Hyundai may introduce a hybrid version of its popular Palisade 3-row SUV for 2026.
The company showed off the design of an all-new Palisade in December but kept mechanical details quiet. The remodeled family hauler is handsome. It wears a high-end, tailored look that contrasts with the rugged, bound-for-the-mud look of most recent SUV designs.
Outside, satin-finished chrome D-pillars and boxy segmented lights are its signature features. Inside, a sculpted look heavy on soft surfaces pushes it to near-luxury territory.
The company hasn’t said what will power the 2026 Palisade in the U.S. However, it recently revealed the two drivetrains it will sell in its home market of South Korea. Hyundai often builds the same powertrains for the U.S. and Korean markets, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see both come stateside.
Neither is the V6-powered setup on dealer lots today.
One uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine putting out 281 horsepower. That’s likely a retuned version of the engine that powers the Santa Fe today. There, it makes 277 hp. The other pairs that same engine to a hybrid setup, pushing output to 334 horsepower.
If it does come to the U.S., the Palisade hybrid would arrive as one of the most potent SUVs found outside the luxury classes. Only Toyota’s Grand Highlander Hybrid bests it, with a 362-hp hybrid setup.
It might also give the Palisade a competitive advantage over the Telluride from Hyundai’s corporate cousin Kia, which outsells it most months using many of the same parts.
