You don’t need a luxury badge to get luxury features-This SUV proves it

Luxurious badges now not assure the very best luxurious expertise. Over the previous decade, mainstream automakers have dramatically improved the standard of their interiors, know-how, and luxury, to the purpose the place some household SUVs now rival premium manufacturers whereas costing hundreds much less.

One three-row SUV demonstrates this shift higher than virtually anything on sale at the moment. It provides real luxurious touches like Nappa leather-based, heated seats in all three rows, premium audio, and a refined journey, all whereas undercutting established luxurious SUVs by a considerable margin.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a luxurious 3-row SUV with a mainstream badge

It is less expensive than its luxurious rivals

Hyundai is a model that was related to tremendous low-cost vehicles, and they’re nonetheless combating in opposition to that status at the moment. They’ve come a good distance from the place they began, although, and SUVs just like the 2026 Hyundai Palisade show it. It’s a plush, high-quality household SUV that comes loaded with high-end options as customary. Prime trims could not come low-cost, however they do undercut conventional luxurious choices by hundreds and come better equipped.

The Calligraphy is a luxurious trim regardless of its badge

Fashions	Beginning MSRP
SE	$49,435
SEL	$41,940
SEL Comfort	$43,370
SEL Premium	$45,300
Restricted	$49,770
XRT Professional	$49,870
Calligraphy	$54,560

The Hyundai Palisade has at all times existed as a premium choice within the three-row SUV phase, regardless of a value that’s aggressive with a whole lot of its mainstream rivals. For the 2026 mannequin 12 months, it enters a brand new technology, with up to date exterior and inside styling, bringing it extra in step with the model’s present design language. It has additionally gotten slightly larger, which means extra space on the within, and it comes fitted with nicer supplies.

When you’re on the lookout for luxurious on a finances, the SEL Premium is an efficient choice. It comes with niceties like leatherette upholstery, heated and ventilated entrance and second row seats, a 360-degree digital camera, and a heated steering wheel.

Nevertheless, if you need the complete luxurious expertise, we predict that the Calligraphy trim is an actual competitor in opposition to conventional luxurious choices, coming with issues like Nappa leather-based upholstery, a dual-panel sunroof, acoustic laminated home windows, heated third row seats, and a premium Bose sound system. It may cost slightly below $55,000, however that’s nonetheless hundreds lower than equally outfitted luxurious three-row SUVs, just like the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7, each of which begin over $60,000.

Inside, the Palisade is extremely spacious and loaded with luxuries

Hyundai improved on an already implausible method

The Palisade has constantly been some of the spacious three-row SUVs available on the market, with a great deal of room in all three rows. As talked about, it has gotten slightly larger for the 2026 mannequin 12 months, which means that it’s much more sensible than ever earlier than. As anticipated, the inside is filled with high-quality supplies, even on essentially the most inexpensive fashions, and tons of normal tech options.

Loads of room for the entire household

Entrance row headroom	41.5 inches
Entrance 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 capability (behind third row)	19.1 cubic toes

Inside, this Hyundai feels downright palatial. There’s a ton of house within the first two rows, and even taller passengers will really feel like they’ve sufficient room to chill and stretch out their legs. The third row is fairly spacious too, and whereas it’s primarily meant for the youngsters, you’ll be able to undoubtedly match adults again there in a pinch. Cargo capability is beneficiant, even with the third row in use. Drop the back-most seats down, and also you get a trunk with 46.3 cubes of house.

Decrease trim ranges include seating for as much as eight, with the again two rows being benches that may accommodate three individuals every. Increased trim ranges, nevertheless, include captain’s chairs within the second row, dropping capability all the way down to seven.

The up to date Palisade now wears an analogous design on the within to the Ioniq 9 EV. It is extremely stylized, which is able to please as many consumers because it places off. One factor which you can’t complain about is the fabric high quality, which is implausible in even essentially the most inexpensive trims, and opulent within the high Calligraphy fashions.

Hyundai delivers tons of latest tech within the Palisade

Each mannequin comes outfitted with a big, curved dual-screen setup. Two 12.3-inch screens share a skinny bezel, with one appearing because the gauge show and the opposite housing the infotainment system. The infotainment system is simple to navigate and we respect how crisp and responsive it’s.

You get a whole lot of customary options right here, together with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, on-board Wi-Fi, built-in navigation, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Prime trims come outfitted with issues like a wi-fi smartphone charging pad, a digital rearview mirror, a UV-C sanitizing compartment, and a premium 14-speaker Bose sound system.

Hyundai provides you a alternative of powertrains for the primary time ever

The Palisade can now be had as a hybrid

Credit score: Hyundai

The Palisade has historically been powered by the identical V-6 for a while now, with no different powertrain choices on supply. For the primary time, the brand new technology of the Palisade will be had with a hybrid setup. The one trims that may be outfitted with the hybrid setup are the SEL, SEL Premium, Restricted, and Calligraphy, and there’s a $2,220 premium over the gas-only fashions, however the gasoline financial savings make the improve price it.

The brand new hybrid setup solves the Palisade’s largest weak spot

Hyundai has at all times struggled a bit in terms of effectivity, with their fuel engines usually falling wanting opponents when it comes to EPA rankings. That is apparent by the extent of effectivity achieved by the fashions powered by the normal V-6. Hybrid fashions, nevertheless, are a lot thriftier, particularly should you stick to front-wheel drive.

A good quantity of energy on faucet, regardless

The Palisade comes customary with a naturally aspirated V-6, the identical engine that powered the earlier technology of the three-row SUV. It provides an affordable quantity of grunt, however usually feels slightly torpid off the road. Upgrading to the hybrid looks like a no brainer. Its gasoline financial savings can pay for its premium over the fuel mannequin fairly rapidly, and you get a lot more power and notably higher acceleration.

No matter whether or not you go for the fuel or the hybrid mannequin, the Palisade is not a automobile that’s meant to be pushed rapidly. Dealing with is mediocre, and the steering really feel is bland. What it does nicely is consolation, with a journey high quality that’s a lot better than you’d count on, given its mainstream badge.

Hyundai’s Palisade punches nicely above its weight

The hole between luxurious manufacturers and mainstream manufacturers is changing into smaller and smaller by the day, and SUVs just like the Hyundai Palisade show it. Its highest trim ranges value hundreds of {dollars} lower than luxurious rivals, however they arrive outfitted with extra luxurious options from the get-go. SUVs like this make it extra obvious than ever earlier than that purchasing a luxurious automobile means paying a premium for a emblem reasonably than distinctive options.