Hyundai has spent the previous few years constructing automobiles that punch properly above their badge, and the most recent Palisade is one in all them.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(perform() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f”);
}
});
When the fifth-generation Santa Fe arrived two and a half years in the past, the Range Rover comparisons got here quick. That Santa Fe received over critics and customers alike, praised for its environment friendly hybrid engine and construct high quality. If the Santa Fe could be in comparison with a Range Rover, then the most recent Palisade may very well be considered as Hyundai’s equal to a flagship Range Rover Autobiography, with extra efficiency and an much more spectacular cabin.
Review: The 2026 Ioniq 9 Calligraphy’s Biggest Threat Is Hyundai Itself
We hung out with the Palisade in range-topping Calligraphy trim, and it holds up. Every bit as convincing as a Range Rover, and asking a terrific deal much less cash for the privilege.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(perform() {
if (adpushup.config.platform === “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“ea4d4b5a-f8e5-4d5d-9d9a-53a3b956b6cd”);
} else{
adpushup.triggerAd(“44c0a4dc-e25b-4ba5-ac64-2c510461b92a”);
}
});
QUICK FACTS
SWIPE
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
In Australia, the brand new Palisade is available in three flavors: Elite eight-seater, Calligraphy eight-seat, and Calligraphy seven-seat, the final of which is the one we examined. Calligraphy pricing opens at AU$98,338 (US$70,180) for the eight-seater, together with all on-road charges, and climbs to AU$99,390 (US$70,900) for the seven-seat. In the US, the Palisade Calligraphy begins at $54,560. And the precise Range Rover Autobiography? It begins north of triple that, round AU$313,000 (US$225,000) in Australia.
Obviously, this flagship model of the Palisade is costly, nevertheless it’s not the most costly SUV that Hyundai sells. That title is held by the all-electric Ioniq 9 Calligraphy, priced from AU$128,513 ($91,700).
All variations offered in Australia come fitted with the identical hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain. This consists of a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 192 kW (257 hp) and 353 Nm (260 lb-ft) of torque, paired with an electrical motor, leading to a mixed output of 245 kW (328 hp) and 460 Nm (339 lb-ft). In the US, consumers can even order the Palisade with a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6, nevertheless it’s capped at a much less spectacular 214 kW (287 hp) and 353 Nm (260 lb-ft).
The Best Hyundai Interior?
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(perform() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751”);
}
});
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Alongside the Ioniq 9, the brand new Palisade simply has essentially the most luxurious cabin of any present Hyundai mannequin, making this huge SUV a pleasure to dwell with.
The dashboard is thick and sits excessive, stretching above the dual 12.3-inch screens. The Santa Fe and the Ioniq 9 have these similar screens, however they sit on high of the dashboard. Incorporating them into the sprint on the Palisade offers it an altogether extra interesting, high-end look.
Positioned beneath the central infotainment show are a pair of air vents and a number of other massive shortcut buttons and toggles, together with to alter between the varied drive modes. Positioned to the left of the air vents are buttons for the Hill Descent Control, parking sensors, and parking cameras, and whereas we’ll take buttons over touch-screen controls any day, these ones is usually a little tough to succeed in whereas on the transfer.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Positioned between the entrance seats is a gargantuan console with a wi-fi charging pad, cup holders, and no fewer than three 100-watt USB-C ports. The heart console additionally features a UV-C sterilization system, just like the one which premiered on the present Santa Fe, permitting you to kill 99.9 % of germs on small private objects in simply 10 minutes.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(perform() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“b25ecba7-3bbb-4ea7-a3a8-dbea91695c07”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“e46c436a-adeb-4b5e-a2c7-56bc36561c10”);
}
});
The entrance seats are wonderful, providing heated and ventilated choices, whereas the driving force’s seat additionally consists of a number of therapeutic massage settings. Hyundai’s two-tone Nappa leather-based steering wheel can also be a pleasant inclusion, as are a wonderful 14-speaker Bose audio system and twin sunroofs.
Luxury For All

As we’ve come to anticipate from Hyundai, the software program used throughout the infotainment and gauge cluster shows is simple to function, consists of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and provides loads of configurability.
Our check mannequin was the seven-seater, which means it ditches a bench within the second row in favor of two captain’s chairs with armrests. In addition to being electrically adjustable, these seats are additionally heated and ventilated, and are excellent for lengthy street journeys. There’s greater than sufficient headroom and legroom for tall adults, in addition to guide sunshades.
Read: The 2026 Palisade Has A Second Seat Problem, In Case The First Wasn’t Enough
Much to my shock, even the third row can accommodate adults. Getting in is so simple as touching a button to get the captain’s chairs to slip out of the best way. Once again there, you’ll discover that the outboard seats are heated, and there are even further 100-watt chargers. In addition, the second- and third-row seats could be adjusted and folded away utilizing controls within the trunk. Speaking of the rear, cargo house is 300 liters (10.5 cubic ft) with the third row in place, 712 liters (25.1 cubic ft) with simply the second row in place, and a pair of,081 liters (73.4 cubic ft) with the second row additionally positioned out of the best way.
Big Power For A Big SUV
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Hyundai may have been excused for becoming the identical 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid as discovered within the Santa Fe into the bigger Palisade. However, doing so would probably have left patrons feeling a little bit short-changed, given its restricted energy and the Palisade’s further dimension. Thankfully, this isn’t what Hyundai did.
Instead, the two.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid is all-new and significantly better suited to a car like this. While the Palisade isn’t made for drag races between the lights, it will get transferring surprisingly shortly, able to hitting 100 km/h (62 mph) in a contact underneath 7 seconds, which is spectacular given it weighs as much as 2,294 kg (5,057 lbs) as a seven-seater.
The draw back of the added poke over the present Santa Fe hybrid is that the two.5-liter isn’t as whisper-quiet because the 1.6-liter. Although the Palisade will fortunately cruise on electrical energy alone at low speeds and through mild throttle functions, the four-cylinder engine could be fairly noisy when it fires into life. It’s definitely not intrusive, nevertheless, and is basically solely one thing drivers could discover sometimes.

Once you’re cruising, the general powertrain works brilliantly. The small electrical motor offers that immediate hit of energy you’d anticipate, after which the two.5-liter backs it up with some further punch. However, I do really feel Hyundai may have refined the powertrain even additional, because the Palisade does expertise a little bit little bit of throttle hold.
The journey of the Palisade Calligraphy is excellent. As with most different fashions that Hyundai sells in Australia, it spent appreciable time calibrating the suspension to swimsuit native roads. Although it’s a passive system and doesn’t supply any adjustability, which is considerably of a disgrace at this worth level, the Palisade soaks up bumps fantastically, regardless of the sheer dimension of the factor.
Importantly, the Palisade by no means feels floaty like among the competitors, together with the Mazda CX-90. For instance, after taking velocity bumps at velocity, the Palisade’s suspension settles virtually immediately, offering a wonderful sense of surefootedness.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
As you’d think about, the Palisade isn’t the kind of SUV that you just’ll take to a twisty mountain street aiming to have enjoyable. Given how delicate the journey is, there’s a great deal of physique roll by corners, however that is to be anticipated. We’re additionally uncertain any homeowners will purchase a Palisade anticipating it to deal with like a sporty SUV.
Overall refinement from behind the wheel is great. Wind and tire noise have been stored to a minimal because of double-laminated home windows, and this factor can crunch motorway miles for hours and hours on finish, all in supreme consolation when you take pleasure in a therapeutic massage. For as good as it’s to have therapeutic massage features, the system solely offers a faint quantity of strain, so don’t anticipate it to get these knots out of your again.
Review: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Steps Up In All Areas
Throughout my time with the Palisade, I drove alongside loads of suburban roads and over 200 km on highways, in the end averaging 8.0 l/100 km (29.4 US mpg). This is a bit more than the 6.8 l/100 km (34.5 US mpg) quoted by Hyundai, nevertheless it’s definitely not extreme. It’s additionally not far off the smaller Santa Fe, which often sits round 6.5-7.2 l/100 km (36 – 32.6 US mpg) over the mixed cycle in our earlier checks.
In tight metropolis roads, there’s no denying that the Palisade feels huge, despite the fact that it’s not considerably bigger than its predecessor. It has a comparatively tight 11.94-meter (39.1-foot) turning circle, however I believe it’d drastically profit from a small quantity of rear-wheel steering, boosting maneuverability even additional.

Verdict
Not solely has Hyundai succeeded in constructing a big, seven- or eight-seater SUV that deserves to be thought-about over far costlier rivals, however the Palisade is maybe one of the best car for big households it at present sells.
Sure, when you really need an EV, the Ioniq 9 makes extra sense, nevertheless it’s considerably costlier than the Palisade Calligraphy and isn’t rather more pleasant to drive. Additionally, the cabin of the Palisade feels each bit as plush because the Ioniq 9’s, and the hybrid powertrain will swimsuit a wider vary of patrons. It’s additionally a greater purchase than rivals just like the Mazda CX-90 and Toyota Grand Highlander/Kluger, and is likely one of the uncommon autos in its phase that truly feels particular to drive.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Source link
#Palisade #Calligraphy #Feels #Range #Rover #Autobiography #Hyundai #Money #Review
