The all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid has been named to WardsAuto’s 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list. Wards credited the SUV for pairing hybrid efficiency with mechanical all-wheel drive, 329 horsepower and an estimated 619-mile driving range in a three-row body.
The honor is Hyundai’s 18th product win, and only the second time in the program’s 32 years that a Hyundai three-row utility’s powertrain has made the list.
What Powers It
The winning powertrain is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid with a 6-speed automatic transmission, producing 329 horsepower and 339 lb.-ft. of torque combined. It comes with front-wheel drive or HTRAC all-wheel drive.
Hyundai puts highway economy at 30-plus mpg and estimates maximum towing at 4,000 pounds. To make ownership feel closer to an EV, the hybrid adds a Stay Mode function that monitors the battery while parked, so the infotainment and climate systems can run for longer.
What the Judges Said
Dr. Kyoung Pyo Ha, director of electrified propulsion development at Hyundai America Technical Center (HATCI), said the Palisade Hybrid was engineered to give buyers the capability they expect from a three-row SUV while improving efficiency considerably.
Robin Warner, program manager and judge at WardsAuto, said Hyundai delivered a smooth, quiet hybrid without giving up a fully mechanical AWD system, keeping the same sure-footed traction on slippery surfaces while cutting time and money spent at the pump.
Only all-new or significantly improved powertrains are eligible, along with the previous year’s returning winners. Wards judges evaluated 26 nominees in real-world driving, scoring horsepower, torque, NVH, observed efficiency and technological innovation.