s reputation for reliability and the Fortuner’s aspirational value, beating it will not be easy.
Hyundai seems to be banking on the Palisade’s premium styling, long list of features, complex electronics and most importantly the new hybrid powertrain to achieve this goal. If it manages to find success remains to be seen.
What we also know is that the Palisade is part of a larger product onslaught. Hyundai plans to launch 26 products by the financial year 2030, backed by a Rs 45,000 crore investment. These products span segments and price ranges and the Palisade is also part of it.
When launched, it will become the carmaker’s flagship here, and may have its ex-showroom price in the ballpark of Rs 50 lakh. Hyundai reportedly has plans to localise the SUV for the Indian market, doing which will help it price it properly.