Hyundai Palisade CALLIGRAPHY Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy 4x4

Highlights

• Ventilated rear seats standard
• 71-litre fuel tank
• 360° camera standard

Summary

This 3-year-old Palisade Calligraphy presents a compelling case for families seeking a premium SUV without the luxury-brand markup. The white exterior is a top performer for resale in the GCC, effectively reflecting the desert sun to keep the cabin cooler. As the range-topping trim, the Calligraphy adds high-end interior touches like Nappa leather and a massage driver's seat that make long drives between emirates significantly more relaxing. Its balanced mileage suggests a history of routine highway use rather than heavy city idling, making it a reliable partner for cross-border road trips. For buyers in the UAE, this trim’s inclusion of advanced cooling features ensures it handles the summer heat with ease.

This Car vs Other 2023 Palisades

With 58,332 km on the odometer, this Palisade sits slightly below the average annual mileage for family SUVs in the GCC, which typically covers 20,000 to 25,000 km per year. The white paint is the most sought-after color in the local market, ensuring faster resale and better value retention than darker shades. Its American specification provides access to a high level of standard technology often missing from base regional models.

Calligraphy vs Lower Trims

The Calligraphy trim elevates the experience over the Limited with exclusive 20-inch wheels, a unique grille design, and a premium faux-suede headliner. Most importantly for the GCC, it adds ventilated second-row seats and a massage function for the driver, features rarely found in the SEL or XRT trims. It also includes a digital display rearview mirror and remote smart parking assist, allowing you to move the car via the key fob.

Palisade vs Segment Rivals

The Palisade leads competitors like the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer by offering a more luxurious interior cabin that rivals genuine premium brands. Its HTRAC All-Wheel Drive system is specifically tuned for road stability during unexpected rain or gravel patches, providing more confidence than many road-biased crossovers. Additionally, it offers a more usable third row for adults compared to the tighter seating in the Toyota Highlander.

Running Costs & Resale

Real-world fuel consumption for the 3.8L V6 averages approximately 10.7 L/100km, which is efficient for a large 8-seater on long highway stretches. Hyundai’s authorized service network is extensive across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, ensuring easy access to parts and maintenance. While American spec cars typically face slightly higher depreciation than GCC spec units, the range-topping Calligraphy trim helps maintain a higher floor for resale value.

Performance & Capability

The 295 hp V6 engine provides smooth, linear power that is ideal for highway overtaking and cruising at 120 km/h. While not intended for heavy dune bashing, the All-Wheel Drive system and selectable terrain modes make it highly capable for weekend trips to desert campsites or gravel roads. The 7.8-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time ensures it never feels sluggish, even when fully loaded with eight passengers.

Comfort & Cabin

The 8-seat configuration is designed for maximum family logistics, featuring a dual-pane sunroof that brightens all three rows without compromising heat insulation. The tri-zone climate control is powerful enough to handle 45°C+ summer days, with dedicated vents for rear passengers to ensure uniform cooling. High-quality acoustic glass helps isolate the cabin from road and wind noise during fast-paced highway driving.

Safety

This trim comes standard with a full suite of ADAS technology, including Blind-Spot View Monitor which displays a live camera feed in the instrument cluster—a vital tool for navigating busy multi-lane UAE highways. Other standard systems include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Safe Exit Assist, which prevents doors from opening if a vehicle is approaching from behind.

The bottom line

This Palisade Calligraphy is the ideal choice for a large family that prioritizes cabin technology and summer comfort; its trim level and popular color choice make it a smart purchase in the current market.

AI insights generated from market expert data. Always inspect the vehicle before purchase.