2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro AWD Review: Outdoorsy, Adventurish
The redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade gets a new trim, the XRT Pro variant that slots into the middle of the Palisade line and is meant to offer a bit more substance than the XRT trim it replaces. I spent a week in the new XRT Pro, which is an Outdoorsy take on the well-received 2026 Palisade. Let’s break it down.
What Is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro AWD?
The Palisade XRT Pro is a lightly fortified off-road version of the Palisade. It gets an extra inch of ground clearance and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, which make it stand a little tougher than its fellow Palisades. There’s also red tow hooks (I’d be shocked if you ever need them), dark exterior accents for the grille, XRT Pro badging, a surround-view monitor with forward view and drive modes that include mud, sand, and snow.
The trim also has better departure and breakover angles. The main mechanical upgrade is an electronic rear limited-slip differential. The XRT Pro is only available with the 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission and HTRAC all-wheel drive. This trim isn’t currently offered on the hybrid model.
How Does the Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Drive, and What is it Like Inside?
For starters, it’s actually a bit slow, and the transmission is a little sluggish. It feels like the V6 could use a little more grunt, and it takes a beat for the revs to build and the shifts to sort out before you really get moving. Once you are, the Palisade is a comfortable place to spend time. The road visibility is excellent, and the cabin is well equipped. The driver cluster and infotainment each measure 12.3 inches, and the Palisade’s dash is screen-heavy without being screen-dominant—a reasonable approach. The infotainment is simple to use, and I was able to pair my iPhone easily and cue up Apple CarPlay.
It’s a sizable interior. My son had plenty of room in the second row and continually wanted to jump into the third row just for fun. There’s a good amount of cargo space even with the third row in use. I like the Palisade’s updated dashboard layout. It’s simple, clean, and offers a long, sweeping aesthetic. The steering wheel looks like a Land Rover, and Hyundai delivers an upscale setting competitive with premium brands at a lower price. That said, the XRT Pro only comes with a black interior, and that makes the materials in this specific trim look to be of lesser quality than they actually are. With the right color scheme, the Palisade could look like a stylish Volvo. With this dark palette, it looks unimaginative.
I do like the Palisade’s fresh exterior design for ‘26, which looks upscale. The use of the vertical lights in front and the boxy yet sleek silhouette is a nice step forward and again feels a little Land Rover-y. In three generations, Hyundai has put its best foot forward with the Palisade’s design.
Should I Buy the 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT-Pro?
Generally, I like the trend of dressing up family SUVs with some light off-road styling cues and adding some combination of ground clearance, beefier tires, and perhaps something mechanical. Subaru’s Wilderness and Honda’s TrailSport lines are two examples of doing it right. In fact, the old Palisade XRT and its sibling, the Kia Telluride X-Pro, felt more authentic, even though they were actually less capable than the new XRT Pro.
The new Palisade is excellent, but the XRT-Pro trim doesn’t do much for me. It’s just a nice wheel and trim package with an electronic limited-slip diff. Cool, but it doesn’t quite look the part of the Honda Passport TrailSport, which turned heads and felt like an off-roader, even though it’s just a gussied-up Passport. I literally got out of the TrailSport thinking: This is the vehicle for people who are daily driving Wranglers and not off-roading much.
With the Palisade XRT Pro, the off-road vibe isn’t even immediately clear from the curb. It’s a small thing, but those 18-inch two-tone wheels look almost too sporty, and the tires could be a bit knobbier. These packages are as much about appearances as anything else, and those details might help.
If you want an off-roadish SUV for school drop-off, look to Honda or Subaru, or even try the new Toyota 4Runner, which is surprisingly good for daily driving. I still recommend the Palisade, but this isn’t the trim to spend a little more on, and definitely look at the Palisade Hybrid. If you happen to like how the XRT-Pro looks, well, sure. Go for it. It’s just another flavor of Palisade—I just happen to think there are better ones.
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Greg Migliore is AutoGuide's Editorial Director. He has covered the auto industry for two decades, most recently as editor-in-chief of Autoblog. He's also been an editor at Automobile and Autoweek. He's a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and the Yale Publishing course. Greg is a member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards jury.
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” For starters, it’s actually a bit slow, and the transmission is a little sluggish”.
Both Hyundai and Kia have a history of major engine and transmission issues. I will stick with my Honda over a Toyota for their better engine design and performance. If I want to get 100,000 miles out of my 2019 Honda Civic Sedan, I will need to keep up with the recommended service and sand and salt buildup during the winter. If I decided to stay in the Northeast, I may at some point buy a non-hybrid gas only Honda SUV.