Luxury badges no longer guarantee the best luxury experience.Over the past decade, mainstream automakers have dramatically improved the quality of their interiors, technology, and comfort, to the point where some family SUVs now rival premium brands while costing thousands less.One three-row SUV demonstrates this shift better than almost anything else on sale today.
It offers genuine luxury touches like Nappa leather, heated seats in all three rows, premium audio, and a refined ride, all while undercutting established luxury SUVs by a substantial margin.In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Hyundai and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.Related Audi's new Q9 headlights use 25,600 tiny LEDs to stop blinding other drivers Oncoming drivers see something closer to a low-beam effect even while the Q9's high beams remain on.
Posts By Carl Anthony The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a luxury 3-row SUV with a mainstream badge It's much cheaper than its luxury rivals Close Hyundai is a brand that used to be associated with super cheap cars, and they are still fighting against that reputation today.They have come a long way from where they started, though, and SUVs like the 2026 Hyundai Palisade prove it.It is a plush, high-quality family SUV that comes loaded with high-end features as standard.
Top trims may not come cheap, but they do undercut traditional luxury options by thousands and come better equipped.The Calligraphy is a luxury trim despite its badge Models Starting MSRP SE $49,435 SEL $41,940 SEL Convenience $43,370 SEL Premium $45,300 Limited $49,770 XRT Pro $49,870 Calligraphy $54,560 The Hyundai Palisade has always existed as a premium option in the three-row SUV segment, despite a price that is competitive with a lot of its mainstream rivals.For the 2026 model year, it enters a new generation, with updated exterior and interior styling, bringing it more in line with the brand's current design language.
It has also gotten a little bigger, meaning more space on the inside, and it comes fitted with nicer materials.If you're looking for luxury on a budget, the SEL Premium is a good option.It comes with niceties like leatherette upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second row seats, a 360-degree camera, and a heated steering wheel.
However, if you want the full luxury experience, we think that the Calligraphy trim is a real competitor against traditional luxury options, coming with things like Nappa leather upholstery, a dual-panel sunroof, acoustic laminated windows, heated third row seats, and a premium Bose sound system.It might cost just under $55,000, but that is still thousands less than similarly equipped luxury three-row SUVs, like the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7, both of which start over $60,000.Related This everyday SUV has an interior better than luxury rivals You get luxury-level comfort and tech in this SUV, without paying luxury-level prices.
Posts By Adam Gray Inside, the Palisade is incredibly spacious and loaded with luxuries Hyundai improved on an already fantastic formula Close The Palisade has consistently been one of the most spacious three-row SUVs on the market, with loads of room in all three rows.As mentioned, it has gotten a little bigger for the 2026 model year, meaning that it is even more practical than ever before.As expected, the interior is packed with high-quality materials, even on the most affordable models, and tons of standard tech features.
Plenty of room for the whole family Front row headroom 41.5 inches Front row legroom 44.2 inches Second row headroom 40.7 inches Second row legroom 43 inches Third row headroom 37.8 inches Third row legroom 32.1 inches Cargo capacity (behind third row) 19.1 cubic feet Inside, this Hyundai feels downright palatial.There is a ton of space in the first two rows, and even taller passengers will feel like they have enough room to kick back and stretch out their legs.The third row is pretty spacious too, and while it is mainly meant for the kids, you can definitely fit adults back there in a pinch.
Cargo capacity is generous, even with the third row in use.Drop the back-most seats down, and you get a trunk with 46.3 cubes of space.Lower trim levels come with seating for up to eight, with the back two rows being benches that can accommodate three people each.
Higher trim levels, however, come with captain's chairs in the second row, dropping capacity down to seven.The updated Palisade now wears a similar design on the inside to the Ioniq 9 EV.It is very stylized, which will please as many buyers as it puts off.
One thing that you can't complain about is the material quality, which is fantastic in even the most affordable trims, and luxurious in the top Calligraphy models.Hyundai delivers tons of contemporary tech in the Palisade Every model comes equipped with a large, curved dual-screen setup.Two 12.3-inch screens share a thin bezel, with one acting as the gauge display and the other housing the infotainment system.
The infotainment system is easy to navigate and we appreciate how crisp and responsive it is.You get a lot of standard features here, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, on-board Wi-Fi, built-in navigation, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.Top trims come equipped with things like a wireless smartphone charging pad, a digital rearview mirror, a UV-C sanitizing compartment, and a premium 14-speaker Bose sound system.
Related The hybrid SUV that makes every gallon go farther This hybrid SUV delivers the best highway fuel economy, combining outstanding efficiency with low ownership costs and everyday practicality.Posts By Adam Gray Hyundai offers you a choice of powertrains for the first time ever The Palisade can now be had as a hybrid The Palisade has traditionally been powered by the same V-6 for some time now, with no other powertrain options on offer.For the first time, the new generation of the Palisade can be had with a hybrid setup.
The only trims that can be equipped with the hybrid setup are the SEL, SEL Premium, Limited, and Calligraphy, and there is a $2,220 premium over the gas-only models, but the fuel savings make the upgrade worth it.The new hybrid setup solves the Palisade's biggest weakness Model City Highway Combined Hybrid FWD 33 MPG 35 MPG 34 MPG Hybrid AWD 29 MPG 30 MPG 29 MPG V-6 FWD 19 MPG 25 MPG 21 MPG V-6 AWD 18 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG Hyundai has always struggled a bit when it comes to efficiency, with their gas engines often falling short of competitors in terms of EPA ratings.This is obvious by the level of efficiency achieved by the models powered by the traditional V-6.
Hybrid models, however, are much thriftier, especially if you stick with front-wheel drive.A decent amount of power on tap, regardless Engine 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four (hybrid) Transmission 8-speed automatic 6-speed automatic Horsepower 287 HP 329 HP Torque 260 LB-FT 339 LB-FT Driveline FWD or AWD FWD or AWD 0-60 MPH 8.1 seconds 6.6 seconds Max towing capacity 5,000 pounds 4,000 lbs The Palisade comes standard with a naturally aspirated V-6, the same engine that powered the previous generation of the three-row SUV.It offers a reasonable amount of grunt, but generally feels a little lethargic off the line.
Upgrading to the hybrid feels like a no-brainer.Its fuel savings will pay for its premium over the gas model pretty quickly, and you get a lot more power and notably better acceleration.Regardless of whether you go for the gas or the hybrid model, the Palisade isn't a car that is meant to be driven quickly.
Handling is mediocre, and the steering feel is bland.What it does well is comfort, with a ride quality that is much better than you'd expect, given its mainstream badge.Hyundai's Palisade punches well above its weight The gap between luxury brands and mainstream brands is becoming smaller and smaller by the day, and SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade prove it.
Its highest trim levels cost thousands of dollars less than luxury rivals, but they come equipped with more luxury features from the get-go.SUVs like this make it more apparent than ever before that buying a luxury car means paying a premium for a logo rather than unique features.
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