Hyundai is set to expand its range of SUVs with a new off-road focussed XRT sub-brand.

While still to be confirmed by the local arm of the Korean auto giant, it’s likely the brand’s entire range of SUVs will be boosted by XRT and XRT Pro variants.

Hyundai Australia tested the waters two years ago with the Sante Fe XRT which brought – largely – cosmetic upgrades to the top-spec Calligraphy model lending it a rugged countenance. Chunky wheels with chunkier tyres and a lifted suspension were among the off-road enhancements but the Santa Fe’s mechanicals remained unchanged.

Dark blue SUV kicks up a plume of sand as it drives across a desert under a clear blue sky.
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“We launched that pack two years ago,” Hyundai Australia’s General manager of Product Planning, Jonathan Lam told Whichcar by Wheels. “That was an accessories pack and that was our first foray into launching the XRT brand into Australia.”

Now, the new Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro, launched in Australia last week, brings not only a suite of rugged-looking cosmetic upgrades, but also off-road enhanced software and hardware including beefier (and locally-tuned) suspension, 25mm raised ride height, a limited slip-diff, several all-terrain drive modes and an uprated towing capacity, up by 200kg, to 2200kg braked.

“The idea behind XRT is that it would be more design focussed than actual performance enhancements, kind of like N-Line has been in relation to N,” said Lam. “But all XRT Pros will come with a prerequisite level of off-road capability.”

Rear view of a dark Hyundai Palisade SUV on a rocky dirt trail surrounded by trees, taillights illuminated.
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Hyundai Australia isn’t saying which of its models will be bolstered by XRT variants. However, the North American market does offer a hint of what to expect with several XRT variants found across the brand’s Hyundai’s line-up, including the Tucson mid-size SUV, Santa Fe large SUV, Palisade upper large SUV and Santa Cruz pick-up truck as well as Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 electric SUVs.

“I can’t comment on how we’re going to launch, or what other factory-built [XRT] products may be available in the future for us,” said Lam. “We’re still working on that.”