The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is what happens when a sensible accountant, a sleep-deprived suburban parent, and an environmentalist agree to stop arguing long enough to design a car. It is a large, polite, reassuring automobile that should easily woo buyers, except those who believe cars should be difficult, loud, or French.

From a distance, the Palisade Hybrid looks like a well-tailored refrigerator. Up close, it looks like a well-tailored refrigerator with aspirations. It’s boxier, more upright, yet more aerodynamic than before, because even brick walls benefit from wind-tunnel time. The Palisade is now 2.5 inches longer with 2.7 inches more wheelbase, which means the third row has been upgraded from FAA-compliant punishment to something approaching human dignity. Cargo space improves too, which is useful for hauling the emotional baggage of modern family life.

There’s also a new XRT Pro package, which Hyundai claims boosts off-road capability. What it really does is allow suburban drivers to look rugged while fearlessly tackling snow-covered cul-de-sacs, muddy soccer fields, and the occasional gravel road. It’s a triumph of image over necessity, which makes it perfectly American.

The word Hyundai keeps whispering and shouting is more. More tech. More driver assists. More luxury. And, most notably, more drivetrain options, including the Palisade’s first hybrid. And while the Palisade hasn’t been reinvented from scratch, nearly everything that matters has been improved, tweaked or at least polished. Even the base trims get a generous helping of new features, while the top-of-the-line Calligraphy test vehicle goes full Korean luxury spa, including massaging second-row seats, so your children can arrive at school more relaxed than you are.

The big headline, though, is the hybrid drivetrain. The Palisade Hybrid pairs a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with dual electric motors and a modest battery, producing a combined 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. Towing drops slightly to 4,000 pounds, which is still enough to haul a boat, camper or extended family grudges.

Fuel economy is wonderful, topping out at an EPA-estimated 34 mpg combined, roughly what you’d expect from something much smaller and much less capable. Even fully loaded with all-wheel drive, the Palisade Hybrid stays impressively efficient. This allows owners to feel morally superior while burning fossil fuels, which is one of the great compromises of modern life, right up there with sugar-free donuts.

On the road, the Palisade Hybrid is calm, stable, and emotionally unavailable. It weighs over two-a-half tons, yet electric torque disguises this nicely, delivering brisk launches and confident freeway merges in states where hesitation is treated as a character flaw. The steering is light, the ride plush, and the suspension absorbing potholes with the weary acceptance of a man who has seen worse and knows resistance is futile. It will not inspire you. It will, however, transport your family without tears, which is a greater achievement than most religions.

Drive modes abound, including Snow, Sand, and Mud for all-wheel-drive models, helping distribute torque when conditions turn biblical. There’s also a clever feature that lets the Palisade act as a rolling power bank while parked, useful for camping, tailgating, or running an espresso machine in the wilderness, because you can’t enjoy nature without first plugging something into it.

Inside, the cabin is bigger, softer, and determined to prove Hyundai now understands luxury. Materials feel expensive, even when they’re clearly plastic doing a convincing impression of wood that once knew a forest. Seating for eight remains standard, captain’s chairs optional, and it feels thoughtfully assembled by people who have ridden in German cars and taken notes.

The dashboard is a glowing expanse of screens that convey critical information such as speed, navigation, and which child in the third row is currently winning the sibling war. A wide panoramic display combines twin 12.3-inch screens, running an updated infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Best of all, Hyundai resists the touchscreen tyranny sweeping the industry by keeping real buttons for climate and audio controls. This alone deserves a standing ovation.

Tech features pile up: Alexa integration, USB-C ports everywhere, available dash cams, wireless charging, a UV phone sanitizer (because germs are the new terrorists), and an off-road forward ground view camera that makes the hood effectively disappear. It’s especially handy if you plan to take your XRT Pro somewhere more adventurous than Target.

In the end, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade is exactly what modern buyers want: bigger, smarter, more efficient, more luxurious, and more convinced of its own importance. It’s not quite full-size, but it’s close enough that your neighbors will assume you’ve been promoted. And in America, that’s what an SUV is for.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Base price: $44,160-$58,780

Engine: Turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid

Horsepower/Torque: 329/339 pound-feet

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 34 mpg

Fuel required: Regular

Length/Width/Height: 199/78/70 inches

Ground clearance: 7.4 inches

Payload: 1,377 pounds

Cargo capacity: 19-87 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 4,000 pounds

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