What makes a good family car? Everyone has a different definition. For some, something as simple as a small hatchback suffices, whereas for those with bigger dreams and wallets, nothing that doesn’t come with a bespoke interior will satisfy. But for the most part, every family car needs to have a few essentials outside of compromises and all-out luxuries; things like space, comfort, safety, and entertainment features, and half-decent power to at least hold highway speeds comfortably.
It’s easy to find such family cars that match those criteria, but if you’re spending so much money, shouldn’t you also demand a bit of luxury? You should. And that’s where the Hyundai Palisade comes in. Starting at just under $40,000, the Palisade offers one of the best family SUV packages on sale today, all while offering enough luxury to never make you feel buyer’s remorse. Here’s how the Palisade nails the “family car” formula with a touch of luxury.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Offers Flagship Luxury On A Budget
The Hyundai Palisade shares its platform with the Kia Telluride, a brilliant SUV in its own right, and in its first generation, this Korean SUV became the top pick in the mid-size crossover segment. In 2026, the Palisade enters its second generation, promising to be better than ever. On the surface, it features a fresh new design that’s boxier, complete with cool details like a slider D-pillar and a prominent stalked set of DRLs. The modern presence has even won it the Red Dot and iF design awards.
Step inside the Palisade, and you’ll be greeted with a completely overhauled cabin, featuring a contemporary look and high-end materials. It still remains a three-row SUV that can seat up to eight, but looks a lot more luxurious than its price tag would suggest. Under the hood, it gets a 287-horsepower V-6 engine or a 329-horsepower hybrid powertrain. We wouldn’t expect sporty performance from this; it’s more tuned for family comfort and everyday driving.
The first-generation Hyundai Palisade was among the best and most affordable three-row midsize SUV options. The second-generation Palisade will stay right in that conversation. It delivers a compelling all-around package that makes everyday family driving feel less like a chore.
– Ty Duffy, CarBuzz Journalist
The Palisade Starts At Just $39,435
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts at $39,435 for the gas-powered variant, whereas the Palisade Hybrid raises the sticker price to $44,160. It’s best not to stop yourself at the base price, though, and upgrade to the SEL Premium trim, which offers the best balance between features and affordability. But if luxury is your end goal, the top-tier Calligraphy trim is the right pick. It brings plenty of luxury features that can make the $55,000 trim feel like a pricier Genesis.
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The Buzz Awards: Hyundai Palisade Named Best Family Vehicle For 2026
It’s a killer value, and now the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade is (even more) gorgeous both inside and out.
Named The Best Family Car For 2026 By CarBuzz
The only thing that matters more than anything else for a family car is space and comfort, and that’s where the Palisade does not hold back. That’s why it was named the CarBuzz Best Family Car For 2026. The Palisade can seat up to eight, with plenty of room in the first two rows. The second row is a bench seat as standard, but can be swapped for a pair of captain’s chairs with footrests and recline features. The final row is best for children or an occasional adult.
Family Road Trips Won’t Be An Issue With The Palisade
Unless you’re using all eight seats that the Palisade has to offer, you can enjoy cavernous cargo space for your family’s luggage. That’s because, with the third-row seats up, it only has 19.1 cubic feet, but stow the last row and the cargo hold expands to 46.3 cubic feet. That’s plenty for several suitcases and gear. Plus, on upper trims, the third row is power-adjustable with controls in the cargo hold, which should make it easier to turn the Palisade into a road-tripper.
Mid-Century Modern Furniture-Inspired Cabin
Even an econobox can win you over with just space, but what sets the Palisade apart is its luxurious feel, especially on the inside. To start with, the dashboard has rounded edges that are inspired by mid-century-modern furniture, and the entire cabin is flush with premium materials, especially on the Calligraphy trim. You’ll also find plenty of cubby storage and USB-C charging ports dotted around, with available features like a wireless charging pad, UV-C sanitizing tray, and digital IRVMs. With the right options, the Palisade has all the things you’d need from your family car.
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Class-Above Tech And Convenience Features
The Palisade might be one of the few cars in the segment to get the infotainment package right. At the heart of it is the large curved display that houses two 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauges and the other for infotainment. That’s complemented with the right amount of buttons on the center stack, along with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, and Hyundai Pay. And to make your road trip experience even richer, you can also opt for the available 14-speaker Bose audio system.
The More You Pay, The More Luxury You Unlock
For those on a tight budget, the base SE will suffice. It features all the right essentials you’d expect from a modern family hauler, including touchscreen infotainment, SmartSense safety suite, Parking Distance Warning (PDW), and more. As you upgrade to higher trims, you start unlocking some luxurious features, too, including a hands-free liftgate, power sunroof, surround view monitor, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats. Fortunately, being a Hyundai, you aren’t really paying much of a premium for these features.
Go For The Higher Trims For The Best Luxury
Though we’d repeat ourselves here: the Calligraphy is where the real luxury lies. It adds top-end features, including integrated front and rear dashcam, power second- and third-row seats, an extra interior trim option, and more. On the other hand, if you want something that can double up as a weekend adventurer, the XRT Pro is a good pick. It adds some off-road goodies, including an electric rear limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, more ground clearance, and recovery hooks.
Your Family Is In Safe Hands, Too
The Hyundai Palisade does not compromise on the essentials, either. All models of the SUV come standard with a host of driver-assistance tech, including automatic emergency braking, an adaptive cruise control system, and lane-keeping assist. Hyundai also offers some advanced features, including advanced adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature. These safety features, along with the Palisade’s solid build, have earned it the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ‘Top Safety Pick’ title.
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Comfort-First Performance With A Hybrid Powertrain Option
The performance is where the gas-powered Palisade can feel a bit like a compromise, depending on how you look at it. It’s powered by a 3.5-liter V6, producing 287 horsepower, which takes the SUV from zero to 60 miles per hour in eight seconds. That’s on the slower end of the segment, but performance isn’t what the Palisade is about, anyway. The SUV is tuned for family comfort, so right from the engine to handling, expect the ride quality to be plush, easy-going, and calm.
|
Power |
Torque |
0-60 MPH |
Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
287 HP |
260 LB-FT |
8 seconds |
129 MPH |
Palisade Hybrid Brings Better Performance And Efficiency
That doesn’t mean you have to compromise on performance. You can even opt for the Palisade Hybrid, which is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors that are mounted in the six-speed automatic case. This powertrain produces 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, giving it a significantly quicker zero to 60 miles per hour time of 6.6 seconds. Thanks to the hybrid engine, you can also expect the added performance to be balanced with better fuel economy.
|
Power |
Torque |
0-60 MPH |
Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
329 HP |
339 LB-FT |
6.6 seconds |
130 MPH |
Fixes The Fuel Economy Issue Of The Older Palisade
Speaking of, the first-gen Palisade’s biggest gripe probably was its fuel economy. That no longer seems to be the case in the second-gen Palisade, especially in the hybrid model. According to the EPA, the hybrid returns 31 miles per gallon combined with FWD and 29 miles per gallon with AWD. Meanwhile, the gas-powered Palisade returns 21 miles per gallon combined with FWD, with the AWD dropping the figure down by 1 mile per gallon.
|
Palisade XRT Pro |
Palisade AWD |
Palisade FWD |
Palisade Hybrid AWD |
Palisade Hybrid FWD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19/16/22 MPG |
20/18/24 MPG |
21/19/25 MPG |
29/29/30 MPG |
31/31/32 MPG |
*fuel economy figures shown as combined/city/highway
The Palisade Is All The Car Your Family Will Ever Need
Put everything together, and things start looking very positive for the Hyundai Palisade. It’s got a stylish design that can hang with more expensive rivals, and the interior cabin promises class-above luxury and premium features that are hard to find at this price range. Space isn’t compromised, either, and while some may find the gas-only Palisade’s power on the lower end, it shouldn’t be an issue for everyday driving duties. The Palisade isn’t here to win performance awards, anyway. Instead, it shines where it matters more for family: comfort, luxury, and safety.