The current Hyundai Palisade made its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show and received a facelift in April 2022 at the New York Auto Show, while also being updated for the 2023MY. Hyundai is now preparing a new Palisade sporting at least one hybrid powertrain, with this second generation reportedly debuting in 2025 and coming to the US for the 2026 model year.
Then fifth-generation Santa Fe, released back in August, has grown and is now close to the outgoing Palisade, with both offering three rows of seats. To reduce the risk of cannibalization, the new Palisade will be longer and have a more generous wheelbase (the current model sits at 196.7 inches/4,995 mm and 114.2 inches/2,900 mm).
However, while the Santa Fe shocked with its boxy, retro-themed look, Hyundai Vice President of Product Planning Olabisi Boyle told Car Buzz that the second-generation Palisade will pack a different kind of styling—the executive explained they will be “designing them for each segment space that’s appropriate“.
As such, we’re expecting a significant redesign for the Palisade, albeit one that will lean more towards the futuristic side with a more luxurious touch. And this is what you’ll find in the adjacent renderings of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade.
Thanks to digital creator NYMAMMOTH Design, we can see a new Hyundai Palisade that replaces the current SUV’s thick, vertical front light clusters with sleeker LED units. The front grille received a similar treatment and now uses an elegant mesh pattern.
Despite the styling change, the entire vehicle appears more supple thanks to a floating roof design sustained by the black finish and the floating pillar design.
There will be a Palisade hybrid in 2025, but no EV
The new Palisade hybrid will receive an electrified 2.5-liter engine instead of the current vehicle’s 3.5L V6. As for the superior gas engine, a role currently filled by a 3.8L GDi V6, this will be replaced by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that will increase both output and efficiency. The info comes from South Korean outlet ETNews and these engines should be another differentiating factor in the comparison involving the Santa Fe, which features smaller powertrains.
There will be no Palisade EV since that part of Hyundai’s range is covered by the Ioniq 7 seven-seater electric SUV coming next year (2025MY).
The Palisade Hybrid, as well as the rest of the range, is being designed with over-the-air (OTA) updates in mind. One of the most innovative features benefiting from this technology is the Hyundai Driving Pilot 3 semi-autonomous system (Level 3).
The said Korean report states that the new Palisade, hybrid included, will make its domestic debut in early 2025, while hitting the US market in June of the same year (once again, as a 2026 model).