2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy review: Mainstream luxury

Hyundai constructed its standing on promoting fairly priced, mass-current market vehicles to price-acutely aware motorists all over the environment. But for 2021, it is really stepping up and giving a bona fide luxury SUV by way of the new Palisade Calligraphy. 

Presently a Roadshow beloved, the Palisade gets a couple of tweaks for 2021. Hyundai altered some of the trimlines and added things of the Driver Advice package deal to certain variants, factors like the ten.2-inch infotainment monitor, SiriusXM radio and Freeway Generate Help. In addition to these modifications, wireless smartphone connectivity with assist for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, High definition radio and multiple product link ability are now included on the entry-stage SE product and other trims not equipped with built-in navigation. LED headlamps are common, also, and a vary of other minor tweaks have been created.

But the most substantial improvement of 2021 is the addition of that new Calligraphy trim. This product sits at the pinnacle of the Palisade vary, and boy howdy does it truly feel like a top-shelf product or service. For starters, the Calligraphy rolls on one of a kind twenty-inch wheels that you may well or may well not enjoy (I’m combined on the flashy design, myself). The Calligraphy’s grille has a new texture that seriously pops, producing the entire entrance close appear a little bit much less enormous. The exterior door trim is refreshing and there is a one of a kind rear lights signature with an extremely-wide middle substantial-mounted quit lamp. If you’ve already taken a glow to the Palisade’s fairly alien styling, you happen to be absolutely sure to enjoy the Calligraphy’s visible enhancements.

Inside of, having said that, extra substantive modifications are found. Setting up with an already-good cabin, designers managed to drive the Palisade into luxury vehicle territory — to the issue where it is really knocking on sister-manufacturer Genesis‘ door. Stunning quilted leather-based ornaments the door panels and seats, the headliner and roof pillars are very carefully protected in microfiber suede that appears to be like as loaded as it feels and the steering wheel is now wrapped in perforated cow cover. Conceal the Hyundai emblem on its airbag address and most persons would likely think this motor vehicle is an Audi or a Lexus. This example’s thin, pinstriped trim on the dashboard and doorways appears to be like like some thing from the four-ring manufacturer, even if it is just plastic.

Owning lately seasoned the Palisade’s sister motor vehicle, the Kia Telluride, I’m familiar with its comfort and ease and flexibility. The entrance bucket chairs are supportive and the next-row seats are lots spacious for grownup passengers. And by the way, all four of these seats are heated and ventilated. Even the 3rd row in this Hyundai is livable, with decent quantities of space for knees and noggins, so adults shouldn’t quickly revolt if you stuff them back again there. Giving quick access to that rearmost bench, the next-row seats idea and slide at the drive of a button. Making it a snap to go from hauling people to freight, the 3rd row also energy folds, leaving a flat load surface area for cargo.

Supporting modern at any time-connected passengers, the Palisade Calligraphy comes with a whopping seven USB ports moreover a wireless charging pad. Just about every little thing except the kitchen area sink is common, also. Lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise regulate, ultrasonic parking sensors, rear cross-website traffic inform and extra are included, and it all performs very well.

As for features, the Calligraphy functions an at any time-handy head-up display screen moreover an quick-to-read twelve.3-inch electronic instrument cluster, which is mounted in the exact elongated housing as the ten.2-inch dashboard display screen. This Hyundai’s infotainment monitor is quick to use and remarkably responsive, reacting to fingertip inputs with out stutter or delay. Aside from all that, you also get a beautiful 360-degree digital camera procedure (Toyota, shell out focus to how Hyundai does this) that offers a super crystal clear and crisp bird’s eye view of the Palisade to make docking this SUV in a crowded mall parking lot significantly much less of a chore.

Guiding that glittery new grille is a powertrain we are very well acquainted with. But just mainly because the Palisade’s drivetrain is familiar doesn’t suggest it is really unwanted. Commitment is delivered by a 3.eight-liter V6 engine which is rated at a healthful if not earth-shattering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-ft of torque. A super-astute and at any time-refined eight-speed computerized transmission sends that twist to the pavement through the Calligraphy’s common all-wheel-drive procedure. This powertrain is clean and punchy, providing excellent acceleration with scarcely any vibration or unwanted noise. For each standard for in a natural way aspirated V6s, this one particular doesn’t have a massive amount of torque at small rpm, but it revs rapidly thanks to that efficient gearbox, seriously catching its breath at about four,000 rpm, where it surges in advance with vigor.

In spite of the luxury trimmings, this vehicle’s gas financial system doesn’t experience. Like other all-wheel-drive Palisades, the Calligraphy product stickers at 19 miles for each gallon city, 24 mpg freeway and 21 mpg blended. In combined driving, I averaged about twenty.four mpg, a whisker much less than Uncle Sam’s estimate but however very well inside vary. The natural way, entrance-drive variants are somewhat extra affordable, only one mpg improved blended and 2 mpg thriftier on the freeway.

Matching its premium digs, this Palisade is tranquil within at speed and rides effortlessly with out being sloppy. Its dealing with is safe even though navigating corners, although the steering lacks any truly feel, only providing you an approximation of where you happen to be likely, some thing which is, sad to say, all also typical with vehicles these days.

Eschewing all alternatives, an entry-level 2021 Hyundai Palisade SE commences at an completely sensible $33,700, such as $one,a hundred and forty in place service fees. That outlay gets you a realistic, comfortable and very well-created 3-row utility motor vehicle. But for motorists that want a little bit extra, or, seriously, a lot extra, the Calligraphy product found listed here checks out for $49,070, not at all an unreasonable sum for what almost feels like a Lexus.

The 2021 Palisade Calligraphy is an unexpectedly premium SUV, in essence icing on top of what is already a essentially outstanding motor vehicle. Hyundai as a manufacturer may well be as mainstream as McDonald’s, but it is really sent a luxury-stage product or service that fancier automakers would be happy to have in their showrooms.