The Hyundai Palisade has only just gone on sale here and the Sonata isn’t even here yet, but both are getting facelifts in 2022.
A leaked product road map from Hyundai published on The Korean Car Blog has confirmed the two models are set for mid-cycle refreshes next year.
Pictured: current Palisade
The Palisade entered production in 2018 but only arrived Down Under late in 2020, while the eighth-generation Sonata entered production in 2019 and is due here mid-year.
It isn’t yet clear whether the Palisade’s update will be a standard nip-and-tuck, or if it’ll move to a new platform like the smaller Santa Fe did late last year.
Hyundai took the unusual step of moving the Santa Fe to the newer, fourth-generation Kia Sorento platform mid-way through its lifecycle, while keeping exterior styling largely the same.
Pictured: 2021 Santa Fe 
Pictured: 2020 Santa Fe 
Other changes included retuned engines and a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for diesel Santa Fe models.
The Palisade has given Hyundai a slightly larger option in the large crossover market and, like the Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger, the Palisade was designed with the North American market in mind.
It’s manufactured in South Korea, in contrast with the related Kia Telluride which remains off the table for Australia as its US factory doesn’t produce it in right-hand drive.
Its South Korean production and availability elsewhere in Asia means it offers an optional turbo-diesel engine in Australia, rare for a large, American-style crossover.
While a much wider range of powertrains and variants is available in markets like the US and South Korea, the eighth-generation Sonata is coming here only in top-spec N Line trim.
A wider range was initially mooted for Australia, but Hyundai opted to bring only the N Line as the mid-sized car segment continues to contract.
The Ford Mondeo, Kia Optima and Subaru Liberty were axed last year, leaving few rivals for the Sonata.
It’ll battle the Honda Accord, Peugeot 508 and Volkswagen Passat, as well as higher-spec versions of the Mazda 6 and Toyota Camry.
While it’ll be the flagship Hyundai sedan in Australia, it’ll continue to sit below the larger Grandeur in its home market of South Korea.
A new generation of Grandeur is also due in 2022 but don’t expect it to come here. The Palisade serves the flagship role for the brand in Australia, with the Grandeur last seen here in 2011.
Stay tuned for our launch review of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line.
MORE: Hyundai Palisade news and reviews
MORE: Hyundai Sonata news and reviews
