Mark, Author at Maynards Garage

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Review

by Mark | Oct 12, 2021 | 0 comments

The almost-palatial 2021-22 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy SUV is elegantly spacious with luxurious accommodations, smart technologies, and unexpected but appreciated amenities

An exterior view of the 2022 Hyundai Palisade

For family trips or towing, the Palisade is generously sized and powered with a 291-horsepower V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. (Photos courtesy of Hyundai)

Hyundai Palisade Overview

The Hyundai Palisade debuted in 2019 as the brand’s new flagship SUV. The nameplate is a reference to the coastal cliffs of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles.

As the Santa Fe XL replacement, Palisade was built on a new SUV chassis with three rows of seating for seven or eight occupants. The large-midsize SUV crossover has standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

Among Hyundai’s five SUV models, the Palisade ranked third for sales in September 2021. With 7,961 sales, the Palisade followed the compact Tucson at 9,896 sales, the midsize Santa Fe at 6,573, the subcompact Venue at 2,877, and the subcompact Kona 5,774.

While some of the SUV sales were down in September, the Venue was up 88 percent over September 2020, and the Palisade was up by 3 percent over September 2020.

Special Calligraphy features include Nappa leather upholstery, quilted leather door panels, and a microfiber-suede headliner.

Palisade Updates for 2021

The only change for the 2021 model year is the addition of the Calligraphy, the new top-of-the-line trim level.

Other changes for the 2021 Palisade include content repackaging to add comfort and convenience to all trim levels.

LED headlamps are now standard, while sunroof and LED map-interior lights have been added to the SEL model and above.

Palisade trailer pre-wiring connectors were upgraded from a four-pin connector to an enhanced seven-pin connector.

The 2022 Palisade is now on sale with no physical or content changes, but pricing was increased by $475 to $490 across the lineup.

The driver area is an accommodating command center with at-a-glance access to all controls.

Hyundai Palisade Pricing

Palisade is sold in four trim levels of SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy. Starting prices range from $33,860 to $47,900 for the Calligraphy AWD; pricing includes the $1,185 freight charge from Ulsan, Korea.

The front-drive Palisade Calligraphy tester was $47,600 with one option for three rows of carpeted floor mats, $215.

Special Calligraphy features include:

Quilted-leather door panels
Microfiber-suede headliner
Premium cargo sill protection plate
Perforated-leather steering wheel

A longer list of standard equipment is in the specifications chart at the end of this review.

Find current pricing and inventive offers here.

The front sunroof tilts and slides and the rear pane is fixed with a shade.

Hyundai Warranties

All Hyundai vehicles have extensive warranty coverage. The basic coverage is for 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper to bumper. The limited powertrain warranty is for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

New this year is free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. The maintenance program includes oil and filter changes and tire rotation.

Hyundai Palisade Safety Features

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade SUV received a 2020 Top Safety Pick-Plus from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition, the government’s National Highway Safety Administration awarded the Palisade the top five-star ratings for overall protection, frontal and side crashes, and four stars for rollover.

Palisade’s standard safety features include:

7 air bags,
Lane-following assist and lane-keeping assist,
Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist,
Forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection,
Highway Drive Assist, and
Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist.

The 20-inch tires and special wheel design

The Calligraphy has a special wheel design with 20-inch Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 all-season tires.

Hyundai Palisade Performance

The 2021 Palisade is sold in front- or all-wheel drive (HTRAC) models. All have a 291-hp 3.8-liter, Atkinson-cycle, direct-injection V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission.

EPA fuel-economy ratings for front-drive models are 19 mpg city, 26 highway and 22 mpg combined or 19/24/21 mpg with HTRAC.

While testing the 4,231-pound Palisade Calligraphy, I drove the majority of the week in Eco mode. I was surprised by the performance because that fuel-saving mode for engine and transmission performance usually has a maddeningly spongy throttle response.

For those who keep an eye on the fuel gauge, the Palisade’s Eco calibration is actually usable for most driving. Immediate launch power is somewhat reserved, as is close-the-gap acceleration on the highway. Still, in between, it worked to convince me I was saving fuel and emissions in a 16.3-foot-long family vehicle.

In the front-drive tester, my driving averaged 17 to 21 mpg around town, and I worked up to 22.5 mpg combined with highway driving. The highway mileage likely would have risen with more time using cruise control at the speed limit.

All Palisade trim levels have the 291-hp V-6 and 8-speed automatic.

Ride and Handling

Palisade’s ride quality is comfortable but not soft. It is well-supported with a rigid chassis for vibration-free driving. The cabin is quiet, and the rear auto-leveling suspension nearly eliminates “head toss” at driveways and speed bumps.

The HTRAC all-wheel-drive system has six traction modes for Eco, Sport, Comfort, Snow, Smart (which adapts to your driving style) and AWD lock. Snow mode has more predictive calibrations, Hyundai says, to prevent loss of traction.

The transmission rolls through the gears so smoothly that you might not notice the transitions. Tire sizes are 18 inches standard or 20 inches on the Calligraphy with a unique wheel pattern.

The tester’s 20-inch all-season tires, Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2, are generously sized (245/50) and roll smoothly and without road harshness.

Four-wheel disc braking is confident with no grab from 13.9-inch ventilated front rotors and rear 12-inch solid rotors.

The Calligraphy has rear auto-leveling suspension that nearly eliminates ‘head toss’ at driveways and speed bumps.

Highway Drive Assist

Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist allows Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. The assist system uses a forward-facing radar unit and camera and GPS technology through the navigation system’s map database.

The suite of driver-assist technologies includes smart cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-following assist and lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist.

The HDA steering calibrations are more refined than some systems I’ve tested. It seems the camera might look farther ahead to make less-jerky steering movements in cornering.

The driver-assist system is intended for use on a divided highway and it will not engage when not traveling on an approved road. The driver must keep both hands on the steering wheel, and Highway Driving Assist is available only at speeds under 95 mph.

In my experience, the system was mostly efficient at keeping the Palisade centered between the lines. Once or twice, however, the system allowed the SUV to drift wide in a sweeping corner and then fired off a sharp warning alert as if I were at fault.

Interior Function

The Calligraphy is a social lounge with a USB port for every seat and 16 cup holders.

Front headroom is tall at 39.3 inches with the dual-pane sunroof. And shoulder room is wide-body at 61.2 inches (and 60.8 inches in the second row.) The step-in height is low with no need for running boards, and the door skins extend below the sill to prevent dirt scuffs on legs and shoes.

The Palisade has USB ports in the seatback

Of the seven USB ports, two are cleverly placed in the seatbacks.

The driver area is an accommodating command center with a multilevel environment of storage areas, including below the center console, with open space for wireless phone charging and a deep armrest box.

There is at-a-glance access to all controls, and the 10.25-inch infotainment screen is not prone to glare in sunlight.

The seats are full-bodied with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and front passenger. Sightlines are no problem, especially with the multiview camera that also gives front and overhead views.

It is a quiet Calligraphy cabin, helped by an acoustic laminated windshield and front side glass.

Unique in this segment is Hyundai’s Blind View Monitors. The side mirrors have rearward-aimed cameras that switch on when using the turn signal. The behind-view video appears in the gauge array, in the corresponding left or right dials. These electronic eyes are instrumental in town when navigating the randomly weaving electric scooters, bikes, and pedestrians.

No compromise to second-row seating with 42.7 inches of legroom.

A Driver Talk in-car intercom system allows communication with the second or third rows via a conversation mode in the audio system. A Rear Sleep Mode also cancels music from being transmitted to the second- and third-row speakers.

Back Seats and Cargo Area

The second row has a maximum of 42.4 inches of legroom, adjustable by the sliding captain’s chairs, which also recline. There is a separate climate control system for heat and AC, fan speed and temp — and heated and cooled seats. The large glass roof panel (with sunshade) is a big-sky treatment. And ceiling air vents help to fend off motion sickness.

The back seats have a one-handed tilt-and-slide action for third-row entry. In addition, the third-row bench has more support than some competitors in this group, and the Palisade seats have a fold-flat power recline.

The cargo area is big-box square with a usable 18 cubic feet of space behind the third row, with functional basement storage. There are switches for the power-folding and raising of the third-row seats and power releases to fold the second row.

The lift-in height is tall at 30 inches, but there is about 7 feet of length with both rows folded. The entry is 48 inches wide by 32 inches tall.

There are 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row or fold the second and third rows for about 7 feet of length.

Why Buy the Hyundai Palisade?

The Palisade is a little like moving the family to a new two-story home in a master-planned suburban community. The cabin is roomy with a long list of advanced technologies, premium-quality materials, and many unexpected but appreciated amenities.

Opting for the Calligraphy model provides an elevated luxury experience. And its presentation is without the glare of glitzy technology overload, so common in the Tier 1 luxury segment. It is an enjoyable learning curve to explore Hyundai’s technologies, which is not always so with some luxury brands.

Moving to the three-row suburbs isn’t for every family, but for less than $50,000, a palatial-feeling Palisade is move-in ready.

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Specifications

Body style: large-midsize, 3-row 7- to 8-seat SUV in front- or all-wheel drive

Engine: 291-hp, Atkinson cycle, direct-injection 3.8-liter V-6 with idle stop-and-go; 262 lb.-ft. torque at 5,200 rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic with HTRAC AWD mode selector

Fuel economy: 19/26/22 mpg city/hwy/combined; 87 octane

Tow capacity: 1,650 lbs. without trailer brakes; 5,000 lbs. with trailer brakes

BY THE NUMBERS

Fuel tank: 18.8 gallons

Cargo space: 18-45.8 cu. ft.

Front head/leg room: 39.3*/41. in. *w/sunroof

2nd row head/leg room: 38.8*/42.4 in.

3rd row head/leg room: 37.2*/31.4 in.

Length/wheelbase: 196.1/114.2 in.

Width/height: 77.8/68.9 in.

Curb weight: 4,231 lbs.

Turning circle: 38.7 ft.

FEATURES

Standard Calligraphy equipment includes: smart-key locking with push-button ignition, Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, microsuede headliner, surround-view monitor, electric parking brake, blind-view monitor (turn-signal activated), 7 USBs, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, wireless phone charger, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment and navigation touch screen with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Harman Kardon audio system, LED headlights-taillights-running lights, auto-leveling rear suspension, trailering package, dual sunroofs with sunshades, high-beam assist, back seat quiet mode, power-folding third row with power recline, hands-free liftgate

Safety features include: 7 air bags, intelligent cruise control with stop-and-go, lane following assist and lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist park-distance warning, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, highway drive assist, downhill brake control, rear occupant alert, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist

PRICING

Base price: $47,385, including $1,185 freight charge; price as tested $47,600

Options on test vehicle: carpeted floor mats $160

Where assembled: Ulsan, Korea

Warranties: 5 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper with roadside assistance; 3-years/36,000-miles free scheduled maintenance (of oil change and tire rotation); 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain

Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic Review

by Mark | Oct 1, 2021 | 0 comments

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic spools up 302-hp from a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine

Pricing for the Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic compact sedan starts at $46,900. (Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)

It was late September on a drizzly Sunday morning when I steered the Mercedes-AMG A35 toward the backcountry. It was a seasonally cool 70 degrees in San Diego, but in the foothills where I was headed the sun would be peeking out and the roads would be dry. The conditions were ideal to go out, get it and get home in this 302-horsepower AMG sly-scrapper of a small sedan.

The Mercedes-AMG A35 is a righteous upgrade of factory-finessed performance.

AMG History

The three letters that define AMG date to 1967. The abbreviation is associated with two former Mercedes-Benz engineers: Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher. The G is for Großaspach, the German village where they set up shop as race-engine developers. Today, Mercedes-AMG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.

Mercedes-AMG enhancements begin with a big boost to horsepower and high-speed control. The hardware improvements include the AMG Speedshift transmission, the AMG suspension, and the variable AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

There is an AMG model for nearly all M-B vehicles, whether for the big G63 SUV, the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar concept, and down to the A35.

Mercedes-AMG engines are the baseline to the AMG experience. Many of the engines are hand-built by meticulous technicians. Their names are engraved on a small plaque and affixed to the engine shroud.

The engine in the A35 is not hand-built to that degree, but it has all of the other AMG attributes.

Both front seats are power-adjustable with manual thigh extension.

From A220 to A35

The compact-class A35 is based on the Mercedes-Benz A 220. It is the brand’s smallest and most affordable sedan. The A-Class was completely redesigned for 2019 with handsome exterior styling, more back seat room and trunk space, and a more refined interior.

Pricing for the A220 starts at about $34,700. The A220 is sold with standard front-wheel drive or optional 4Matic all-wheel drive. The A220 powertrain is a 188-hp, turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

From this foundation, Mercedes-AMG transforms an entry-level family sedan into an aspirational object of artful engineering. Compare the A35 with the Audi S3 and BMW 235i.

The driver faces a 10.25-inch-wide digital dashboard.

Mercedes-AMG A35 Pricing

Pricing for the Mercedes-AMG A35 starts at $46,900, including the $1,050 freight charge from Rastatt, Germany. My tester was $56,875. The nearly $10,000 in options and accessories were primarily cosmetic. Most buyers would select the upgrades, which are highlighted in the specifications box at the end of this story.

But I would have added three more options, totaling $2,990:

Wireless phone charging, $200;
Driver Assistance Package, $1,700, adds the electronic elements for Level II assisted driving. Among those technologies are Active Distance Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Lane Change Assist’
Parking Assistance Package, $1,090, is valuable for its surround-view camera system and Parktronic with Active Parking Assist. Park assist is especially helpful to protect the car’s low chin spoiler from being poked into a wall or other parked vehicle.

Build your Mercedes-AMG A35 here.

19-inch, twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and side sills of AMG design.

Mercedes-AMG A35 Powertrain

Mercedes-Benz engine development is masterful at providing gratuitous power with absolute accelerator response.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the A35 has a stunning 302-hp. The twin-scroll turbocharger catches its breath quickly with just a moment’s delay as the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission engages first gear. In Sport or Sport-plus, there is no hesitation to jump off the line.

Fuel economy ratings are forgiving at 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 mpg combined on the recommended premium fuel. My mileage in combined driving was a consistent 25 to 29 mpg. But hoonyism will drop the range precipitously.

If 302-hp seems outrageous for a four-cylinder, Mercedes-AMG also builds a 2.0-liter with 416-hp and peak torque of 369 lb.-ft. from 5,000-5,250 rpm. The company says this 2.0-liter M 139 engine is the world’s most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in series production.

The twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will launch the A35 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

A35 Ride and Handling

The AMG A35 is very likable for its levels of drivability. The car is a study in higher power. Choose performance attitudes of Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport-plus, or Individual to electronically set preferred qualities for steering response, suspension stiffness, and other fine tuning.

Comfort mode is reasonably assertive and boisterous when the gas pedal is floored, such as in an evasive maneuver. My preferences were Sport when making the commute or Sport-plus when headed out for a good time.

Like a steely street-fighter, the AMG35 punches above its weight. Its control fits in the hand like a roll of nickels (if anybody still rolls coin). The calibrations know to let the driver have that AMG experience when possible.

Flick off a double downshift and the engine blips and fires off a hearty report. The tone is sound-generated but rich and satisfying.

A steel-spring suspension with MacPherson front struts provides excellent road adhesion, at least in my less-than-blistering test. But even the Comfort setting is sports-car firm.

If that is not enough control, there is the optional AMG Ride Control suspension, $990. The adaptive adjustable damping allows the driver to switch between three stages of control.

4Matic All-Wheel Drive

The 4Matic all-wheel-drive in this car is more about performance adhesion than all-weather surefootedness.

The power split is front-drive biased, moving seamlessly to AWD as needed or when the computer sensors say it is necessary. The power delivery runs from front-drive only to a 50:50 percent split front to rear.

When committing to a corner at speed, the driver can push out the nose with the accelerator pedal or pull it back by a careful lift of the right foot.

Optional 19-inch, 235/35 Pirelli P Zero tires have a grippy (but low) treadwear rating of 280. That wear rating is expected of ultra-high-performance tires, but there was noticeable droning at highway speeds.

Tight parking situations are very manageable with a turning circle of 37.9 feet. But do be careful of that larger front splitter in the AMG Aerodynamics Package, $1,550. A driveway entry that looks harmless can inflict a painful scrape.

The exhaust system has an automatically controlled exhaust flap.

A35 Body Reinforcements

To handle the stress of the AMG-enhanced powertrain, the front section of the bodyshell is reinforced. Turn-in precision was sharpened and the toe and camber alignment was modified a few degrees for handling dynamics, especially at speed. In addition, an aluminum “shearing plate” under the engine increases torsional rigidity at the front. And two other diagonal braces at the front also increase stiffness.

A35 Braking

The high-performance braking system brings the A35 sedan to an absolutely flat stop in an impressively short distance. The front axle is fitted with four-piston monoblock fixed calipers and 13.78-inch brake discs. At the rear is a single-piston caliper with 12.99-inch discs that are internally ventilated and perforated to dissipate heat and prevent brake fading. The silver-painted brake calipers have black AMG lettering.

A35 Steering

The speed-sensitive, electro-mechanical power steering has a unique rack with a variable transmission ratio and two characteristic curves. Depending on which drive program has been selected, the calibration provides taut and sporty or more comfortable steering feedback.

AMG Track Pace

For those drivers who will run their A35 through a slalom, there is an optional data logger. The AMG Track Pace ($250) is a virtual race engineer that permanently records more than 80 vehicle-specific data. Among the displayed results are speed, acceleration, and lap times.

Specific display elements are shown in green or red. The color variations show at a glance whether the driver’s times are faster or slower than their best time.

Well-known race tracks, such as the Nürburgring or Spa Francorchamps, are already stored. Furthermore, it is also possible to record your own circuits. The map display can be switched from 2D to 3D and can also be updated online.

The MBUX Augmented Reality function also allows the ideal driving line of a stored racetrack to be displayed on the multimedia display or optional head-up display. It is like having a virtual instructor in the passenger seat helping the driver to improve lap times.

Back seat legroom of 33.9 inches is snug for adults.

A35 Interior Function

The A220 is one of the more convincing entry-level small sedans. Technically, the car’s footprint is subcompact, but the interior space is more compact-class in roominess.

Driver sightlines are unhindered over the shoulder or across the hood. Entry and exit are low but not a struggle for taller adults.

Front headroom with the sunroof is tall at almost 40 inches with long legroom of 41.8 inches.

The driver faces a digital dashboard with a 10.25-inch digital instrument array and a 10.25-inch touch-screen display for infotainment and other cabin controls. The electronics are non-threatening to use, and there are alternate buttons for audio, fan speeds, and AC.

There are several spaces for small-item storage and door panels that will accommodate tall bottles.

Back Seats and Trunk Space

The back seat legroom of 33.9 inches is snug but with comfortable shoulder room for two adults. The space does not feel cramped.

Trunk space might seem small at just 8.6 cubic feet, but the space is wide and square with a wide entry of 37.4 inches. And the back seat has a 60/40 split and folds flat for longer items.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class was completely redesigned for 2019.

Why Buy the Mercedes-AMG A35?

AMG is the art of engineering. It is a stealth display of performance, which many owners prefer over the alternatives.

Building a model-line halo from a base model can have disappointing results. But the A220 now embodies the measures expected of a luxury car, even if it is the least expensive in the lineup.

The plastics have appealing texture and color. I saw no unfinished corners or misaligned panels in the test car. The trunk, too, had neatly installed carpeting, a pair of sturdy seatback-release handles, and even a red warning light, NOT just a reflector, when the trunk lid is raised.

The A35 starting price of $46,900 is a baseline of AMG credentials. From there, it will take driving enthusiasts another $10,000 to hand-pick their preferred conveniences or technologies.

From its economy-car foundation, the pleasure provided by a $57,000 A35 becomes a value statement.