CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto Reviewer
AutoCasey@AOL.com
Looking at the redesigned 2026 Palisade Calligraphy, with its sleek Range Rover flanks and lush interior, you’d be forgiven for thinking it sings more from the book of Genesis than the brochure of Hyundai. It looks substantial, and a week of driving and riding in it betrays nothing.
…..
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
Seven-passenger, AWD Crossover
Powertrain: 3.5-liter V6, 8-spd
Output: 287hp/260 lb.-ft. torque
Suspension f/r: Adaptive Ind/Ind
Wheels f/r: 21 inch/21 inch alloy
Brakes f/r: disc/disc
Towing: 5,000 lbs.
Fuel economy: 18/24 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Ulsan, Korea
Base/As-tested price: $39,435/57,800
Likes
- Ritzy styling
- Gorgeous cabin
- Smooth performance
Dislikes - Needs massagers
- Tight third-row
- No hands-off
If you want a legit luxury wagon at working class prices, read on.
There’s definitely a hint of Range Rover, but the Palisade isn’t a direct copy. Instead it presents ritzy glitz in its satin silver D-pillar and fences of flush horizontal light bars front and rear. An imposing grille parts air and symbolically swats pedestrians aside. The side view is dominated by 21-inch wheels and deftly sculpted fenders.
Its 0.31 coefficient of drag (Cd) is not only the lowest in its segment, but it is also comparable to a Corvette. It’s sleek!
That pays off in a very quiet cabin within a body 2.5-inches longer on a 2.7-inches longer wheelbase than last year. All of that space improves passenger ingress and egress plus providing a wide canvas on which to luxuriate.
The cabin embraces British Moderne style a la Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Its dash is an art gallery with a plank of woodgrain ensconced in stitched surrounds bathed in clouds of ambient lighting. The wood’s not real, and neither is the stitched hide, but your senses don’t care.
Seats are heated and ventilated in all three rows. The two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel toasts winter fingers. Caress the sueded headliner that lofts a dual-panel sunroof.
A two-level console puts purses and smaller items below a woodgrained and wrapped pod above for cupholders, wireless phone charger and enclosed twin-door storage. Devices connect easily to the 14-speaker Bose audio system via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
First- and second-row “relaxation seating” includes raisable lounger-style extensions for additional upper leg support and reduced fatigue on long trips. Seats would be even better with massagers.
Want to get in the third row? Press a button on the middle chairs and they magically move away. Legroom is more for kids, but livable on the way to dinner or a tennis match. Both rear rows power deploy, creating a cavern of space.
Virtually everything was considered in the Palisade’s generous cabin. Travel far, my friends.
By digits alone, the powertrain isn’t special, but digits don’t sit in the driver’s seat. Gone is the previous 3.8-liter V6, replaced with a new 3.5-liter V6 delivering 287 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. For a large three-row crossover with all-wheel-drive, that’s not a plethora of power, but it’s still enough to scoot 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds.
The 8-speed transmission keeps power accessible, clicking down gently on the highway.
Fuel economy rates 18/24-MPG city/highway, but not while towing up to 5,000 lbs. of camper or speedboat.
If you need more power (329 hp) and better fuel economy (34 MPG), check out the hybrid version.
It’s smooth and quiet, riding on electronically controlled suspension dampers that tame rough city streets and enhance highway control. My family spent over five hours on the interstate visiting relatives over the Thanksgiving weekend, and it was a delight.
I appreciate the full suite of safety gear that includes a proper head-up display, digital rearview mirror, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking and rear cross path detection with auto brake. Lane centering steering is nice, but the Palisade deserves hands-off highway cruising.
Everything about the redesigned Palisade Calligraphy communicates Genesis luxury at Hyundai prices. Base models start at just $39,435 and come to $57,800 dressed to impress. Competitors include the GMC Acadia Denali, Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum, Ford
Explorer Platinum and all-new Kia Telluride.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.