View Photos of the Three-Row 2020 Hyundai Palisade SUV

The tuning for the Korea-market Palisade's suspension—struts in front, multilink out back—nicely manages body motions, and we're told it will be unchanged for the U.S. market. Ride motions are well damped, and overall ride quality is slightly taut but never uncomfortable.

With a curb weight well in excess of 4000 pounds, the V-6–powered Palisade should scoot to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds.

The V-6 will utilize a Hyundai-built eight-speed automatic transmission similar to the one found in the diesel, which shifts mostly unobtrusively and is well tuned to help the four-pot deliver quick initial responses to pedal inputs.

The Palisade steps things up: Its 114.2-inch wheelbase stretches 4.0 inches longer than the XL's; its length, at 196.1 inches, is 3.0 inches greater; and the Palisade is also 3.6 inches wider and 2.0 inches taller.

That growth translates into a competitively sized package and a far more capacious cabin, with loads of leg, head, and shoulder room for first- and second-row occupants, as well as a third row suitable for six-footers.

It's inside where the Palisade is strongest, thanks to a pleasant mix of high-quality materials, numerous soft-touch surfaces, and thoughtful ergonomics.

The Ultimate model also features a 12.3-inch TFT digital gauge cluster (similar to that on the new-for-2019 Kia K900 sedan) in place of what you get on lesser trims, which is a smaller screen flanked by an analog speedometer and tachometer. Both readouts automatically display a blind-spot-camera image when either turn signal is activated.

An attractively integrated 8.0-inch central touchscreen is standard and can be upgraded to a 10.3-inch unit with navigation.

Among the generous list of standard features are seven USB ports, 16 cupholders, and a towing package rated at up to 5000 pounds.

Spacious second-row seats that can recline and slide fore and aft ensure high levels of comfort for middle passengers, and a one-touch fold-and-slide mechanism makes for easy access to the third row.

Once situated, rearmost occupants sit low but not on the floor, and even the lanky should find ample legroom and footroom. Seating adults three abreast likely will be too much of a squeeze, but this is one of the kinder environments for a three-row SUV's least fortunate passengers.

You'll either love or hate the Hyundai's upside-down headlight arrangement, giant LED running lights, and metallic-painted bluff grille, but it is distinctive and somewhat softens visually when seen on the road.

Projector-beam headlamps are standard, with full-LED lighting on the options list.

There's a classy Range Rover–ness to the Palisade's aesthetic in profile and from the rear that manages to work with the massive, chrome-accented C-pillar.

A comprehensive list of standard safety gear includes adaptive cruise control, lane-following assist, a driver-attention monitor, adaptive high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assistants.

Cargo space behind the rearmost seats also increases to a respectable 18 cubic feet, up from the XL's 14.

The Hyundai's pricing—likely starting in the low $30,000s and topping out around $50K—and its fuel-economy estimates are still unknown, as is the performance of the V-6 engine. But our initial look at the Palisade shows it to be a bold and promising step forward for the Korean automaker, one that is finally up to the task of confronting three-row stalwarts on equal footing.