8-seater SUVs in South Africa – These are your only choices

So you’re in the market for a large family hauler, seven seats are one too few, and an MPV just doesn’t have the street cred you want, well, in that case, you have two options.

These are the Hyundai Palisade and the Land Rover Defender 130.

Defender

The Defender 130 is available in seven configurations priced from R1,970,800 to R3,074,400, though the two “Outbound” models are capped at five seats while the rest offer space for eight.

The British SUV is one of the most daunting on the road with dimensions of 5,358mm in length, 2,008mm in width, and 1,970mm in height, complemented by a formidable ground clearance of 290mm.

Cargo capacity in the boot is pegged at 389 litres if all the seats are occupied, 1,232 litres with the front and middle rows in use, and 2,291 litres if only two passengers are on board.

Customers of the Defender have three engine options to choose from, comprising a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol or diesel block, or a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol.

The 3.0-litre petrol generates 294kW and 550Nm, enough to send the 2.5-tonne Land Rover from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds while averaging a fuel spend of 10.5l/100km.

The diesel produces 257kW and 700Nm which impacts the acceleration time by 0.2 seconds, but sees a far better propellant usage of 8.7l/100km.

The V8 turns the dial to eleven with a maximum output of 368kW and 610Nm, enabling it to trot to triple-digit speeds in a hot hatch-rivalling 5.7 seconds. However, it’s unsurprisingly the thirstiest of the lot by a wide margin, sipping petrol at a rate of 12.8l/100km.

You can be assured that with the coveted eight seats, you’ll also be getting one of the most capable off-roaders out there regardless of the chosen drive unit.

Each model relays power to a permanent all-wheel-drive system with an electronic differential lock using an eight-speed automatic transmission with low range.

A selection of drive and terrain modes are at the pilot’s fingertips to tailor the powertrain to the situation at hand, and hill-launch assist and hill-descent control further bolster its arsenal.

A 3,000kg towing capacity is also on the cards for the entire line-up.

Standard kit on the base Defender 130 X-Dynamic HSE comprises Matrix LED lights, automatic wipers, black roof rails, a sliding panoramic roof, keyless entry and start, heated and cooled front seats with 14-way electric adjustability, Windsor leather upholstery, two-zone climate control, a digital driver’s display, an 11.4-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Meridian stereo, and a wireless smartphone charger.

This is complemented by adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, lane-keep assist, a 3D surround camera, a rear traffic monitor, rear-collision monitoring, emergency brake assist, trailer stability assist, and driver condition monitoring.

The pricier X and V8 variants mostly provide distinctive styling cues with minimal additional luxuries given that the entry-level model already has most of its bases thoroughly covered.

Each purchase of a Defender 130 is completed with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan.

Palisade

Hyundai’s eight-seater Palisade can be yours for a much more palatable R1,204,500, which is the exact same price as the seven-seater model.

It measures 4,980mm long, 1,975mm wide, and 1,750mm tall; and boasts a ride height of 203mm.

In the rear, the boot provides 509 litres of storage space with all three rows of seating erect, expanding to 1,297 litres with only five seats up, and 2,447 litres in two-seater mode.

The Hyundai is driven by a turbocharged 2.2-litre diesel mill with a total potential of 142kW and 440Nm, matched with an eight-speed auto-box transmitting power to all four wheels.

The driveline reports an average fuel usage of 8.2l/100km and allows the hefty SUV to accelerate to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.

If the interior cargo room isn’t enough, it also supports a maximum towing capacity of 2,200kg for entire families’ wares.

The luxurious Palisade brings a vast selection of amenities ensuring all eight passengers travel in comfort.

Buyers can expect artificial leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, a heated steering wheel, a large digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Infinity sound system, wireless charging, climate control with rear vents, a dual sunroof, and a powered tailgate.

Furthermore, it brings automatic LED lights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, forward-collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and rear-seat safe exit assist that scans the road behind the SUV to warn the rear passengers when it’s unsafe to open a door.

The Palisade is covered by a 5-year/150,000km manufacturer warranty with an additional 2-year/50,000km powertrain warranty, a 7-year/105,000km service plan, and 7-year/150,000km roadside assistance.