My tester this week was indeed the Calligraphy trim, with all-wheel drive (AWD). There are five total trims for the Palisade ranging in price from around $36,000 to more than $53,000 for the aforementioned Calligraphy Night Edition.
Outside of the special features of the Night Edition, the looks of the Palisade fall right in line with other vehicles in this segment. The highlight is a large grille that’s heavy on styling. The bulbous front end flows over the wheel wells where the styling continues. The design of the Palisade is distinctive and makes it a standout in a crowded segment. The back end loses a bit of the styling elements where it becomes less distinctive. The 2024 Palisade makes a good first impression but doesn’t quite look as consistent going as it does approaching.
However the Night Edition oozes with personality and distinction with a dark-tinted chrome radiator grille, dark-tinted chrome rear bumper garnish, black roof rails and even the Palisade logo itself is dark tinted. Yes it’s the most expensive option, but this is an eye-catching, sharp-looking new feature for the Palisade, showing that Hyundai is devoted to keeping this midsize SUV relevant.
The Palisade has a 3.8-liter V6 engine. It’s well-powered with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The 8-speed automatic transmission has no peculiarities and is essentially unnoticed, and that’s what I want from an automatic transmission. My tester had AWD making it a confident performer.
Off the line the Palisade is adequate. You aren’t buying this SUV for exhilaration and while it lacks much enthusiasm it performs steadily at all speeds. The steering is responsive and overall it’s a smooth-riding SUV.
That works great inside the three-row Palisade. The second-row passengers will enjoy ample legroom and headroom. The third row, like most SUVs in this segment is more cramped and better suited for children than adults.
Behind the third row there’s 18 cubic feet of cargo area. Fold the third row down and that area turns into 45.8 cubic feet, making it more versatile and useful. The second row can be stowed to open up the cargo volume to 86.4 cubic feet.
Hyundai’s infotainment system is clean and intuitive. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is driver focused but there are some knobs still to make navigating the system easy. There’s a wireless charging system for equipped phones. Generally these systems can be finnicky, but this one worked well with my iPhone.
A handy family-focused feature is an in-vehicle intercom system where front passenger can send a message to the rear of vehicle. Imagine someone in the third row has their headphones on or focused on their phone, this type of intercom system is a nice amenity for families and shows how in-tune Hyundai is with the American consumer.
My tester was the top trim Calligraphy AWD, without the Night Edition. As such it was priced at $53,650. The Calligraphy is loaded with extra features not found on the lower trims including heated seats throughout (including the third row), cooled first and second row seats, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD has an EPA rating 19 mpg/city and 24 mpg/highway. In a week’s worth of suburban driving I averaged around 21 mpg.
Hyundai continues to challenge in almost every segment in the auto industry. They do so by creating vehicles with the American family in mind. This is a successful recipe for success. And in the 2024 Palisade they pulled out this recipe again.
Jimmy Dinsmore is a freelance automotive journalist. Email him at jimmydinsmore73@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @driversside
2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
Price/As tested price................................................ $53,650/$53,650
Mileage.......................................... 19 mpg/city; 24 mpg/hwy
Engine............................................. 3.8-liter V6
Horsepower................................. 291 hp/262 lbs./ft.
Transmission................................. 8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels................ All-wheel drive
Final Assembly Point................ Ulsan, Korea
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