The line between luxury and utility has become blurred. There used to be a time when the Jag or the Merc had the leather and wood paneling, great sound, and superior air conditioning, while the Chevy and the Ford did not. Big cars, especially mid- to large SUVs, have always had their own style, if not luxury, then definitely premium. The older Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, and Mitsubishi Pajero come to mind. Now, the top trims of models firmly rooted in the mass market segment encroach on the luxury brands, bringing a mix of solid size and surprising luxury at quite reasonable prices. A case in point is the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy trim.
The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy has an interior experience that feels really luxurious. It combines premium materials and trim, great design, top-level tech, and family-friendly features. It does not have the luxury name recognition of established luxury SUVs, but it is the real thing at a very competitive price point. The Palisade gets even better with the 2026 model with the introduction of a more powerful, more efficient hybrid drive as an option. While not part of the interior, it is easier on the wallet and quicker on the road, all part of the package.
Interior Design And Materials: Genesis-Level Refinement
When you get into the Palisade, you will immediately sense the amount of thought and effort that was expended in designing the interior. Many carmakers try to simulate luxury by adding leather or wood detailing in visible areas, but leaving the rest untouched. The Calligraphy goes top to bottom.
Plush Materials That Feel Premium
Nappa leather upholstery not only covers the seats, but extends to the door panels and appropriate parts of the dash. Quilted leather accents make a tactile and visual statement, while the leather can be further enhanced with Alcántara headliner options. A further nice touch is the microfiber suede trim on the pillars.
Harmonious And Balanced Layout
The layout of the Hyundai Calligraphy cabin brings balance and harmony with a clean, modern, refined space. Sweeping curves and softer lines contrast with the boxy, look-at-my-screen layout so common today. Not that technology is absent, as there are two 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument clusters and the other for the infotainment, but these are integrated into the dash without dominating the visual leather sweep under the windshield.
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Seating Comfort And Family-Focused Luxury
While some lower trims of the Palisade come with the option of eight seats, which include a three-person bench middle row, the Calligraphy and a couple of the trims below it come standard with luxury captain’s chairs in the middle. The front and middle rows are really spacious, while the back row can become cramped for taller adults.
It’s a more comfortable-riding three-row SUV than just about everything in its class—and rivals like Mercedes, at a far higher sticker, should take notice, too.
– Michael Frank, TopSpeed Journalist
Comfort With All The Tech
All seven seats are upholstered in Nappa leather. Both driver and front passenger seats are eight-way power-adjustable with adjustable lumbar support. The driver’s seat has a memory function for seat settings and the wing mirrors’ position. Both seats are heated and ventilated, with the driver’s seat getting Erg Motion, with massage and posture support. The second row captain’s chairs are heated and ventilated, power adjustable, with extendable leg support, and a feature called comfort mode.
Back Row And Cargo Space
The third row in many seven/eight-seat SUVs is often treated like an afterthought. Although not as spacious as the first two rows, significant effort has been expended to make these seats more user-friendly. The second row comes with a one-touch power slide function to give access to the third row or cargo area if the third row is folded flat. The third row seats are heated and have a power folding function.
The cargo area behind the third row is 19.1 cubic feet, and this increases to a generous 46.3 cubic feet once the third row is folded. This trade-off between the number of seats and cargo area is a feature of all mid-size SUVs, luxury or not.
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Tech Integration: Luxury Digital Experience
We increasingly measure luxury not only in materials and finishes, but also in technology and how such tech improves our driving experience. Hyundai has long been a market leader in providing technology bang for your buck, and the Calligraphy excels in this regard.
Comprehensive Technology
The Palisade Calligraphy’s tech suite is anchored in the dual 12.3-inch screens, one acting as the driver cluster and the other as the infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, in-dash navigation, Amazon Alexa, and an in-car payment system called Hyundai Pay for gas or parking.
Dashcams, Real Buttons
There is an integrated front and rear dashcam, blind-spot cameras, three-zone HVAC, wireless charging, many USB ports, a 115V charging port, UV device sterilization, an in-car intercom, and much more. The touchscreen interfaces include physical buttons and knobs in addition to haptic touch buttons. These make controls easier for the driver in traffic.
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Practicality That Challenges Luxury Rivals
The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy certainly challenges Acura, Lexus, and even Cadillac in the luxury stakes. If you look beyond the nameplate, it can also take on BMW, Merc, or Audi, certainly in terms of value for money. If you insist on sitting on Nappa leather, you can get the Calligraphy at a couple of grand more than the average selling price of a new car in the US right now. The Palisade has been named as the ‘North American Utility Vehicle of the Year’ for 2026, and even the entry-level trim at $39,439 is very good value for money. The SEL Premium, chosen by Car And Driver as the best option, starts at $45,300.
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Hyundai Calligraphy Gas And Hybrid
Driving experience has shown that adding a hybrid option improves most gas cars. Market leader Toyota has moved its top-selling Camry and RAV4 to hybrid-only, and this year, Hyundai has added a hybrid option to the range. Same interior quality, different price and performance.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Specs
|
Gas Only |
Hybrid |
|
|
MSRP |
$54,560 |
$56,780 |
|
Powertrain |
3.5L V6, 8-speed automatic |
2.5L I4 Turbo with 2 motor hybrid system, 6-speed automatic |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD standard/AWD optional |
FWD standard/AWD optional |
|
Horsepower |
287 hp |
329 hp combined |
|
Torque |
260 lb-ft |
339 lb-ft |
|
Towing |
5,000 lbs |
4,000 lbs |
|
Fuel Efficiency (City/highway/combined) |
19/25/21 mpg |
31/32/31 |
The Palisade Is Rated High In Many Regards
Industry authority J.D. Power rates the Hyundai very highly, with an overall score of 82, quality and reliability at 84, driving experience at 84, and resale at 85. The insurance industry agency IIHS gives it a ‘Top Safety Pick’, while the NHTSA, having not yet rated the ’26 model, rates the 2025 model at a maximum five stars in crash tests. Hyundai also leads all luxury SUVs, bar the Genesis, in warranties. Limited warranty is five years/60,000 miles, 10 years/100,000 miles warranty on the drivetrain, and the same for the hybrid system on that version.
Sources: Hyundai, J.D. Power, The EPA, IIHS, NHTSA