2026 Hyundai Palisade Review

Bold styling, a premium cabin, and added off-road capability make the 2026 Palisade an ideal family SUV.

Perry Stern | 

Aug 5, 2025 | 8 min read

Perry Stern

Hyundai's flagship SUV is the all-new Ioniq 9, but if you don't want an electric vehicle, the redesigned 2026 Palisade is the way to go. It replaces the first-generation Palisade, which went on sale in 2020 and showed that Hyundai could build a competitive midsize three-row SUV. Hallmarks of that first Palisade were its powerful V6 engine, roomy and comfortable interior, upscale look and feel, and remarkable value.

Those traits, and regular updates during its six-year lifespan, ensured the original-recipe Palisade remained a popular choice. Now, the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade takes the SUV to the next level with standout styling, a more elegant interior, and new technology. Additionally, Hyundai has expanded the lineup to include a Palisade Hybrid and, for people who want to take their family on off-road adventures, the reasonably capable Palisade XRT Pro.

The changes to the 2026 Palisade build on the qualities that have always made this family-friendly SUV shine. Whether or not you like its new look, there is no denying the second-generation Palisade commands attention, offers unexpected luxury, and provides impressive technology, all while retaining the comfort and utility you expect from a vehicle such as this.

Perry Stern

About the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Review Vehicle

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is available in seven trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, SEL Premium, XRT Pro, Limited, and Calligraphy. Prices range from the low $40,000s to the high $50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from its assembly plant in Ulsan, South Korea, to a dealership.

When the Palisade Hybrid goes on sale later in the year, it will be available in SEL, SEL Premium, Limited, and Calligraphy trims. With front-wheel drive, the SEL versions add a "Blue" moniker to the trim level. Prices range from the mid-$40,000s to the high $50,000s.

This review does not include observations about the Palisade Hybrid. I drove a Palisade Calligraphy with the standard V6 engine in the Calistoga, California, area. It had all-wheel drive but no additional upgrades, and the estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) was $57,555, including the $1,495 destination charge. I also spent time in a Palisade XRT Pro with an estimated MSRP of $50,865. Hyundai provided the vehicles for the Palisade review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

Perry Stern

Bold Styling and a Roomier Interior for the 2026 Palisade

Unlike many car companies that share similar visual cues throughout their lineups, Hyundai gives each model a different look. The 2026 Palisade's new design is distinctive, and the XRT Pro stands out from the rest of the Palisade lineup with its off-road tires, higher ground clearance, and more rugged appearance.

The redesigned interior is equally dramatic. Soft curves instead of square edges guide the design, including the wide screen housing the dual 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrumentation and infotainment system. Unlike in other Hyundai models, the automaker integrates the screen into the dashboard for a more organic look.

Don't worry; Hyundai hasn't gone entirely digital. I found during my test drive that the new Palisade still has physical controls for the infotainment and climate functions, as well as traditional volume and tuning knobs.

With the transmission gear selector on the steering column, the center console has more space for a wireless phone charger, USB ports, cupholders, and storage. The large bin under the armrest offers plenty of space and is available with a UV-C ultraviolet light that can sterilize the contents.

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My Palisade Calligraphy test vehicle featured premium nappa leather upholstery and comfortable, supportive front seats. Hyundai offers new Power Relaxation Seats for the driver, front passenger, and second-row occupants, which recline and provide extending upper leg supports to transform the SUV into a soothing place to lounge.

A standard second-row bench seat brings total seating capacity to eight people. Captain's chairs are available, dropping the maximum seating to seven. Anyone riding in the second row will enjoy plentiful legroom and headroom, as well as available heating and ventilation, the latter an unusual feature for other vehicles I've driven within the Palisade's segment.

Fitting three people into the third row would be tight even for small folks. Still, this rearmost seat offers available heated cushions and power adjustment, making it a bit more palatable. Those features are also, in my experience, rarities in the family SUV segment.

Cargo space behind the third row is more generous than in the previous Palisade, and it can reasonably fit a few pieces of luggage or a party's worth of groceries into its 19.1 cubic-feet of space. Stowing the split-folding third row increases the cargo room to 46.3 cu-ft, and maximum volume behind the front seats measures 86.7 cu-ft.

Perry Stern

Intuitive Infotainment and New Tech Enhance the 2026 Palisade

The Palisade may have a new display screen, but the basics of the infotainment system haven't changed much. That's a good thing, because Hyundai makes one of my favorite systems, offering an intuitive layout, simple menus, and physical buttons with shortcuts to the home screen and other frequently used features.

Upgrades for the redesigned SUV include standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and fast-charging 100-watt USB-C ports. The integrated front and rear dashcams are also cool new features that can record incidents while driving or parked, and the recording is viewable on the infotainment display or as a download from the micro SD card.

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Every 2026 Palisade comes standard with SmartSense, an extensive package of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). In addition to the typical ADAS niceties, the 2026 Palisade features Safe Exit Assist, which shows an indicator light on the rear door and activates the child-safety lock if a detected vehicle is coming alongside from the rear.

Hyundai offers Highway Drive Assist 2 (HDA 2) on the top-level Palisade Calligraphy, which includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering assist, and lane-change assist. While using the tech on Highway 101 near Healdsburg, California, I found that HDA 2 operated seamlessly. However, this is not a hands-free system, and after the second warning message from the instrument cluster, the system will discontinue operation.

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The 2026 Palisade Excels On and Off the Road

While the Palisade gets a new engine for 2026, it's disappointing that neither power nor fuel economy has improved over the previous 3.8-liter V6.

The 2026 Palisade's 3.5-liter V6 produces 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. The Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and for the first time is available with a factory-installed hitch receiver, wire connector, and trailer-brake module.

Hyundai estimates the 2026 Palisade AWD gets 20 mpg in combined city and highway driving, which is 1 mpg lower than the previous model. During my drive, the trip computer showed an average of 18.5 mpg. If that doesn't sit right with you, the Palisade Hybrid will offer a Hyundai-estimated 34 mpg in combined driving. Better yet, the Palisade Hybrid is turbocharged and supplies 329 horsepower.

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While the new internal-combusion engine's output falls a little short of the old 3.8-liter V6, the 2026 Palisade never felt underpowered. Whether cruising through town, crossing a busy intersection, or accelerating up to highway speed, more than adequate power was on tap to supply smooth, responsive acceleration.

Additionally, the Palisade's quiet interior consistently impressed me. Even at highway speeds, almost no wind or road noise permeates the cabin. To achieve this, Hyundai engineers added new sound-absorbing layered carpet as well as acoustic glass for the windshield and front windows.

Much of my driving took place on the back roads in and around Napa Valley, California. While the Palisade performed admirably, the SUV's mass is noticeable when rounding curves at speed.

I also had an opportunity to test the Palisade XRT Pro on a custom off-road course. With all-terrain tires, multiple off-road driving modes, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and increased clearances, the XRT Pro easily handled the challenging conditions. Still, out in the real world, where Hyundai hasn't designed the trail for you, you'll likely want something more rugged if you're planning to head far from civilization.

Perry Stern

Is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade a Good SUV?

If you're looking for style and technology in a family SUV, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade is hard to beat. It faces intense competition from rivals including the Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Grand Highlander. But with its bold looks, comfortable cabin, available XRT Pro variant, and upcoming hybrid powertrain, the redesigned 2026 Palisade is an undeniably impressive choice in this segment.

Perry Stern

As a small child, Perry was constantly playing with toy cars and trucks, and that enthusiasm for anything motorized with wheels never faded. After college, he moved to Seattle and began his long automotive career working in an automotive consulting firm, helping customers choose the right vehicle for their needs. In the late 1990s, Perry joined Microsoft to work on CarPoint, part of the new Microsoft Network (MSN). He went on to become editor of the site, remaining on staff for 20 years before venturing out on his own. Today, in addition to his work on Capital One Auto Navigator, he still contributes to MSN, as well as J.D. Power, TrueCar.com, and U.S. News & World Report. Perry lives in the small town of Dexter, Michigan, with his wife and dog, and he still smiles when he sees his 2006 Mazda Miata in the garage.