Hyundai's Hybrid Power Play: Palisade Nabs Prestigious 10Best Award

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA – December 16, 2025

Hyundai has secured a coveted spot on Car and Driver's prestigious 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for 2026 with its all-new Palisade Hybrid, a significant achievement that underscores the brand's growing dominance in the family vehicle segment. The win marks the fourth consecutive year a Hyundai model has earned a place on the influential list, but it is particularly notable for the Palisade Hybrid, which captured the honor in its debut year.

The award validates Hyundai's ambitious redesign of its flagship SUV, which now pairs a powerful and efficient hybrid system with a suite of luxury-level technology and comfort features. The editors at Car and Driver, known for their rigorous, two-week evaluation process that assesses over 100 vehicles on performance, value, and driving engagement, were clearly impressed. "A potent powertrain and a top-tier interior put the new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid on the board in its debut year," said Car and Driver Editor-in-Chief Tony Quiroga, summarizing the qualities that propelled the vehicle past its competitors.

For Hyundai, the recognition is a strategic victory. "For us, the Palisade Hybrid making Car and Driver's 10Best Trucks and SUVs list is more than a win; it's a marker of where the market is moving," said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America. The award signals that the market is ready for a family hauler that makes no compromises on capability, space, or the intuitive technology that modern families demand.

A New Benchmark for Hybrid Performance

At the heart of the 2026 Palisade Hybrid's appeal is its all-new powertrain, a sophisticated system engineered to deliver both robust performance and remarkable efficiency. Hyundai has paired a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two electric motors integrated into a six-speed automatic transmission. The result is a combined system output of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque—figures that place it at the top of its class.

This potent output significantly outmuscles key competitors like the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (243 hp) and Kia Sorento Hybrid (227 hp). It even delivers power comparable to performance-oriented options like the Toyota Grand Highlander's Hybrid Max powertrain, but with a focus on smooth, family-friendly delivery. The choice of a conventional six-speed automatic transmission, rather than the continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) common in many hybrids, provides a more responsive and engaging driving feel that has been praised in early reviews.

This power doesn't come at the expense of efficiency. The front-wheel-drive model boasts an EPA-estimated 35 mpg on the highway, enabling an impressive internally-targeted driving range of up to 619 miles on a single tank. This combination of power and range, along with a respectable 4,000-pound towing capacity, ensures the Palisade Hybrid is as capable on long-distance road trips as it is on the daily school run. A gasoline-only 3.5-liter V6 remains an option for those who prioritize a higher 5,000-pound towing capacity.

Redefining Family Comfort and Technology

Beyond its impressive mechanicals, the 2026 Palisade makes a compelling case with a cabin that has been redesigned from the ground up to prioritize space, luxury, and intuitive technology. The vehicle is larger in nearly every dimension, with a 2.7-inch longer wheelbase and a 2.5-inch increase in overall length. This translates directly into a more spacious interior with easier access to a genuinely adult-friendly third row, which is now available with power-folding, sliding, and reclining mechanisms, along with heating.

Hyundai has introduced a host of features typically reserved for premium luxury brands. New first- and second-row Relaxation seats offer extended recline angles and deployable leg supports to reduce fatigue on long journeys. The interior design itself is more refined, with a horizontal dashboard layout, soft-touch materials, and a sophisticated ambiance inspired by high-end home furnishings.

Technology is seamlessly integrated to simplify the driving experience. A panoramic curved display houses dual 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, which comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. For families with multiple devices, the inclusion of 100-watt capable USB-C ports in each row is a game-changer, powerful enough to rapidly charge laptops and tablets. Further enhancing convenience is the latest Digital Key 2.0, which allows owners to use a compatible smartphone or smartwatch to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle. A new EV-like Stay Mode allows extended use of the climate and infotainment systems while parked by drawing power from the hybrid battery, perfect for tailgating or waiting in the car without idling the engine.

A Fortress on Wheels with Advanced Safety

Hyundai has long made safety a cornerstone of its brand, and the 2026 Palisade elevates that commitment. The vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive suite of SmartSense active safety features, but it also introduces several new, forward-thinking technologies.

In a first for the brand, the Palisade comes with an available built-in, dual-camera Dash Cam. This integrated system provides continuous recording while driving and can automatically record nearby movements when parked, offering owners a new level of security and peace of mind. This feature eliminates the need for cumbersome aftermarket solutions and provides clear evidence in the event of an accident or vandalism.

Structural and passive safety have also been enhanced. The new Palisade features ten standard airbags and, crucially, adds seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters to the third row. This addition ensures that passengers in the rearmost seats receive the same high level of protection as those in the front, a detail that families will surely appreciate. These new features supplement a robust list of advanced driver-assistance systems, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, creating a comprehensive safety net for all occupants.

Hyundai’s Winning Streak and the Future of the SUV

The Palisade Hybrid's 10Best award is not an isolated event but rather the latest evidence of Hyundai's successful long-term strategy. Securing this award for the fourth consecutive year across different models demonstrates a consistent ability to produce vehicles that excel according to Car and Driver's demanding criteria of fulfilling their mission, offering strong value, and being genuinely engaging to drive. This consistent recognition is steadily elevating Hyundai's brand reputation and proving it can compete with, and often surpass, long-established segment leaders.

The Palisade Hybrid perfectly encapsulates the company's forward-looking vision. It sits at the intersection of two major market trends: the unwavering popularity of three-row SUVs and the growing consumer demand for electrification. By delivering a hybrid system that enhances performance rather than compromising it, and wrapping it in a package filled with premium materials and groundbreaking technology, Hyundai is not just following trends—it is setting them. The 2026 Palisade Hybrid stands as a clear statement that for the modern family, the future of driving involves no compromises between power, efficiency, safety, and luxury.