Hyundai has revealed an all-new second-generation Palisade for the 2026 model year in South Korea.
The company traditionally sells the same 3-row midsize SUV in the South Korean and U.S. markets (though it is retuned for American tastes). So, what you see here is likely a preview of the all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade we’ll get in the States soon.
The new model wears a tailored look and hosts a seating capacity of up to nine. Hyundai has kept mechanical details under wraps so far.
Going for Elegant, Not Rugged
Car design follows trends like fashion design does. In recent years, the trend in SUV design has been rugged. Even family-oriented crossovers long used as minivan alternatives have come out of makeovers looking ready for a jungle expedition.
Hyundai bucks that trend with the new Palisade, giving shoppers something that would sit more naturally outside a luxury hotel than a mountain cabin.
It’s boxy but an elegant sort of boxy. The brand’s many-celled daytime running lights have given way to fewer, larger stacked cells beside a linear grille pocked with decorative brightwork.
The model used in marketing photos wears a variation on the two-tone look that has grown popular. It has a satin-finished line of trim all around the base of the roof and on the D-pillars. Above and below, it’s a green so deep it’s almost black. The bit of flair lends elegance to the design.
Softer Look Inside, 9-Seat Version Possible
Interior shots show a softer, more leather-forward design than the current Palisade. As in many current designs, two flat screens sit side-by-side like one large screen. But they’re set into a leather-look dashboard (no word on whether the material is real hide) rather than attached to it.
Hyundai has resisted the urge to go Tesla on us – there are physical buttons and knobs that appear as if they handle most climate and entertainment duties.
The Korean Car Blog reports that the new Palisade is a 9-seater “with a center console that doubles as a middle seat in the front row, making it ideal for various uses.”
We’d note, however, that the trick seat might not make it to the U.S. Nine-seat SUVs get access to bus lanes in South Korea. That makes second-row benches popular there. In the U.S., where there’s no commuting benefit to nine seats over eight, many buyers opt for second-row captain’s chairs instead.
No Mechanical Details Yet
Hyundai hasn’t discussed mechanical details. The 2025 Palisade on dealer lots today uses a 291-horsepower V6 engine. Many automakers have switched to turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplants for their midsize SUVs in recent redesigns. That lets them keep a similar power rating while improving fuel economy. We wouldn’t be surprised if Hyundai followed suit.
We’ll bring more information as the company reveals it.