2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Review

The segment leader sees steady improvements for 2023. We put it to the test two ways: as a suburban family hauler, and as an inner-city escape pod.

It’s easy to relegate three-row SUVs like the 2023 Hyundai Palisade to exclusive “family hauler” status. An entire generation has eschewed the old standard—the humble minivan—for these stretched-out high-riders, after all. Yet just as it was the case for the vans of old, there are folks out there that plan to fill these SUVs with more than just other people. Whether its for items or four-legged friends, a mid-sized SUV’s space can be a huge advantage for younger folks, while maintaining the high driving position and go-anywhere capability modern buyers demand.

Taking all that into account, we approached a week with the refreshed Palisade a little differently. Managing editor Mike Schlee would spend the first half of the week putting its family appeal to the test; I’d spent the tail end finding out if it really appealed to a pair of DINKS (dual income no kids). Here’s what we found.

As the title suggests, I have a small family and live in the suburbs of a rather sizeable city. Although a vehicle this size is a bit of overkill for a family of three with a small dog, my previous vehicle was indeed a three-row SUV so I am well versed in multi-people hauler lifestyle.

The utility and practicality of a mid-size three-row vehicle provides added reassurance for those one-off situations where a large piece of furniture needs to be transported, your sibling’s entire family wants to tag along for a drive, or when hauling a month’s worth of gear for a summer cottage getaway.

When in use as a daily driver, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy rewards the driver with great front seat comfort. The view from behind the wheel is excellent and the interior is premium beyond its price point. Is it a stretch to state the Calligraphy rivals some luxury brands in terms of materials and design? Not at all.

All the main controls for important functions are well laid out and easy to use. Some time was spent getting the UX right on this vehicle. The infotainment system isn’t the most straight forward on the market, but it is one of the better units out there. It took minimal time to learn and navigate through the various menu screens.

While many in the segment are moving towards smaller turbocharged and/or hybrid powerplants, Hyundai is sticking with a naturally aspirated six-cylinder. In fact, at 3.8-liters, the V6 in the Palisade is one of the larger offerings available. It produces a healthy 291 hp and 262 lb-ft. of torque. When lightly loaded, and in sport mode, it propels the Palisade with surprising authority. The eight-speed automatic transmission is a good partner, providing clean, logical shifts.

Despite utilizing a large, powerful engine, the Hyundai still achieves class competitive fuel economy. At 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, it’s on par with the Honda Pilot and Subaru Ascent, but can’t quite match the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9. Canadian figures are 12.6 and 9.5 L/100 km, respectively.

Tipping the scales at 4,506 lb (2,044 kg), handling is as should be expected for a big, lumbering SUV. The vehicle can’t hide its weight, but all steering inputs result in predictable vehicle responses. It’s not a pinnacle of ride comfort, but not the worst either. It resides in the happy middle, offering passengers a mostly pleasant experience.

The only real detriment to the Palisade is the vehicle’s looks, which drew mixed reactions. Family and friends are torn on the exterior styling. Some like it, some are not a fan. I’m undecided. I like the overall boxy shape of the vehicle, but small details like the unsymmetrical exhaust tips, front grille, and silver accents don’t do it for me.

But other than a few trim details, there isn’t much to nit-pick on the 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy. During our time with the vehicle we appreciated the easy of use and coddling interior. Perhaps the best testimonial comes from my seven year-old son, who could climb in and buckle himself in the middle row unassisted. For a family, these small feats are major victories.

I had so many plans for the Palisade during the second half of the week. Despite my elder millennial status, none of them involved brunch, thrifting, or even avocado toast. Living in one of North America’s largest cities means a lot of friends are car-less, and I had made plans well in advance to make use of the huge Hyundai’s storage and seating capacity.

Then, some folks involved in said plans did that most trendiest of things the last few years: they got sick. Goodbye boxes, bed, and bowling triple-date. (They’re all fine now, I should note.)

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy transitioned into a different role that weekend. The fancy three-row became our escape pod out of the city, my wife and I taking advantage of some of the last good weather before winter hit. In the worst of downtown traffic, the Palisade made waiting … well, not enjoyable, because that’s impossible, but much more tolerable. The Calligraphy trim (Ultimate Calligraphy in Canada) nicks the Ergo Motion driver seat from Genesis, and the way the setup stretches muscles to keep me attentive and comfortable is a huge perk—not one that’s common in this segment. The Ergo throne also gives its driver a subtle hug when the drive mode is set to Sport. It’s not something that comes up often, as “sporty” isn’t really the Palisade’s attitude, but it’s a fun touch nonetheless.

That brings me to the most obvious Palisade weakness: its engine. The 3.8-liter V6 is fine, delivering good power smoothly and predictably through a well-judged eight-speed transmission. Hyundai has dropped a hybrid powertrain in just about every other one of its big sellers though, and it would pay huge dividends in the slow-moving core of the city. Here, the admittedly good start-stop just doesn’t have much opportunity to save fuel. This reflects in the mediocre 18 mpg (13.0 L/100 km) the Palisade posted by the end of our time together.

It never feels quite as large as it looks, the Palisade. The sight lines are good, and the suspension setup is compliant, soaking up the moon-like surfaces in the area. Lots of natural light beams in through the tall side windows and expansive panoramic roof. If we had friends with us, I’m sure they’d appreciate the second-row heated seats. (This Canadian-spec tester misses out on the third-row heated seats of the US-spec Calligraphy.)

We get to the conservation area feeling ready to explore. The weather is nice enough, and the Palisade expansive enough, that we could have brought bikes with us, even without a roof rack. The power-folding third row makes loading big items like that even easier. Not that I’d recommend muddying up the Calligraphy’s fancy interior. That’s probably a job better suited to the XRT trim (called Urban, rather confusingly, in Canada).

Paths walked and sights seen, my wife hops in the second row, like a swanky Uber ride home. There’s more than enough space back there, and she’s happy with her own controls for climate.

The third row is less accommodating, though still in the top half of the class. The chunky C-pillar makes it a little gloomy back there, but there’s chargers, cupholders, and the ability to recline, so it’s wholly tolerable for a few hours for adults. Personally, I’d prefer the second row seats to fold up and away for a larger access point to the way-back. The current slide-forward approach is better suited to child seats though, so I acknowledge the family angle there.

There was no bed to transport, but we still loaded up the Palisade with an eight-foot table and assorted bins as a test. The Hyundai swallowed everything with room for a third person if needed.

We both came away impressed with the refreshed 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy. That shouldn’t be too surprising: it was the segment leader before, and Hyundai’s improvements only reinforce that status. We expected it to excel in the family role too, with big space and a comfort-first ride. Examined through the lens of two young adults in the city, the Palisade still earns top marks for its luxurious cabin, one that eases the pain of escaping the city during rush hour. Our biggest qualm? The lack of a more modern drivetrain.

No matter which camp you fall into, the Palisade remains a deeply impressive choice in the modern car market.

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