The all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade continues Hyundai’s aggressive march to becoming one of the top automakers in the world. From small sedans, hybrid and electrified vehicles, to a wide range of SUVs, Hyundai has a vehicle that consumers should take a serious look at when shopping for a new set of wheels.
Hyundai recently released new variants of its large Sport-Ute, the 2026 Palisade.
With the all-new Palisade, Hyundai has crafted an SUV that blends upscale design, premium materials, safety, and high-tech convenience features for drivers and passengers.
Pursuitist recently traveled to California to test drive the new Palisade, which was unveiled earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show.
While the new Palisade is not radically different from the outgoing model, it is improved in many ways across all trim levels.
During our test drive, we drove the top Calligraphy trim, and we got down and dirty driving the rugged XRT PRO trail-ready trim.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
In the competitive near-luxury SUV segment, the Hyundai Palisade positioned to compete with the likes of corporate cousin Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, and models from Japanese luxury brands Acura and Lexus.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy offers a luxury-grade experience without the luxury-brand price tag. With a starting price in the mid-to-high $50,000 range, it features premium materials and craftsmanship, a long list of standard features that would cost thousands more in competing models, and Hyundai’s unbeatable 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Exterior
The new Palisade’s exterior styling continues to refine the upscale look introduced in its mid-cycle refresh a few years ago.
Up front, the most notable change is the bold new grille. The signature cascading grille is flanked by vertical LED daytime running lights and adaptive LED headlights. For Calligraphy trim, the grille is finished in handsome dark chrome.
The side view shows off Palisade’s sculpted body lines and upscale chrome accents. 20-inch Premium 20-inch alloy wheels in several available styles look great and the overall side view shows the new Palisade is large and in charge. Palisade is now 2.5 inches longer with a 2.7-inch longer wheelbase, increasing cabin and cargo space, while larger panoramic side glass increases third-row visibility.
At the rear, full-width LED taillights are prominent. Calligraphy trim also features exclusive tailgate badging.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Interior
While all 2026 Palisade trims offer a great deal of comfort and convenience features, Calligraphy trim catapults Palisade into the luxury zone. Passenger space is impressive, with three rows that can comfortably seat adults, with second-row captain’s chairs available for a 7-seat configuration or a bench for 8 passengers.
Inside, you’ll find standard quilted Nappa leather upholstery, genuine wood inlays, a microfiber suede headliner, 8-way power adjustments for both driver and passenger, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a power-folding third row.
Palisade’s Ergo Motion driver’s seat, found only on Calligraphy trim, allows the driver to make adjustments for comfort and fatigue reduction, including a posture-assisting function and an automatic “comfortable stretch” feature after an hour of driving. You can activate and adjust its various functions through the touchscreen or seat controls. It resembles an airline business class seat, and works well, even for a very tall person like myself (6’9”).
At night, multi-color ambient lighting creates a relaxing cabin atmosphere; while Calligraphy’s upgraded sound insulation and laminated glass also contribute to a serene cabin.
Tech-wise, the Palisade Calligraphy’s features rival SUV models that punch at a much higher price point. Standard interior goodies include a panoramic dash housing with dual 12.3-inch displays for instrument cluster and infotainment – both with high-resolution graphics and customizable layouts. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system sounds great no matter what row you’re sitting in.
Connectivity is achieved via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with multiple USB-C ports in all three rows, and a 15-watt wireless charging pad.
In a first for Hyundai, the built-in, two-camera Dash Cam can provide continuous recording while driving. It can also work with various vehicle sensors to automatically record nearby movement while parked. Video segments can be accessed via the head unit display or via the MicroSD card located in the glovebox.
Palisade Calligraphy also offers a UV-C sterilization compartment within the center console, and a full-display digital center rearview mirror wide-angle camera to help the driver see behind the vehicle when the back window is obstructed by passengers or cargo.
Additionally, you can leave your key fob at home as Calligraphy supports the latest version of Hyundai Digital Key 2.0 to use your smartphone or smartwatch to lock, unlock, and start your Calligraphy. Digital keys can also be shared with family and friends, and Palisade Calligraphy also features Wi-Fi hotspot capability with Alexa Built-in Voice Assistant capability.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Drive Experience
On a wide variety of roads, including along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the new Palisade Calligraphy’s ride quality and quiet cabin were most impressive. That Calligraphy offers additional sound-deadening materials for a quieter ride is immediately noticeable. The Calligraphy trim also benefits from additional suspension tuning for comfort and control, which we fully explored on winding stretches of the PCH.
In a move most likely implemented to try and improve fuel economy, the new Palisade’s V6 has been reduced in displacement from 3.8-liters in the outgoing model, to 3.5-liters in the 2026 model. Our only criticism about the new Palisade is the smaller engine makes this a slower to accelerate vehicle. On several uphill stretches, the new engine that outputs 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque labored at times. The previous model produced 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. While the specs between the 2025 and 2026 models are close, the 2025 with the slightly larger engine delivered more spunk.
Stay tuned for our review soon of the 2026 Palisade Hybrid with a more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged four/electric motor outputting 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque.
2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT PRO
Unveiled at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, Hyundai has added its first-ever XRT PRO model to the Palisade lineup.
The XRT PRO brings true, offroad chops to the Palisade lineup. Key highlights include:
- Standard HTRAC AWD with terrain modes (Mud, Sand, Snow)
- Tow capacity: up to 5,000 pounds with factory tow hitch
- Upgraded cooling for longer towing hauls
- 4 inches ground clearance (+1 inch vs. non-PRO trims)
- All-terrain 255/60R18 tires
- Rear electronic limited-slip differential (exclusive)
- Recovery hooks (functional, canyon red, front & rear)
- Downhill Brake Control
- Real-time off-road info via the center touch screen: pitch & roll, compass, elevation
XRT PRO design is rugged, with exclusive 18-inch dark alloy wheels, dark exterior accents, and XRT PRO badging.
Inside, the new XRT PRO balances rugged practicality with comfort. Standard interior features include durable “H-Tex” leatherette seats (heated and ventilated up front), a heated steering wheel, rubber all-weather mats, and a great sounding Bose 14-speaker sound system.
Curated Off-Road Trail Experience
During our Calligraphy drive experience, we took an off-road detour to assess the trail chops of the new XRT PRO.
With higher ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and the PRO’s AWD drivetrain with terrain modes (Mud, Sand, Snow), Trail Stability Assist and Downhill Brake Control, we had a fun time driving it on trails specially designed for the drive experience.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT PRO is Hyundai’s boldest step yet into the off-road SUV segment. With true off-road capability while still delivering comfort, technology, and value, it will appeal to buyers who want a three-row SUV that can handle family life and weekend adventures.
2026 Palisade Calligraphy and XRT PRO Safety
The 2026 Palisade Calligraphy and XRT PRO are equipped with impressive levels of passive and active safety. Expect both models to score well in U.S. Government and insurance industry safety tests. Some highlights include: Advanced Driver Assistance features, and Hyundai’s latest SmartSense suite-including Highway Driving Assist 2, adaptive cruise with lane centering, forward collision avoidance, Surround View Monitor, remote smart parking assist, and blind-spot view monitor.
2026 Hyundai Palisade & XRT PRO Pricing
| Trim | MSRP (Destination Charge – $1,495) |
| XRT PRO | $49,870 |
| Calligraphy FWD/AWD | $54,560/$56,560
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You can find information and pricing for all Palisade trims at the Hyundai consumer website at Hyundaiusa.com
