2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Turns The Page On Brand's Basic Roots

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy is officially coming to the United States in July, confirming a rumor from last week. This variant is the new range-topper in the lineup with a position above the existing Limited grade. The automaker's announcement doesn't mention the price, but the leak from a dealer guide suggests that it starts at $48,890 (plus a $1,140 destination fee).

The Palisade Calligraphy comes exclusively with the 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower (216 kilowatts) and 262 pound-feet (355 newton-meters) of torque. It runs through an eight-speed automatic with all-wheel drive.

The Calligraphy looks slightly different than other Palisades. There's a revised grille mesh design with triangular elements. The side mirrors gain puddle lamps. At the back, there's accent lighting and an ultra-wide LED center high-mounted brake light. It rides on trim-exclusive 20-inch wheels with a complicated, asymmetrical spoke pattern

Inside, the Calligraphy has all of the features of the existing Limited trim, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with navigation. It comes exclusively with a seven-passenger layout with two captain's chairs in the second row. This trim level adds a perforated leather steering wheel, quilted door panels, microfiber-suede headliner, and cargo sill protection plate

In South Korea, Hyundai offers a version of the Palisade that's one step above the Calligraphy. The VIP model makes the second-row passengers even more comfortable by giving each of them an entertainment display. The chairs get headrests with built-in speakers. Plus, the cupholders are heated and cooled. At least at this time, Hyundai isn't introducing this package to the US. This makes sense since it would potentially make the Palisade as luxurious as the products from the corporation's Genesis brand.