• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, 4 hours ago

Hyundai Motor America executives are quick to point out that on the surface, the hybrid version of the Palisade isn’t much different from the gas-powered variant.

Maybe that’s why the company didn’t feel a need to make separate commercials for both powertrains. 

The Parker Posey effort (which launched in September) and Lil John spot (which followed in October) only talk about and show off  the hybrid, even though it didn’t start arriving at dealerships until fairly recently. 

Other than the hybrid badge on the vehicle’s rear, there’s not a lot that sets the vehicle apart from its gas sibling except under the hood. There you will find the next-generation hybrid system, which features a new transmission with two integrated motors that can be paired flexibly with a range of internal combustion engines, allowing for optimized performance and fuel efficiency across a range of vehicle classes. 

What the commercials don’t mention directly (other than Parker Posey’s comedic gesture of NOT holding her breath until the next gas station) is that it's the first three-row SUV in the market that has over 300 horsepower, over 30 miles per gallon on the highway, and over 600 miles total driving range.

That’s a pretty big deal.

The spots also don’t mention that the hybrid engine costs $2,200 more or that the average driver will likely recoup that in a  year or two due to fuel savings.  

That’s also a pretty big deal. 

It's always been hard to cover the nuances of vehicles in a 30-second or even a 60-second spot. Most prospective buyers will discover those two facts in the course of researching the vehicle.

And when they come into the dealership to take a test drive, if they drive both vehicles, they will for sure enjoy the extra horsepower and torque on the hybrid, as I did during a recent test drive. 

I also enjoyed checking out what Hyundai calls the Hybrid Stay Mode. It provides an EV-like experience that allows occupants to operate the HVAC system, the infotainment and charging parts, while the gasoline engine is off, using the main drive battery to power all these systems.

That’s cool — and it’ll actually keep YOU cool in warm weather without wasting gas.

Hyundai plans to launch 18-plus hybrid models by 2030, including hybrids in its Genesis luxury line starting in 2026.

I predict once drivers check out the advantages, they will be more than willing to pay extra for technology that quickly pays for itself in more ways than one.