2026 Hyundai Palisade Debuts

New York, NY — Hyundai took to the stand at the 2025 New York International Auto Show with the 2026 Palisade, an all-new version of their full-size three-row SUV, which the brand calls its flagship model. It gets some new styling, new interior features, an all-new XRT version and crucially, an all-new hybrid powertrain — eventually. While almost every other product Hyundai sells in North America has a hybrid version, the Palisade has so far never received the honour.

Folks looking for a hybrid Palisade will have to wait a little while, though, because at the outset, the Palisade will only be available as a gas-only version when it debuts in the summer of this year.

So at the outset, every Palisade gets a 3.5-litre V6 good for 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which gets deployed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. All of those elements combine to provide 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, enough for jet skis, RVs and perhaps a small boat. It’s no pickup, but folks buying full-size SUVs like this do often tow, so it behooves manufacturers to give them something they can use.

When the hybrid arrives, power gets kicked up 329 hp and 339 lb-ft, with a target range of over 900 km and a target 7L/100 km on the highway. If we put the metric system aside for a moment, that also means the Palisade Hybrid will be the only three-row vehicle sold in North America that gets over 30 miles per gallon and makes over 300 hp, though you do lose 1,000 lbs. of towing capacity to the non-hybrid version.

Styling-wise, this new Palisade is a big departure from the previous model. The headlights are now a stacked, vertical affair to help bring the Palisade in line with the likes of the Tucson, while the taillights are made up of six DRLs apiece and they look a little like the items from the previous-generation Range Rover, which is no bad thing. Other neat exterior features include new wheel styles, a full-width front centre light and a silver d-pillar, which is quite eye-catching especially when set against a dark body colour. The Palisade also gets a longer wheelbase, shorter front overhangs and is longer overall than previous and that helps both with interior space and to provide a more grounded silhouette.

Inside, the environs are dominated by a curved digital dash display (actually twinned 12.3” displays, but who’s counting), which is sharper and more colourful than previous. That is standard on all Palisade models, as is wireless charging (with a ventilated charge pad), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and heated front seats. On the charge pad: unfortunately, unlike the Palisade’s smaller Santa Fe sibling, there is no dual charge pad option. That is a neat feature on the Santa Fe, but the single charge pad allows the fitting of larger cupholders and Hyundai is adamant that’s what Palisade buyers want. Of course, in addition to being able to charge your device, a charge pad is also a good storage surface for wallets and shades and so on so you lose a bit of that as well. However, there is some nice storage below the centre console, which helps make up for that.

There’s more interior volume overall, but the real beneficiaries here are third row passengers as they see the biggest increase in space of all the three rows. They also get two USB-C ports and cupholders and there’s an option to have a power folding third row. The second row can either be two captain’s chairs or a bench seat, meaning there’s space for seven or eight in the new Palisade. The driver can even articulate the seats to make for easier entrance and egress, which is an interesting touch and speaking of the driver: they’re not exempt from flashy seating as they can get a seat that reclines and provides extra leg support when stopped.

XRT Me, baby!

With the arrival of the ’26 Palisade, Hyundai is continuing the rollout of its new offroad-centric XRT line. Actually, it’s expanding that line in that the Palisade is the first model to get new “XRT Pro” designation. That means more ground clearance, better approach, departure and breakover angles, specialized offroad tires and wheels, more side and fender cladding, recovery hooks, dark exterior accents and special colours and badging. Add the expanded set of drive modes (XRT Pro gets mud, sand and snow modes) as well as downhill brake control and it seems Hyundai is thinking that XRT Pro owners will actually be doing off roady-type things in their Palisade.

Pricing for the 2026 Palisade will be announced closer to its summer release date but if we go by current figures, expect a starting price of around 55 grand. Since the Palisade is built in South Korea, it will be exempt from any Canadian tariffs. Assuming those stay as they’re currently announced; only time will tell on that one.