2026 Hyundai Palisade Debuts, Promising Hybrid Power — Great Fuel Economy and Range

If you go back a few years the Hyundai Palisade arrived as the kid-brother of its twin, the fawned-over all-star, the Kia Telluride. Well, the little bro’s all grown up now and boy is it stepping into the spotlight. The three-row rig is getting a lifted version for off-road cred for the first time ever, comes bristling with some stunning tech, and gets a pair of new powerplants that promise better efficiency and power. More? You want more? Okay, the entire interior has been revamped, the entire design is new—and there’s still more! For the 2026 Hyundai Palisade (which debuts later this spring, with the hybrid arriving in late summer), the carmaker is targeting 900km/559 miles on a tank of gas for maximum range. All the deets (and there are LOTS of details!), below.

Engines, Plural

For the first time ever, the Palisade is coming with a hybrid (more on that, below). The base model is a new V-6. The prior 3.8-liter V-6 is being dropped in favor of a new 3.5-liter unit. Power is down slightly for the new motor, falling from 291 horsepower to 287 (torque falls from 262 pound-feet to 260), but Hyundai says they’ve recalibrated propulsion to be broader, likely meaning a broader torque curve than with the outgoing engine. Canadian-market customers get the HTRAC four-wheel-drive configuration standard, while base cars are FWD in the U.S., and HTRAC is an option. And the hybrid? This is pretty exciting. Yes, hybrids are exciting!

Why We’re Pumped for the Hybrid

Note two things about the hybrid. The very best fuel economy in the outgoing Palisade was 26 MPG on the highway—with FWD models. If they can get to 33 highway, that’s excellent. And especially with AWD. Also note the big leap in horsepower. Hyundai’s going from a pretty thirsty V-6 to a much more efficient four, and (if it’s the same spec as the Korean-market Palisade), the electric motor is adding 72 horsepower and a big 195 pound-feet of torque. So the Palisade so equipped should feel much quicker from a standstill. FYI: Hyundai has also included a standard laminated windshield and what they say is better sound deadening to quiet the din of engine noise.

Canada Gets Better Stuff!

Here are the big differences between what comes standard for Canadian buyers vs. American ones. Note that we don’t yet have prices, so we can’t say how much the 2026 Palisade will cost for buyers in either country.

HTRAC and Towing Goodies

The big deal about the AWD HTRAC system is that it includes a specialized tow mode. This changes the powertrain’s gearing, holding lower gears for longer and, if you’re pulling a heavier load, not ghost upshifting on a hill, for instance.

Palisade continues to come with presets for Mud, Sand and Snow, too. Hyundai also says the hybrid is rated for 4,000 pounds of towing capacity and the V-6, 5,000 pounds.

The Tech is Awesome!

The new Palisade is coming with a whole bunch of tech, that we’ll cover down the line, but there are a few aspects we want to nail right here. The vehicle features what Hyundai is calling an “event data recorder,” which combines front and rear dashcams that automatically record nearby movements around the vehicle based on the car’s sensors. This is both from driving and parking. And that includes someone bumper tapping your Palisade when you’re not around.

Also cool, and maybe less harrowing: There’s a santizing tray within the center storage console that uses UV light to disinfect what you plop in there. You do know your phone, ain’t so sanitary, right?

Another safety feature—the rearview mirror can also use the rear backup camera to enable you to see better when the rearview is obstructed by kids’ noggins or luggage.

What We Still Don’t Know

Hyundai says the Palisade got bigger and broader. While the front now has a 40mm/1.5in. shorter overhang, lending to the more muscular shnoz, the vehicle is now 65mm/2.5in. longer, and the wheelbase has grown by 70mm/2.75in. Hyundai is touting most of that growth to the rear half of the vehicle and says that rear row passengers will feel this the most. But we don’t have specs to prove it. Either way, the Palisade comes standard with seating for eight, with second-row captain’s chairs optional.

TopSpeed’s Take

We’d be remiss not to mention the new XRT PRO version of the Palisade. It’s lifted to provide 8.4 inches of ground clearance, a gain of 25mm/1in. vs. other models. It also comes with an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), and thanks to the higher ride height, better approach, departure and breakover angles. It also comes with meatier, 255/60R18 tires, some blingy functional (blaze orange) tow and recover hooks, and XRT PRO-exclusive 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels. Naturally, Hyundai blacked out a bunch of trim for extra gnar! We kid, but it looks great, as does the Palisade, period. Like we said, the Palisade is now the good looking bro to the Telluride, with brains and brawn to match.