2026 Hyundai Palisade Up Close: Hybrid, Off-Road Versions for the Boxy SUV

Now, we didn’t have a ton of complaints about the prior Hyundai Palisade — it won a large comparison test, for heaven’s sake — but the South Korean three-row SUV was becoming a bit long in the grille, and it was high time for a revamp. Enter: the all-new 2026 Palisade. Though it’s breaking cover for the first time at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, I had the good fortune of checking out the freshly squeezed big gun ahead of time and came away with plenty of excitement for what’s in store.

Related: More 2025 New York Auto Show Coverage

First of all — finally, a hybrid powertrain! That’s exactly what the last-gen model needed, especially as Hyundai’s largest SUV. For 2026, buyers can opt for a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine augmented by twin electric motors, a setup good for 329 horsepower and 339 pounds-feet of torque. We’re not yet privy to the other good numbers like range and pricing, though, but Hyundai claims a cruising range of “nearly 620 miles” and is targeting over 30 mpg on the highway.

What Does the 2026 Palisade Look Like?

That’s great, but you know what’s greater? The debut of the Palisade’s reworked interior and exterior. The boxier Palisade has more distinct proportions and visual personality than the erstwhile generation while also being immediately recognizable as Hyundai’s largest.

The interior feels like a mishmash of the design language found in the current Santa Fe and Ioniq range, and I’m generally a big fan. The clean, pseudo-retro aesthetic is cohesive and works well with the in-key exterior, incorporating all the stylistic stuff we love about the new Santa Fe without leaning too heavily into the “box” vibe.

Much is familiar, too, including the handsome twin 12.3-inch displays that carry over from the last gen; same with the general structure of the cabin, though the significantly reworked center console is a very welcome change. Seat comfort and passenger space are familiarly expansive, as are the second-row amenities including heated and ventilated seats and beaucoup 100-watt charging ports. Heated seats and one 100-watt charge port per side mean the third-row passengers have nothing to complain about other than knee clearance for full-size adults.

What Is the XRT Pro Like?

The Palisade’s digital interface is high fidelity, reactive and quite clever — especially on the new off-road-focused XRT Pro trim. Swapping between the new Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes each offer a brief yet neat animated transition, but that’s arguably the least interesting update to the new-ish XRT universe. Compared to the prior appearance-focused XRT, the new XRT Pro adds some genuine off-roading hardware to the mix, including a revised suspension, functional tow hooks, unique wheels, a limited-slip rear differential and all-terrain tires.

I’m not so sure about the matte copper color, but I am sure the XRT Pro is the one to get from both a visual and capability perspective. It looks properly meaty on those tires, and the special limited-slip rear differential is a significant upgrade. Really, the only downside is you cannot have the XRT Pro in hybrid form, as it’s offered exclusively with the Palisade’s new 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is good for a nearly unchanged 287 hp and 260 pounds-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Regardless if you go hybrid or XRT Pro, I dig both of ‘em. Look for our first drive some time later this year, closer to the 2026 Hyundai Palisade’s on-sale date of early summer; the hybrid will be available closer to early fall.

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