2026 Hyundai Palisade

You could’ve called the Hyundai Palisade the rookie of the year when it first arrived on the scene in 2020. It was as good as or better than well-established veterans in the competitive class of midsize 3-row SUVs, and it’s been one of our favorites in its class ever since. Now, the Palisade has gotten even better for 2026 as it enters its second generation. It stays true to form with a spacious and upscale 3-row interior, class-leading warranty coverage, and luxurious upper trims, but adds a modern new look, an available Palisade Hybrid (reviewed separately), what Hyundai calls a “reimagined third row,” and an off-road-ready XRT Pro model that’s more than just an appearance package. We’re impressed; the Palisade is a must-test-drive in the midsize 3-row SUV class.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Hyundai Palisade.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is all new. It enters a new generation with a fresh new look that’s sure to turn heads with a unique light signature and body lines that are boxy yet distinct. The already-roomy interior gets a little bigger, and it’s fully redesigned. One of the highlights of the new interior is the dual panoramic displays comprising a digital gauge cluster and a feature-rich infotainment display. Another highlight of the 2026 redesign is the first-ever XRT Pro trim, a capable off-roader with a rugged appearance package, extra ground clearance, all-terrain tires, additional drive modes, and more.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts at $40,430 for the base SE model. The top Calligraphy trim kicks off at $55,555.

Pricing of the Hyundai Palisade is about average for a midsize 3-row SUV. Its cost is comparable to the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander.

Before buying a Palisade, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to determine what you should really pay. Hyundai Palisade resale value is above average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is powered by a 287-horsepower V6 engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). This V6 is a little smaller than the one in the last generation, but its output is very similar. Like the outgoing Hyundai Palisade, the new one does an excellent job of providing a minivan-like driving experience in the form of an SUV. That’s not an insult — this is a comfortable family cruiser on city streets and highway road trips alike. Some turbocharged competitors in this class have more pep in their step, but there’s something satisfying and reassuring about the growl and pull of a V6 like the one in the Palisade.

The new XRT Pro model takes the Palisade to a new level of off-road capability that it’s never seen before. We got to test it off-road and came away impressed with the kind of terrain it can tackle. Its standard all-wheel-drive system, extra ground clearance, and all-terrain tires give the XRT Pro the off-road chops it needs to stay competitive with rugged rivals like the Honda Pilot TrailSport, Chevy Traverse Z71, and Ford Explorer Tremor.

Fuel Economy

Although the Hyundai Palisade’s V6 got a little smaller with the 2026 redesign, its fuel economy somehow got slightly worse. It’s rated at 19 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg with front-wheel drive and 18 city/24 highway/20 combined mpg with all-wheel drive. Those combined ratings are one mpg worse than the 2025 Palisade. However, Hyundai estimates an impressive 34 combined mpg rating for the upcoming Palisade Hybrid.

When we first climbed into the cabin of the all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade, we instantly noticed a family resemblance to the brand’s flagship EV, the Hyundai Ioniq 9. This is a good thing. The seats are comfortable, the materials are lovely in the Calligraphy trim, and the technology is cutting-edge. It gets the basics right with the dual 12.3-inch displays that have become commonplace in Hyundai models, while throwing in perks like 100-watt USB-C ports and available reclining seats for some of the passengers.

We never cared for the gearshift buttons in the Palisade, and the new model replaces those with a steering column shifter that turns like an old-fashioned key for shifting into drive and reverse. As for climate controls, they’re handled through a dedicated screen that’s user-friendly thanks to a thoughtfully designed center console with a spot to rest your wrist while using the controls.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade got bigger on the outside, which translated to more space inside. The third row of seats and the cargo area are both a little bigger than they were in the outgoing model. What Hyundai calls a “reimagined third row” includes available power sliding and reclining third-row seats, USB-C ports on both sides, and bigger windows, yielding better visibility for the passengers and the driver. We tried sliding the third-row seats all the way back and were impressed that there was still decent cargo space behind them.

Speaking of cargo space, there’s 19.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.7 cubic feet when all of the rear seats are folded down. As for leg room, there’s 43 inches in the second row and 32.1 inches in the third row. These interior dimensions are on the bigger side of the midsize SUV class, but a few options that are roomier still include the Chevy Traverse, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Volkswagen Atlas.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade gets a bold new look. Stacked LED blocks operating as DRLs and turn signals make up the front and rear light signatures, while pronounced wheel arches give the body a little muscle. We’d have to break out our tape measure to confirm, but we’re pretty sure the redesigned Palisade has the most square inches of front turn signal of any new vehicle, for what that’s worth.

The look changes quite a bit with the XRT Pro model, which has extra ground clearance, lower body cladding, unique wheels, and the red recovery hooks that are mandatory for off-roaders.

Dual 12.3-inch displays
These big, high-tech, and user-friendly displays serve as the digital gauge cluster and infotainment display. We’ve loved them in every Hyundai model we’ve tested, and the new Palisade is no exception.

Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
These essential smartphone connectivity features make it effortless to bring your maps, music, and more to the screen in the car without taking your phone out of your purse or pocket. It’s always good to see them come standard.

XRT Pro trim
All-new for 2026, the Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro is an off-roader with enhancements like standard all-wheel drive, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, Mud, Sand, and Snow modes, and a rugged appearance package that improves approach and departure angles. We can confirm that it delivers the goods off-road.

Relaxation seating
Available Relaxation seating brings recliners to the front- and second-row passenger seats of the Palisade. Power reclining seats with leg supports used to be reserved for expensive luxury vehicles, but now they’re available in a Hyundai family SUV.

100-watt capable USB-C ports
Pretty much every new car has USB-C ports, but the ones in the Palisade are capable of charging at speeds of up to 100 watts. That means faster charging for your devices, and it can even keep a laptop powered up through demanding tasks like gaming and video streaming.

Hyundai Digital Key 2.0
Can’t find your keys? No problem. With the new Hyundai Palisade, you can use your phone as a key. Your smartphone or smartwatch can lock, unlock, and start this SUV, and you can even share digital keys with family and friends.

Power for the 2026 Hyundai Palisade comes from a 3.5-liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is rated at 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, par for the course in this class. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, also about average for a midsize SUV. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. Notably, there’s an all-new Palisade Hybrid this year, powered by a turbo hybrid engine with a net output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that the 2026 Hyundai Palisade will continue the Hyundai tradition of class-leading warranty coverage. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, matched only by the Kia Telluride in this class.

Safety

A few standard safety features included as standard in every 2026 Hyundai Palisade include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, driver attention warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and lane-keeping assist.