Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Palisade, hot off a refresh, is now more luxurious than ever. Even more basic models have features once reserved for six-figure German luxury barges. The Calligraphy trim serves as the capstone for the hybrid lineup, which exists separately from its gas-powered twins. No matter which engine is under the hood, it promises unbelievable luxury at a price point that embarrasses rivals in its class. However, it also promises features none of them have. These were my favorites.Reclining Seats Used To Be Reserved For The 1%The Palisade's front seats can recline, offering drivers and passengers alike a chance to count a few sheep.Chase BierenkovenThere's probably not a better car to pick someone up from the airport in. The Palisade's two front seats can recline almost totally. While the feature is probably not something most people will use every day, in those instances when you're stuck waiting around, taking a road trip, or out on a long drive, the reclining seats are unbelievably nice to have. This is a feature most commonly found in the back seats of luxury Euro barges, the kind only the hyper-wealthy can afford. As far as I know, this is the cheapest way into this feature, with our tester coming out to just a hair over $60,000.The Palisade Has A Ridiculously Plush Third RowChase BierenkovenView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the Hyundai Palisade, the difference between the second and third rows is minimal. The features found in the second-row captain's chairs are also present all the way in back, making it ideal for people who frequently use the SUV's seating to its fullest extent. That means climate control (though this is technically in the second row), USB-C ports, seat heating, and power adjustment are all the norm for third-row passengers.The level of control afforded to the second and third row is also nearly unheard of. The SUV allows you to individually control the second- and third-row seats from the trunk, which is immensely useful when loading large items while carrying passengers.Hyundai's Palisade Feels Remarkably High QualityChase BierenkovenThe Palisade Calligraphy is intended as a luxury SUV, and it certainly feels it. The leather seats are incredibly plush and soft, and there's an interesting mix of materials like cloth, suede, and more inside the SUV. Its interior feels welcoming, and its ambient lighting system leans into this without feeling like the inside of a gaming PC. More than that, there are interesting shapes here, like the circular door handles and speakers.The Palisade Hybrid Is The One To GetChase BierenkovenThe Palisade's base powertrains are tepid, coarse, and inefficient. The cure? Its hybrid powertrain. With more power, the 329-horsepower hybrid engine is also considerably faster. It'll creep around silently in EV mode, though it can't be used independently like a plug-in hybrid, which means the SUV is unbelievably quiet around town. Fuel economy is better than most big SUVs, and I saw around 26 mpg combined over my week with the car, a few shy of the AWD hybrid's EPA-estimated 29 combined.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
