Hyundai pulled the wraps off the redesigned 2026 Palisade at the New York International Auto Show today. The latest iteration of the brand’s flagship SUV grows in size and shifts its focus toward enhanced comfort, aiming to build on the success of the outgoing model.
First introduced in 2018, the Hyundai Palisade has some big shoes to fill. The previous generation of Palisade just enjoyed its best sales year yet in 2024 (a 23% jump from 2023). To do this, Hyundai launched two new variants for the Palisade (more on this later) and redesigned several key aspects of the Palisade.
Exterior Design
Of course, one obvious difference is the overall styling. The new Palisade draws inspiration from Hyundai’s bold design strategy and shies away from the typical SUV. The vertical headlights from the outgoing generation are reimagined as LEDs on the new Palisade and are paired to a horizontal light blended in the grille. Another distinctive design feature of the new Palisade is the “greenhouse,” which is how Hyundai describes the area between the doors and roof. This area is dominated by windows and sets to recreate, well, a greenhouse-like environment.
Interior Design
Hyundai also completely reimagined the interior, with their main goal being comfort. The front seats flow seamlessly into the center console to create a sofa-like appearance. At the end of the palm rest on the center console is a dashboard with physical buttons and dials. Just above that is 24. 6 inches of curved, panoramic screens, split evenly among the gauge cluster and infotainment system. Other creature comforts include a 14-speaker Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and heated and ventilated seats for both the front and rear passengers.
Hyundai also has some surprising additions to the new Palisade. Take the third row, for example, which is offered with heated seats and power folding/reclining seats. Other luxuries on the Palisade include massage seats for the driver and over-the-air software updates for the infotainment system. USB-C ports are offered on every row.
Engine Stuff
The 2026 Palisade comes with two powertrain options. Standard is a 3.5-liter V6 which pushes 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque paired to an 8-speed transmission. This allows the new Palisade to tow up to 5,000 pounds.
New for 2026: A Hybrid Variant
The second powertrain option is available on the new Hybrid variant of the Palisade. The Palisade Hybrid features both a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, which gives the Palisade a healthy 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. Coming with an estimated 34 miles per gallon, that hybrid powertrain helps the Palisade become one of the most fuel-economical offerings in the three-row SUV segment. Hyundai says that the hybrid Palisade will be able to go up to 619 miles and will be able to tow up to 4,000.
Also new for 2026: the XRT PRO Variant
The second offering is an off-road capable variant called the XRT PRO (sounds awfully similar to TRD Pro, doesn’t it?). The XRT PRO nameplate is new for the Hyundai brand and is making its debut on the Palisade SUV. Consumers opting to get the XRT PRO model get a load of capability upgrades to aid in off-road capability. The XRT PRO offers a 8.4 inches of extra ground clearance and beefy all-terrain tires. An electronic rear limited-slip differential and different terrain modes are also included on the XRT PRO trims to help with off-road capabilities.
Several design changes that differentiate the XRT PRO from the regular and Hybrid models. For example, there are functional changes, such as the recovery hooks located on both the front and rear bumpers. Stylistic changes include a bolder front-end design, 18-inch dark-finish allow wheels, special badging, and darkened exterior trim. All-wheel drive comes standard with the XRT PRO trim.
Safety
The 2026 Palisade isn’t lacking in the safety department and comes with a suite of safety features (10, to be exact), that we have listed here:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Safe Exit Assist
- Forward Attention Warning
- High Beam Assist, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control
- Lane Following Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse
- Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Final Notes
With fresh styling, new tech, and expanded powertrain options —including a first-ever hybrid— the 2026 aims to position itself as a serious contendender in the three-row SUV segment. Hyundai says the new Palisade will be arriving at dealerships later this year, with the gas-powered models arriving in early summer and the hybrid models coming in early fall. Pricing has yet to be announced for the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade.
