8 Fun Facts About the 2026 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai’s three-row Palisade morphs into an all-new model for 2026, and got its official unveiling for North America at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. We already had a sneak preview of the new Palisade prior to that, and now we’ll take it a step beyond with a bit of a deeper dive into some interesting facts about this overhauled SUV.

1. Its new hybrid powertrain gives Hyundai a three-row SUV in three powertrain options

The new Palisade starts with a conventional gasoline engine – in this case, an equally new 3.5-litre V6 making 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It will later be followed by the Palisade’s first-ever hybrid powertrain, mating a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder with two electric motors and a six-speed automatic. Hyundai estimates it will produce 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque, along with a range of more than 900 kilometres on a tank of fuel, and towing capacity of up to 1,814 kg (4,000 lbs). Hyundai will also soon be launching the all-new and all-electric 2026 Ioniq 9, so those who need three rows can opt for gasoline, hybrid, or electricity in the same showroom.

2. There’s a new trim for fans of driving off the beaten path

The 2026 Palisade has an available XRT Pro trim level, identifiable by its unique lower grille and fascia styling, exclusive 18-inch dark wheels, orange recovery hooks, and badge. Compared to other trims, it also has an extra 25 mm (1 inch) of ground clearance, an electronic rear limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, and improved approach, departure, and breakover angles should the trail turn hilly. It will include unique interior trim materials and stitching, matte-black exterior trim, a 115-volt power outlet, and a premium stereo.

3. It's all about practicality and comfort

The Palisade’s centre console will fit a full-size purse or a similar-sized bag, and if you don’t think that’s important, you’ve never seen someone who needs something now and the bag is somewhere in the back. It offers a factory-installed trailer hitch, first- and second-row “relaxation” seats, a digital key with walk-away locking, 100-watt-capable USB-C ports in all rows, and a standard washer for the rearview camera. The first- and second-row seats will be offered with heat and ventilation, a heated third row will be available, and you can get a UV-C sanitizing tray in the console.

4. You won’t need to install a dash cam

Some automakers are using their vehicles’ myriad cameras to record what’s going on around the vehicle, and the Palisade will too. In addition to recording while you’re driving, it’s also able to monitor when it’s parked, potentially capturing images of anyone who tries to mess with your Hyundai when you’re not around.

5. It doesn’t look like anything else at Hyundai

In a panel discussion at the New York show, Hyundai Group’s chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke described the automaker’s vehicles as “chess pieces,” each designed individually for its particular segment, and with only signature lighting styles tying them together. While it likely would have made everything easier for the design studio, the Palisade doesn’t look like a larger version of the Santa Fe (and which, in turn, isn’t simply a larger Tucson). Donckerwolke also said there are “no walls” between designing concepts, production cars, and now the Magma sub-brand that Genesis is developing for performance vehicles and race cars. The same designers may work across all of them, maximizing the synergy for each model.

6. Seating depends on the market

In Canada and the U.S., the Palisade will be available with either a second-row bench or captain’s chairs, for eight- or seven-passenger seating, respectively. On all, front-row seating is, of course, two chairs with a console in between. But in some global markets, buyers will be able to order a front bench for a total of up to nine passengers.

7. It’s a cousin to the upcoming all-new Kia Telluride, but it’s also a rival

Hyundai and Kia are a combined company, but with an odd family dynamic. Hyundai was founded as a construction company in 1947, and started making cars 20 years later. Kia began making bicycles in 1944 and its first cars in 1974. Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997 during South Korea’s economic crisis. It wanted Ford to take it over, rather than its hometown competitor, but Hyundai outbid Ford to buy Kia. They share platforms and components, and their R&D facilities engineer both brands, but they operate as rivals in the market. (Another fun fact: Hyundai came to Canada first, famously with the cheap-and-cheerful Pony, and then entered the U.S. market two years later; while Kia initially launched in the U.S. and later went north across the border. The Pony was so inexpensive that it finished its first year here as Canada’s best-selling car.)

8. The Palisade is indirectly helping with Hyundai Hope on Wheels

In 1998, a group of Hyundai dealers in New England banded together to help raise funds for pediatric cancer research. That initiative became Hyundai Hope on Wheels, funded by dealers, employees, and customers – and in turn, funded by sales of vehicles like the Palisade. The American program has raised more than US$277 million since its founding, distributed as research grants and for long-term survivorship programs for children after treatment. In early 2025, Hyundai Canada announced its version of the program along with its first grant, giving $1 million to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), followed by grants to other facilities. Hyundai Mexico has also launched its version, making Hyundai Hope on Wheels an initiative across North America.