Impressions Confirmed: The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

Every so often (and not often enough), a vehicle comes along that just nails it---that makes you ask:

"Why should I pay more and why would I ever settle for less?"

That is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.

Regular readers will remember that three months ago, I published my first-drive impressions of both the Palisade Calligraphy and the off-road-oriented Palisade XRT PRO, two of seven trim levels of the all-new second-generation Palisade.

To say I was impressed is an understatement. But four hours of driving isn't the same as living with a vehicle for a week, so...

At this point, your garden variety car writer would say something like "let's see how well the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy met expectations in the real world."

I'm not your garden variety car writer.

This thing just rocks. Kills. Crushes. Slays. Whatever the cool kids say these days times your ZIP code and mine starts with a "9".

It's indisputably gorgeous. People guess way high when guessing the price tag. And at the wheel?

It isn't as good as I thought it was driving from Calistoga to Bodega Bay to Merlo Lake and back to Calistoga.

It's better.

Under the hood is a lot of the Palisade's allure. A 3.5-liter V6 engine was once the most common way to power a three-row SUV, but a lot of the competition has switched to turbocharged four-cylinders that are any where from a liter to a liter and a half smaller in size. By definition, they're noisier, harsher and less refined.

The 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque from the Palisade V6 comes on smooth, with imperceptible upshifts from an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is standard on the XRT PRO and available on the six other trims, including Calligraphy, for $2,000.

The only downside to the engine choice is fuel economy. An EPA-estimated 18 city/24 highway. But wait---there's more. A Palisade Hybrid is available now, with more power and better mileage.

There's 19.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Fold that and there's 46.3 behind the second-row captain's chairs. Fold those and you've got 86.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

The grandkids were in town the week I had this Palisade, and the tall-for-her-age seven-year-old and her five-year-old brother found the 32.1 inches of rear seat legroom more than adequate. Larger kids should be fine, too, as would adults for short trips.

Folks in the second-row captain's chairs are in the lap of luxury, with a limo-like 43 inches of legroom...

...easily accessible USB charging ports built into the front seatbacks...

....a panoramic moonroof above rows two and three...

...and their own set of climate controls.

The base price of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD is $56,060 ($57,555 including destination). That buys an amazing array of standard features including a comprehensive active safety suite, 21-inch alloy wheels, a rear tow hitch, dual-pane sunfroom, LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights, roof side rails, a temporary spare tire, proximity key with pushbutton start, a hands-free smart liftgate, remote smart park assist, Nappa leather-trimmed seating surfaces, heated and ventilated power front seats, a massage function and position menory for the driver, first and second-row relaxation seats, second-row heated and ventilated power-adjustable captain's chairs, second-row manual window curtains, third-row heated power-folding and sliding seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone automatic temperature control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a head-up display, ambient interior lighting, a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink, the aforementioned USB and AC ports, navigation, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with a Bose premium audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 90-day trial to SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluelink+ Connected Service, a wi-fir hotspot trial, wireless phone charger, digital key, UV-C sanitizer compartment and integrated always-on front and rear dashcams.

The only extra-cost option on our tester was carpeted floor mats for $245, so the as-tested price comes to $57,800.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy is so gorgeous, so smooth, so good that if you told me it was close to $70,000, I wouldn't be surprised. Frankly, I'm trying to think of a three-row SUV that's this impressive that comes in much under 75. Less than 60? Amazing.

As I said at the beginning of this review:

"Why should I pay more and why would I ever settle for less?"