2026 Hyundai Palisade review: Practically premium
When the first-generation Hyundai Palisade hit the market for the 2020 model year, it took the three-row midsize SUV segment by storm. Now, the second-generation Palisade arrives for 2026, and it look set to pick up right where the original left off. With its tech-forward interior, a new XRT Pro trim, and a hybrid powertrain available for the first time, explore why this completely redesigned SUV is likely to vault to the top of the consideration list for many buyers in this 2026 Hyundai Palisade review.
We’ve tested the 2026 Hyundai Palisade twice. For our first test, we drove a gas-only 2026 Hyundai Palisade Ultimate Calligraphy provided by Hyundai Canada for review on our road trip through Ontario and Quebec to La Mauricie National Park. The majority of the photos you see below show this version.
Our second test was on the rural roads surrounding Hockley Valley Resort near Orangeville, Ontario. There, we drove the all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid as part of TestFest, an annual Canadian Car of the Year evaluation event hosted by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
Have questions about the all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade? Ask the automotive experts in our Road Trips in Canada Facebook community!
2026 Hyundai Palisade pros and cons
2026 Hyundai Palisade pros:
- Top-notch design and materials
- Excellent hybrid performance and fuel economy
- Tech has important modernization updates
2026 Hyundai Palisade cons:
- Shifter is not visible in some seating positions
- No full panoramic sunroof
- ICE fuel economy is below average
What’s new on the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade has been completely redesigned for the 2026 model year. Key updates include a redesigned exterior and interior, a new offroad-oriented XRT Pro trim, and a newly available hybrid powertrain. A new relaxation seating feature for the front two rows, a smartphone-enabled digital key with walk-away lock, 100-watt capable USB-C ports, a factory-installed tow hitch, a built-in two-way dash cam, and standard heated washer nozzles and rear camera washers for the backup camera and digital rearview mirror are among the feature highlights.
What competes with the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a three-row midsize SUV. Its main competitors in this crowded segment include the Kia Telluride, Toyota Highlander and Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-90, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, and Chevrolet Traverse.
Size and exterior design
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is slightly larger than its predecessor with a 65-millimetre longer overall length and 70-mm longer wheelbase. The front overhang is also 40 mm shorter. Much of that additional space has been allocated to the third row, which receives larger windows to make it a brighter and more welcoming space for adult passengers.
The Palisade’s updated design is punctuated by a new grille and LED running light treatment with horizonal lines emphasizing the SUV’s width. A new chrome accent line and blacked out pillars give the windows a unified look. At the rear, the LED taillights mirror the daytime running light design.
Interior design
The second-generation Palisade’s interior features clean and modern lines with rounded shapes. New details include emphasized ambient lighting and natural materials like fabric and wood. In the top Ultimate Calligraphy trim, brown (as seen here) and navy/grey colourways are available in addition to the black that’s the default on other trims.
Hyundai is bucking the trend of moving climate and audio controls into its touchscreens, opting instead to design the new Palisade with capacitive touch panels, knobs, and buttons. In our experience, this is easier to quickly navigate while driving without becoming distracted.
The start-stop button is embedded directly into the Palisade’s gear selector stalk, positioned behind and to the right side of the steering wheel. This shifter style operates intuitively and frees up plenty of space in the centre console for other features, but it can be hard to see from certain seating positions.
Note that the first-generation Palisade’s expansive single-pane panoramic sunroof has given way here to a pair of smaller panels. In between, climate controls for the second row are mounted on the headliner. This may benefit some families who would prefer that the rear climate controls be out of reach for smaller children.
How much interior storage does the 2026 Hyundai Palisade have?
The second-generation Palisade comes with some thoughtful interior storage solutions. The split-open centre console bin is accessible from both front-row seats and is large enough to hold a small handbag. In front of the centre console, there’s a wide-open space to stow a large purse or small backpack.
For the second row, there are cupholders mounted in the door armrests on each side, which makes them easier for children in car seats to reach. A large drawer at the back of the centre console provides a space to hide away loose items. The third row benefits from a pair of cupholders mounted on each side panel.
Seat comfort
The biggest seat comfort upgrade in the 2026 Palisade is in the third row, which is noticeably more spacious than before and is now comfortable enough for a pair of adults or three small children. On higher trims, the third-row seatbacks are power adjustable, and the seat cushions can power slide back and forth to balance leg room and cargo space. The new Palisade’s outboard third-row seats are also available with heating.
The second-row captain’s chairs are very comfortable and well-padded. (We haven’t yet evaluated the bench seats.) Manual second-row window shades and heated second-row outboard seats are standard, while ventilation is exclusive to the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. On trims with a power front passenger seat, there are controls installed on the side so a passenger in the right second-row seat can easily create more leg room.
Front-row heating and a power-adjustable driver’s seat come standard. Ventilation for both front seats and a driver’s side memory function are offered on all trims but the base Preferred Trend. On the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, Hyundai’s Ergo Motion driver’s seat provides light massaging to reduce fatigue on longer trips. This came to great use during our seven-hour drive to La Mauricie National Park.
How many car seats fit in the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade will fit a minimum of four LATCH-equipped car seats.
In the third row, a car seat can be installed in either the two outboard positions or the centre position, and a full set of anchors is present for each. However, the third row is not wide enough to accept three car seats at the same time.
Each of the second-row captain’s chairs also comes with a full set of anchors. It’s possible that a third car seat may fit in the middle position of a second-row bench if all three seats have a narrow profile designed for this purpose, but we haven’t yet seen this configuration in person to assess it.
In the 2026 Palisade, the captain’s chairs can be moved out of the way to provide access to the third row while keeping an installed child car seat in place. We haven’t yet been able to verify whether this is the case for the second-row bench.
How much cargo space is in the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
Regardless of powertrain, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade has 540 litres of cargo capacity behind the third-row seats, 1,310 litres behind the second-row seats, and 2,455 litres behind the front-row seatbacks. These figures are lower than some competitors including the Toyota Grand Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse, and Honda Pilot, but they’re higher than others such as the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.
Both rows of seats can be manually dropped from the rear of the Palisade as standard equipment. In the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, a panel of buttons adds full power controls for both rows accessible from the back of the vehicle. This includes seatback drop and recline as well as the ability to move the seats forward and back, meaning you won’t need to go around to the side to move a second-row seat forward if it’s too far back to let the third-row seat drop.
Infotainment and technology features
The centrepiece of the 2026 Palisade’s dashboard is a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one for the touchscreen infotainment system and the other for the digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system now comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is capable of receiving over-the-air updates.
Six 100-watt USB-C charging ports are standard with a data and charge port bringing the total to seven. Three are at the front of the centre console ahead of the standard wireless charging pad, two are installed in the front-row seatbacks for use by second-row passengers, and two are in the third-row side panels.
A rear-seat quiet mode that directs all audio to the front row is also standard, along with an in-cabin intercom that uses the sound system to project voices from the front row to passengers further back in the cabin.
A 14-speaker Bose premium audio system is included with all Palisades except the base Preferred Trend trim, while a head-up display, a camera-based rearview mirror, and a built-in two-way dashcam with onboard storage are exclusive to the Ultimate Calligraphy trim.
How much power does the 2026 Hyundai Palisade have?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade comes with two powertrain options: an internal combustion engine only or, for the first time, a hybrid. The ICE version uses a new 3.5-litre V6 to generate 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, running through an eight-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. The hybrid powertrain’s 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to produce a combined 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. This is mated to a six-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive.
The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid’s AWD is a mechanical system, meaning it uses a driveshaft and a rear differential to engage the rear axle. This is as opposed to the motor-driven electric all-wheel drive seen in other hybrid vehicles.
What is the towing capacity on the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade can tow up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) with the ICE powertrain and up to 1,815 kg (4,000 lbs) with the hybrid powertrain when properly equipped. The second-generation Palisade is the first to offer a factory-installed tow hitch.
How fuel-efficient is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
With the standard ICE powertrain, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade has official fuel consumption estimates from Natural Resources Canada of 13.4 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 10.0 on the highway, and 11.9 combined. The XRT Pro trim raises these figures to 14.3 L/100 km city, 10.6 highway, and 12.7 combined. These figures are higher than average for the class.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid’s official fuel economy figures from NRCan are 8.3 L/100 km city, 7.9 highway, and 8.1 combined. These compare favourably against the small handful of other hybrid three-row SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander and the Mazda CX-90 PHEV when in hybrid mode.
2026 Hyundai Palisade driving impressions
The first-generation Hyundai Palisade was already one of the top options within its class, and the updates to the second generation only further cement that position. With both powertrains, the ride is smooth and comfortable, the design is thoughtful and family-friendly, and the finishes in the top Ultimate Calligraphy trim are about as close to premium as you’ll get without having to pay a luxury price.
In most driving situations, the ICE Palisade feels suitably powerful despite the second generation’s V6 having a smaller displacement and no turbocharger. The one exception is high-load acceleration such as merging onto a highway, where just a tick more power would be satisfying.
The hybrid, on the other hand, is fabulous in every scenario we tried. Power is great, delivery is smooth, and the Eco and Sport drive modes give the driver enough control over the Palisade Hybrid’s character to customize it for a given situation. We did notice the transmission seemed to be hunting around for gears, though we prefer this behaviour to that of a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Driver assistance and safety features
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade comes standard with 10 airbags and a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features. These include forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection plus junction turning intervention, lane keep assist and lane follow assist, automatic high beams, blind spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, front and rear parking sensors, safe exit assist, and a driver attention monitor.
Features offered on all trims but the base Preferred Trend include reverse automatic braking, side parking sensors, and Hyundai’s blind spot view monitor, which projects a camera view of the vehicle’s blind spot onto the digital instrument cluster when a turn signal is activated.
The 2026 Palisade Ultimate Calligraphy trim comes with several exclusive driver assistance features, including an upgraded forward collision avoidance system, blind spot collision avoidance assist with steering, and remote smart park assist, which lets you park the vehicle while you stand outside. Highway Drive Assist II is also equipped, an upgraded semi-autonomous highway driving system. It requires you to keep your hands on the wheel, but it will follow curves in the road and can execute lane changes with a light tap of the turn signal, helping to reduce driver fatigue on longer journeys.
Where is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade built?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is built for Canada in Ulsan, South Korea.
How much is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade in Canada?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) in Canada of $56,744 for the Preferred Trend trim, including the mandatory $2,100 destination charge and other fees. The non-hybrid Palisade tops out at $65,544 for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The 2026 Palisade Hybrid is available in Canada in two trims: the Luxury Hybrid, priced at $63,544 including fees, and the Ultimate Calligraphy, priced at $68,744. These prices are competitive within the midsize three-row SUV segment.
Is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade worth buying?
There’s every reason to believe the second-generation Hyundai Palisade will be just as hot a seller as the first. Expect long wait lists, and that goes doubly so for the new Palisade Hybrid, which delivers fuel economy and drivability that are a rare combination in the three-row SUV segment.
In fact, with the exception of a couple minor details — there’s no power steering column adjustment, for example — Hyundai could slap its luxury Genesis badge on the Palisade Ultimate Calligraphy and no one would bat an eye. The Palisade has raised the bar for its class once again, and Hyundai has a winner on its hands.
Read more Canadian SUV reviews >
