the 2026 Hyundai Palisade SUV was named as a finalist for the 2026 North American Utility of the Year award by the North American Car of the Year [NACTOY] jury.
The three finalists in each category were announced at this year’s AutoMobility LA media days at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, Calif. The winners will be announced on January 14, 2026, at the opening of the Detroit Auto Show’s media days.
“Once again, these finalists show the wide range of choices that consumers have in the marketplace,” said NACTOY president, Jeff Gilbert. “Our jury of distinguished auto reporters has come up with a great selection of fantastic vehicles that truly reflect the best of the best.”
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade SUV is photographed in Austin, Texas on November 10, 2025.
“As we are named a NACTOY finalist, we are exceptionally grateful,” stated Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. “The team’s disciplined engineering and customer-first design are what truly travel. Palisade was built to serve families exceptionally well, while further strengthening the overall SUV lineup with an HEV option that opens the door for even more households. We appreciate that buyers consistently come back to the same sentiment: Palisade feels engineered for real life, Hyundai thought of everyone.”
All-new for 2026, the second-generation Palisade is a mid-size three-row family SUV boasting a sophisticated design, class-leading interior refinement, and a full complement of advanced driver assist systems.
Available with the buyer’s choice of a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter gasoline V6 or a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. Palisade’s first-ever hybrid offers up to 34 miles per gallon and over 600 miles of range.
A new off-road-focused XRT PRO includes heightened ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a model-exclusive electronic rear limited-slip differential.