2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Review: Family Car Cheat Code

Look out, luxury brands.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade debuted last year with upmarket looks and an even swankier cabin. We liked it quite a lot. Then the hybrid rolled along and yep, liked that one a lot too.

Then I spent three weeks with a loaded Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid (Ultimate Calligraphy in Canada), and now feel qualified to say it: if you’re shopping potential three-row luxury SUVs, head on over to a Hyundai dealership first. The Palisade doesn’t just impress within its segment, it makes it very hard to recommend something like an Acura MDX or Infiniti QX60 over it.

The entire second-generation Palisade arrived for this model year, with a dramatic look inside and out along with a big jump in tech. Going for the hybrid means roughly half the trim options of the gas lineup in both the US and Canada; four hybrid models in the former and two in the latter. Standard V6 models produce 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque; the hybrid bumps those figures up to 329 and 339, respectively. Fuel economy is improved too, going from 20 mpg combined to 29 mpg combined. (Canadian equivalents: 11.9 L/100 km to 8.1 L/100 km.)

If the previous generation Palisade’s calling card was its chrometastic grille, this new model is all about the bladed headlights. Using the same technology that Hyundai introduced with the 2020 Sonata, the Palisade’s outer “eyes” look metallic when off but can illuminate for a unique night-time signature. The actual main beams are inboard. The rear lights mirror the shape of these faux-peepers up front and, taken in along with the thick metallic-finish D-pillar, gives Palisade 2.0 distinct Range Rover vibes—but with a Korean twist. Big 21-inch alloys are suitably spindly as well.

The small lineup of exterior hues skews dark: this is technically a green, but unless it’s under direct light it just appears black.

I’ll just say it: unless your local dealership simply doesn’t have this powertrain available—or you need to regularly tow 5,000 lb instead of the 4,000 lb this is rated for—the hybrid is the easy pick.

The extra muscle is appreciated. Not only is there more, it’s available more of the time: the V6 needs to be revved out, while this turbo-four setup has plenty of low-down torque. The electric motor provides an additional shove, and hand-offs between the two are seamless. If there’s a weak point, it’s the six-speed automatic: it’s fine in most situations, but demand everything from the system and there is a noticeable delay as the ‘box takes its time to kick down.

Fuel economy over the holidays was close to the quoted average, at least until a combination of terrible traffic, plunging temperatures, and idling for shoots saw it creep up. Nonetheless, the hybrid scored better than the official figures on the gas V6, which would have seen its own penalties.

The Palisade is a big vehicle, coming in at just shy of 200 inches (5,080 millimeters). It feels it too, with a deliberateness to its movements that signals its comfort-first mission. The steering has a well-judged amount of weight and feedback (light in both instances), but is direct and consistent in its responses. There’s no sense that the Palisade is unwieldy or anything other than obedient—but if you want something that “shrinks around the driver,” well, uh… the Mazda dealership isn’t far away, right?

There is no selectable regenerative braking here like other Hyundai hybrids; instead, the wheel-mounted paddles handle shifts, and they’ll stick to the manual mode until you hold the right paddle in for a few seconds. The actual switch between regenerative and friction braking is seamless, and the left pedal has a strong, consistent feel.

Nevermind that the hybrid is more powerful, more responsive, and better on gas. All of those things are true, but it also makes a smooth ride even more refined. With the extra sound insulation and thicker glass of the Calligraphy, the Palisade gently hums along in quiet grace, with very little outside noise upsetting the tranquility of the cabin. Again, real luxury vibes here.

Also elevating the experience are well-contoured, Nappa leather seats that come with heating (all rows), ventilation (first two rows), full-recline Relaxation mode (first two rows), and the Ergo Motion muscle-stretch feature (driver). Seriously, you can count on a single hand the number of vehicles with third-row heating. Pinching Genesis’ Ergo Motion seats aren’t a replacement for a full massage function, but it is nonetheless a welcome bit of a perk-up on longer drives.

The Palisade’s third row is amongst the best in the segment, as 32.1 inches (815 mm) of legroom is nothing to sneeze at. The second-row folds forward for ample space to head back there too, though the power seats take their sweet time. Similarly, while having a one-touch fold feature for both rows at the liftgate is handy, it’s a slow one.

Let me just say that the black interior does not properly convey just how special the new Palisade’s cabin feels. For that, please go take a gander at the pretty caramel choice from last summer’s first drive.

Boring color palette aside, the Palisade interior has quickly become one of my faves in new vehicles. The gentle curves, the indirect ambient lighting, the soft-touch dang-near-everything: it’s a joy to sit in. I’ve said before that this could be a Genesis interior and I stand by that. So many modern cabins feel slightly disjointed, but there’s a consistent theme and feel throughout the Palisade’s spacious interior. It isn’t all style either, as the two-tier center console allows for larger item storage, and the door cards are all cavernous. A clever center console allows front-row folks to pass items through to the second row as well.

Hyundai has heard the comments about physical controls and provided a zero-fuss setup for climate controls here too. 

Hyundai’s latest infotainment setup is super-easy to use, with big clear tiles making most common controls a swipe and a tap away. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, and while the wireless charger is a great one due to its raised platform and grippy nature, rest assured there are quick USB-C ports in every row to ensure all devices are healthy.

Hyundai loads up its top models with a long list of driver assists and safety features, and the Palisade is no exception. Its lane-keep, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert are all some of the best in the segment, while the blind view monitor remains incredibly useful. The 360-degree camera has a high resolution, allowing drivers to make out potential hazards with ease. Even the 14-speaker Bose sound system is impressive with plenty of power.

While the UV cleaner and built-in dashcam are clever and useful, it’s important to note they are locked to the top Calligraphy trim.

US pricing for the Palisade Hybrid kicks off at $45,760 including destination for the front-drive SEL model; adding AWD is a $2,000 upcharge. The SEL Premium is a sweet spot: at $51,120 for the AWD model, it still gets heated and ventilated seats in the front two rows and the surround view monitor. A loaded Calligraphy AWD like this will ring in at $60,380; the only other charge is premium paint. With direct trim-to-trim comparisons, the hybrid is a $2,220 upcharge over the V6.

In Canada the Palisade is AWD only, and the hybrid powertrain is locked to higher trims. To get into a Palisade Luxury will cost $62,599 CAD post-delivery fee but pre-tax, while the Ultimate Calligraphy hits $67,549. The Luxury trim has the option of second-row captain’s chairs for an additional $500 CAD; the Calligraphy includes them as standard. The upcharge to go from V6 to hybrid is $3,200 CAD in the land of Timbits.

Every once in a while we auto journalists are presented with vehicles that have us asking “why would anybody want more?” That’s the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid for me.

Yes, I understand that buying actual luxury models includes more than just the vehicle, but also the dealership experience. And yes, the rational side of me recognizes that the best people-mover is still a minivan, not an SUV.

Yet if you’re shopping for a three-row family hauler, the Palisade hybrid absolutely must be on your short list. The quality of the cabin and the refinement of the ride put it right at the top of the class, and comfortably within striking distance of the near-premium models costing thousands more. That it also sips fuel is honestly just a bonus.

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