2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Black Ink review

The signature stroke at the very top of the 2024 Hyundai Palisade range is this, the Calligraphy Black Ink.

With pricing for this diesel all-wheel-drive SUV topping $80K, it’s a lot of money for a Hyundai – but it’s also a lot of Hyundai for the money, with the option of a slightly more affordable petrol 2WD, a choice of seven or eight seats, and a raft of luxurious features and inclusions.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing and features
• Safety
• On the road
• Key rivals
• Should I put it on my shortlist?
• Specifications

Pricing and features

Check out our Palisade pricing story for a full rundown, but the Black Ink model is loaded with kit.

All grades have 20-inch wheels, LED lighting, a power tailgate, twin 12.3-inch screens, sat nav, leather, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel and more, while the Calligraphy further adds a dual sunroof setup, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, rear sunshades, ventilated front seats, cooled second-row window seats and memory settings for the driver.

The flagship Black Ink adds a sumptuous suede-and-leather finish including a suede headliner, and adopts distinct 20-inch black rims and a blacked-out exterior appearance.

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Priced from $78,900 for the petrol and $80,900 for the diesel, there’s nothing on the market that comes close. Not in the form of a mainstream large SUV with seven or eight seats, at least.

If you choose the seven-seater, you get second-row captain’s chairs, with three ISOFIX points (two in the second-row, one in the back) and four top-tethers (two and two).

If you opt for an eight-seater you get a second-row bench with tilt-slide section on the driver’s side – not ideal. Eight-seat models have three ISOFIX and five top-tether points – properly practical.

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There’s the choice of a petrol V6 engine (217kW/355Nm) with an eight-speed auto and FWD, or the excellent 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder (147kW/440Nm), also with an eight-speed auto but with all-wheel drive.

Petrol models have an official fuel use number of 10.7L/100km but you’ll be lucky to see that, while diesels claim 7.3L/100km. I saw 9.3L/100km across mixed driving.

Hyundai has a five-year / unlimited kilometre warranty, and there’s lifetime capped-price servicing with lifetime roadside assist if you maintain your car with the brand.

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Safety

The Palisade has a five-star ANCAP rating from 2022.

The range has autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, blind-spot monitoring, ear cross-traffic alert, driver attention warning, lane-keeping and lane following/centring assist, multi-collision braking (preventing further crashes), safe exit assist, rear occupant alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a reversing camera and parking sensors.

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There’s also ‘Intelligent speed limit assist’, intended to read speed signs and alert you if you’re over the limit, but it bings incessantly and often gets things wrong.

All grades also have BlueLink connected services including emergency services calling if airbags deploy, plus if you opt for a Calligraphy version you also get a few items that, for such a large SUV, should arguably be standard, such as: rear AEB, Blind Spot View Monitor (camera live view of the car’s surroundings when indicating), and a surround-view camera.

Calligraphy models also add backup guide lights and Remote Smart Park Assist.

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On the road

The diesel is the pick, with a wealth of pulling power for overtaking moves and quick response on the move. The eight-speed auto is clever, shifting smoothly and allowing you to explore the engine’s urge, too.

It steers well, with a natural and responsive action, and never feels too large when parking, thankfully.

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The all-wheel drive system offers better traction than the revvy petrol 2WD models, and if you plan to hit the snow or gravel tracks – or even live somewhere that rain is regular – then AWD is the go. But be aware, if you plan to only do urban driving, the diesel particulate filter will need the occasional longer drive at pace.

Ride comfort is agreeable, with a composure over bumps and lumps both at lower and higher speeds. It’s quiet and offers a more luxurious experience than some more expensive rivals.

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Key rivals

You might cross-shop a Nissan Patrol, but intent-wise the closest rival is the Pathfinder.

It’s a decent thing with eight seats, but doesn’t quite feel as premium. Likewise, you could look at a Mazda CX-90, but only if seven seats works for you.

Kia has three alternatives: the budget-friendly Carnival people-mover with eight seats; the seven-seat Sorento, including hybrid and PHEV variants; and the circa-$100K flagship EV9 electric three-row SUV.

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Kia EV9

Should I put this Palisade on my shortlist?

If you need seven or eight seats and don’t want to spend double this amount on a “real” luxury large SUV, then yes, you should.

And it should be right near the top of your list.

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