Check Drive: 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy | The Each day Drive | Client Information® The Each day Drive

2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy in Moonlight Cloud (a $400 colour possibility)

2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

Class: Midsize Crossover

Colour: Moonlight Cloud

CG Report Card


Room and Consolation	A
Energy and Efficiency	B
Match and End	A
Gasoline Economic system	B-
Worth	A

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup.

Huge & Tall Consolation

Huge Man	A
Tall Man	A

Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	291-hp 3.8-liter
Engine Kind	V6
Transmission	8-speed automated
Drive Wheels	AWD

Miles pushed: 847

Noticed gas financial system: 20.6 mpg

Driving combine: 25% metropolis, 75% freeway

EPA-estimated gas financial system: 19/25/21 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gasoline sort: Common gasoline

Base worth: $49,200 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)

Choices on check automobile: Particular paint ($400)

Worth as examined: $50,495

Fast Hits

The nice: Premium cabin appointments, beneficiant passenger house

The nice: Loads of energy, respectable gas financial system, long-trip consolation

The not so good: Extra freeway street noise than we’d like

Tom Appel:

How model aware are you? I ask, as a result of you’ll be able to pay an terrible lot for a badge. I believe you already know the place that is going…

A few years in the past, I bought a name from a colleague concerning my comparatively constructive tackle Cadillac’s midsize 3-row XT6 crossover. And, certainly, I discovered the XT6 to be a properly completed and intensely refined automobile; a wonderful multi-passenger freeway long-haul cruiser. After defending my place on the XT6, I requested what he would counsel as an alternative of the Caddy. “Palisade” he mentioned. “Hmm,” I assumed.

2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

Right here at Client Information, we usually suggest cross buying inside class. And, the Palisade (Midsize Crossover) and the XT6 (Premium Midsize Crossover) are in numerous classes. The excellence between classes primarily comes right down to physique sort and worth vary, and thus the Hyundai and the Caddy play in numerous strata. However the query raised by my colleague is, do they actually?

A little bit of historical past: The Hyundai Palisade and shut cousin Kia Telluride had been launched for the 2020 mannequin yr. Each autos represented distinctive greenback worth, and provided close to full-size SUV room and luxury at a midsize crossover worth. And, even the mid-level trims had been very properly outfitted and completed.

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

For 2021, Hyundai added a brand new high trim stage to the Palisade lineup: Calligraphy. For those who had been solely an off-the-cuff trade observer, you may suppose that Hyundai was overreaching with the Calligraphy, however customers appear impressed. Hyundai reviews that Calligraphy fashions account for roughly 40 p.c of Palisade gross sales. Moreover, throughout my first check drive of a Palisade Calligraphy, two separate strangers requested me if I used to be driving the brand new Vary Rover. Actually.

Now, different mainstream manufacturers supply high-end variations of their midsize crossovers. The Toyota Highlander Platinum and the Ford Explorer King Ranch each play as near-premium autos, however the Palisade takes issues a half step additional.

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

For 2023, the Palisade lineup ascends by way of 5 trim ranges: base SE, fashionable SEL, new XRT, well-equipped Restricted, and luxury-level Calligraphy. The brand new XRT sports activities an off-road theme, and is analogous in idea to the brand new Ford Explorer Timberline. All Palisades include 3-row seating. Base costs for the Palisade lineup vary from about $35,000 to $50,000. So, if you happen to’re not serious about a premium crossover expertise, you’ll be able to nonetheless construct a properly outfitted Palisade for lower than $40,000.

Among the many many issues separating the Calligraphy from lesser Palisades are a novel grille, particular exterior trim, distinctive 20-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather-based seating surfaces, massaging seats, ambient cabin lighting, and a usually extra upscale inside.

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

A 2023 Palisade freshening brings with it blockier exterior design, a higher-resolution touchscreen, and Wi-Fi hotspot.

All Palisades are powered by s stout 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automated transmission. Energy goes to the entrance wheels except AWD is ordered.

Client Information frolicked with an AWD Calligraphy. Primarily a one-price trim stage, our check automobile got here to $52,395, together with the one accessible possibility, additional value paint (Moonlight Cloud, $400).

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

Inside, the luxury-alternative factor comes throughout fairly convincingly. The fluted leather-based door trim, matte-finish aluminum accents, and weathered-look wooden inlays not solely look high-end, the trendy design seems like one thing you’d discover in a top-trim-level Audi or Volvo. Colour us impressed. The cabin is practical as effectively. The management format is uncomplicated, and touch-screen operation is simple to be taught and easy to handle. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary, by the best way.

There’s loads of grownup house within the entrance and a pair of^nd rows. The third row, which is comparatively simple to achieve, will accommodate a midsize grownup for an affordable period of time, although in apply we’d reserve placement for youthful and extra nimble passengers. If there’s a single metric by which the Calligraphy fails its luxurious mission, it could be cabin noise. Windrush ranges, although acceptable at this worth level, are excessive for the premium crossover class. Happily, the wonderful Harmon Kardon sound system gives loads of incentive to show up the music and squelch the noise.

Shifting alongside, the massive V6 serves up loads of helpful torque at low pace and ample passing and merging energy. When pushed the engine sounds refined, and is hardly heard in relaxed cruising.

Our test-drive expertise embrace some critical freeway time. Earlier than hitting the street we had been averaging an affordable 18.9 mpg in principally metropolis driving. After a fast run to Des Moines, Iowa from the Chicago space, our common gas financial system jumped to twenty.6 mpg, not unhealthy on condition that the automobile was effectively loaded with folks and stuff.

On the freeway, we discovered the headlights aimed too low for simple signal studying at night time. Although the street forward was effectively illuminated, speed-limit and different indicators had been situated simply above the sunshine area. This can be an issue simply mounted by a easy adjustment.

As for cargo, the Palisade gives loads of helpful space for storing in again. A comparatively low flooring helps when loading and unloading the massive stuff.

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

CG Says:

Whereas there’s nothing unsuitable with driving a Hyundai, driving a Palisade Calligraphy may be very very similar to driving a automobile $10,000-20,000 costlier. Whereas we wouldn’t fault customers for choosing the extra inexpensive Restricted trim stage, the Calligraphy may symbolize the most effective worth possibility within the Palisade lineup. For those who’re not particularly model aware, Hyundai has a luxury-crossover deal for you.

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