Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid MY26 review

The Palisade is the halo model of Hyundai’s ICE-powered SUV range and sits above the Santa Fe and alongside the similarly-sized battery electric Ioniq 9 in the brand’s portfolio.
The Palisade nameplate was first introduced to the Australian market in 2020, with that model updated in 2022, but this is an all-new model that brings major improvements in key areas, including a new-generation turbocharged four-cylinder petrol hybrid powertrain.

How much does a Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid cost?

Available at launch in a single high-spec Calligraphy variant with a four-cylinder petrol-hybrid powertrain driving all four wheels via an on-demand all-wheel drive system, the Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy costs $89,900 plus on-road costs.

Hyundai plans to expand the current single-variant Palisade by adding a more muscular-looking, off-road-focused version, the XRT Pro, in the first half of 2026.

The XRT Pro features a more rugged-looking exterior design with enhanced ground clearance, chunky all-terrain tyres, new front and rear bumpers, and specific off-road enhancements. The latter includes an electronic rear limited-slip differential, improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, plus multiple terrain modes for mud, sand, and snow.

For now, however, the Palisade Calligraphy is a fully loaded one-stop shop with only a limited range of options.

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid exterior design

The Palisade’s design is all-new, with the new model making a bold statement with its classic, modern SUV styling which is an evolution of the previous generation.

Unlike is polarising stablemate the Santa Fe, which is a ‘love it or loathe it’ model for many, the Palisade treads a comfortable middle path in terms of its styling, with solid, muscular proportions and nicely executed design detailing.

It’s certainly a big and imposing beast, riding high on 21-inch alloy wheels, with a bluff grille that emulates modern EVs, an elevated bonnet and vertically-stacked lighting that provides a bold and luxurious appearance.

What is the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid like inside?

The new Palisade is longer (+70mm), wider (+5mm) and taller (+15mm) than its predecessor and offers more interior space. Hyundai says its new design offers more headroom across all three rows, plus best-in-class second and third-row legroom.

It’s certainly roomy and richly appointed, with a three-row design that offers seating for eight in standard configuration, or seven with the optional second row Captain’s Chairs.

It all looks and feels particularly upmarket, with an interior design said to be inspired by modern furniture, with oval design themes and soft curves enhanced with a tasteful mix of materials including artificial leather-trim on the dash and doors, interspersed with sections of woven fabric trim, while overhead is velvet-like velour headlining.

There are eight exterior colours available and four interior colour schemes dependant on the exterior colour encompassing brown, dark navy/light grey, dark charcoal, and black.

The seats are clad in lovely, perforated leather with the front pews offering electric adjustment, heating and cooling, and a lounge-chair-like calf cushion that extends from below the squab. There’s also a massage function and ergo-motion air pockets that adjust for optimal fit and provide dynamic lateral support when cornering.

The leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel is electrically adjustable for reach and rake, with gear selection for the auto transmission via a column-mounted shift lever that also houses the start-stop and park buttons.

The shift lever execution frees up space on the centre console which provides space for cupholders, USB-C charging points and a wireless phone charger. There’s also storage space beneath the large island-type centre console with a dual-lid design.

Inside the console is a UV-C sterilization tray that uses UV-C light to remove up to 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses from the surface of items like mobile phones. Place your grotty mobile in here for 10 minutes and it comes out feeling brand new.

The curvaceous dash incorporates a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with a 12.3-inch digital cluster in a single panoramic display.

Most vehicle controls are accessed via the touchscreen but the centre fascia provides a row of physical buttons for the infotainment and HVAC systems.

It’s all nicely laid out and ergonomically sound, with an intuitive interface, crisp resolution and quick responses.

A 12-inch head-up display projects key driving, navigation and safety information onto the windscreen in the driver’s field of view.

The generous glasshouse offers good outward visibility for occupants while a dual-panel sunroof extends over both the front and rear seats to create a light, airy interior.

Second-row occupants have access to overhead HVAC controls plus manual fore and aft seat adjustment, window blinds, cup holders in the doors, and hard-shell setbacks. There’s also illuminated seat belt buckles and a safe exit warning system.

Sturdy grab handles mounted on both B-pillars aid ingress and egress and there’s generous leg, knee, foot and headroom on offer.

In the standard eight-seat configuration walk-in tilt buttons are located on both the top and bottom of the second-row seats for easy access to the third row.

Accessing the third row in variants fitted with the optional Captains Chairs is slightly easier as smaller humans can walk through the centre aisle. The individual electrically-adjustable pews feature the same Relaxation Comfort technology as used in the front row, with optimised weight distribution claimed to create a zero-gravity like feel.

The third row is likewise power operated as well as heated in both seven and eight seat guises, with electric reach and rake adjustment.

The cargo area itself is larger than before with 384 litres available behind the third row (+37L) and 729 litres with the third row folded (+25L). A separate bank of switches in the luggage area features seat control switches for both rear rows, allowing easy folding when loading.

The tailgate is electrically operated and has an auto-open function that senses when the key is in proximity and will automatically open after issuing five beeps. The feature caught us out a couple of times, opening when we didn’t need it to, but you can disable the function in the vehicle settings.

What’s under the bonnet of the Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid

Hyundai’s big family wagon is powered by a new-generation 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that delivers combined outputs of 245kW and 460NM. That’s 28kW more power than the outgoing 3.8-litre petrol V6, and 20Nm more torque than the previous 2.2-litre turbodiesel.

The hybrid is also more fuel efficient than either of the previous powertrains, sipping unleaded at a rate of 6.8L/100km versus 10.7L/100km for the old V6 and 7.3L/100km for the turbodiesel.

The system features an unusual dual-motor design that uses one motor for energy regeneration and the other to drive the wheels, where most hybrids use a single motor for both functions. Both motors are housed within the transmission unit, with the smaller 13kW motor directly connected to the engine and used primarily for starting the engine and generating electricity. The larger 54kW second motor provides drive power and regenerative braking.

Drive is channelled through a six-speed automatic transmission and Hyundai’s active on-demand AWD system. The transmission features selectable Smart, Eco, Comfort and Sport modes and there are also selectable terrain modes for Snow, Mud and Sand.

What Technical Features does the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid have?

The single highly-specified Palisade Calligraphy comes loaded with kit including a 14-speaker Bose premium audio system, Over the Air updates (OTA), Head-Up Display and a biometric fingerprint option for starting.

The Palisade also feature’s Hyundai’s Digital Key 2 technology which allows users to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle using their smartphone or smartwatch, eliminating the need to carry a key.

Other notable features include navigation-based connected car services, a digital centre mirror (switchable), six 100W USB-C ports throughout the cabin, and a rear camera sensor cleaning system.

There’s also an internal Vehicle 2 Load (V2L) function uses the high-capacity hybrid battery to power laptops and electrical appliances, and a new Stay Mode which uses the hybrid battery to power the infotainment system, climate control and other features with the engine switched off.

What sort of options are there for the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid

The single variant Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid comes fully loaded with the only options being Premium Paint ($750), Opional interior trim colours ($295), and the seven-seat option with Captain’s Chairs ($1,000).

Is the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid good to drive?

Hyundai says there’s been a big focus on refinement with its new family wagon and this much is evident the minute you get going in the new Palisade, which is notably smoother and quieter than its predecessor.

The car maker points to aerodynamic improvements including a tapered boat-tail body shape and active air flaps in the grille, along with thicker acoustic door glass, acoustic foam-lined tyres, and layers of strategically placed acoustic insulation as all contributing to the quieter cabin.

The only real fly in the NVH ointment comes when the drivetrain is tasked with accelerating hard, at which point engine revs rise and engine noise in the cabin becomes more insistent.

Nonetheless, acceleration away from the lights is respectably brisk despite a hefty 2,304kg kerb weight, while out on the highway the Palisade easily musters the oomph for safe and confident overtaking.

Accompany the new bigger body are suspension hardware changes including lightweight control arms and knuckles and new rear dampers. The Palisade has also benefitted from localised ride and handling tuning, with Hyundai claiming a bespoke damper tune and steering feel for Australian roads.

The results are better than average on-road manners with more disciplined ride and handling than its predecessor. The Palisade is very good dynamically, with well sorted suspension, decent steering weighting and ADAS systems that are well tuned to avoid being overly interventionist or distracting.

The suspension on back roads is well resolved, providing an impressive degree of bump compliance despite the large 21-inch wheels, along with disciplined body control in bends that provides a sense of sure-footed composure.

This is further enhanced by a torque vectoring system, which uses the hybrid’s e-motor to send more power to the outside wheels when cornering, causing them to rotate faster than the inside wheels, enhancing cornering stability and grip.

Other additional ride and handling benefits of the hybrid system includes a mode that generates electric motor counter-torque to control vehicle pitch after travelling over speed bumps or when accelerating hard; another that controls motor torque during corner entry and exit to improve steering response and stability; a Smart regenerative braking that analyses traffic conditions and automatically adjusts the regen level to maximise efficiency; and a Crosswind Stability Control (CSC) system which keeps the vehicle stable during high-speed driving by using differential braking and steering torque compensation to counteract the effects of crosswinds.

What safety features does a Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid have?

Along with a stiffer body structure thanks to a higher percentage of hot stamped steel components, the new Palisade comes equipped with a suite of eight airbags, including dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags, as well as a driver knee airbag. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.

The Palisade also boasts an impressive array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction & Crossing, Backover and Head-On) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS).

The Palisade earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating in mid-December 2025 for both seven and eight seat variants. The hybrid SUV scored full points for Child Occupant Protection in frontal and side impact crash tests, and full points for adult protection in side impact and oblique pole tests. Collision avoidance performance was rated solid overall, with good results across AEB pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle test scenarios.

How does the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid compare?

The Palisade sits in the sub-$80,000 large SUV category where it sells solidly but not spectacularly.

Sales leaders in this segment tend to be more heavy-duty 4x4 wagons like the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest, but the Palisade is more a rival for the likes of the Toyota Kluger Grande and Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line.

Nissan’s Pathfinder Ti-L is another possible rival although its V6-only powertrain and lack of a hybrid offering will likely rule it out for anyone focused on efficiency.

The Calligraphy’s luxurious fit out means the Palisade could also be cross-shopped against more expensive European models, although luxury buyers tend to be more brand than value-focused.

Compared with the top-sec Grade version of the strong-selling Kluger, the Palisade is more luxuriously appointed with a better tech suite and a roomier cabin, especially in the third row. However, the Kluger is more fuel-efficient (albeit on more expensive 95RON), sipping 5.6L/100km versus the Palisade’s 6.8L/100km, and it also has a lower purchase price ($85,135 at the time of writing) and lower servicing costs.

Should I buy a Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid?

The Palisade Calligraphy is a larger more commanding, luxury vehicle than its Santa Fe stablemate, so it offers buyers a clear choice when it comes to which family SUV best suits their tastes.It’s impressively safe, quiet and comfortable with a roomy interior and very generous fitout. Performance is smooth and respectably strong while delivering decent efficiency, while handling dynamics are excellent for such a large vehicle.

The Palisade also comes with Hyundai’s solid five-year unlimited kilometre warranty which can be extended to seven years if the vehicle is serviced with Hyundai dealers, of which there are around 166 nation-wide. The high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km.

Downsides include the fact that there are no entry-level offerings, which is something Toyota and other rivals offer, and only a modest 2,000kg braked tow rating. The vehicle’s size may also be an issue for some drivers, particularly in tight car parks, although it does have an excellent array of cameras and sensors to assist in this regard.

For family buyers requiring seven or eight seats and wanting lashing of luxury, it’s an impressive offering that looks modern and stylish and drives with an impressive level of poise and polish.

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid pros and cons

• FOR: Hybrid efficiency, impressive ride and handling, class-leading interior space, generously equipped, excellent technology, nicely designed.

• AGAINST: 2,000kg braked tow rating, single variant, priced higher than previous models, size may be an issue in tight car parks, performance is solid but not outstanding.