Look Who's Fancier: 2021 Hyundai Palisade May Add "Calligraphy" Trim

The spec is already available in Korea, and it just might make its way to America.

More luxury may be in the cards for Hyundai's three-row SUV: According to documents uncovered by GVForums, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade will add a new Calligraphy trim. Should that come to pass, the Calligraphy will be the poshest Palisade yet.

Hyundai hasn't officially announced the new trim level here in the U.S., but a VIN Decoding Guide filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows it's at least a possibility. Hyundai debuted the Palisade Calligraphy for South Korea this week with a host of upgrades, including unique design details, ambient interior lighting, and quilted Nappa leather on the seats and door inserts.

Expect a 2021 Palisade Calligraphy to slot above the Limited; the latter is already a near-luxury model, featuring soft Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.3-inch touchscreen, and a self-leveling rear suspension. The Limited starts at $46,045, so a Calligraphy is going to head toward the $50,000 mark. In Korea, Hyundai is also launching an even more luxurious Palisade model called the VIP. This model receives a rear-seat entertainment package and heated and cooled cupholders, among other upgrades. We're thinking the Calligraphy will be as high as the Palisade goes in America—the better to protect the Genesis luxury brand—although if it proves insanely popular, the VIP could end up crossing the Pacific.

We're big fans of the Hyundai Palisade, not only because it offers a lot of features for the money but also for its composed ride and well-designed interior packed with storage solutions, but we wouldn't mind if the V-6 engine had a little more gumption—unfortunately, a Calligraphy won't fix that issue. Our current top pick among three-row SUVs on the market is the Kia Telluride, the Palisade's platform-mate that's more stylish and offers a slightly more holistic driving experience.