2026 Hyundai Palisade revealed with boxy design, nine seats

• A second-generation Hyundai Palisade boasting a boxy design and seating for up to nine has debuted
• The new Palisade is expected to reach the U.S. in 2025 as a 2026 model
• Full specifications, including pricing, will be announced closer to the market launch

Hyundai has revealed a new generation of its Palisade three-row midsize SUV.

The SUV debuted late on Friday in Korea, and the version shown is for that market only. The version destined for the U.S. should debut shortly. It’s due on sale next year as a 2026 model.

The Palisade is the corporate cousin of the Kia Telluride, and a redesigned version of the Kia will also debut shortly. A camouflaged prototype was recently spotted testing in the U.S.

The new Palisade features a significant departure from the styling of the outgoing generation, which has been on sale since the 2020 model year. There’s the same boxy theme Hyundai has been introducing across its SUVs since the launch of the 2024 Santa Fe, as well as stacked headlights formed from five individual slats for the daytime running lights, which flank the main projectors. These blend in with a flat, multi-slatted grille. At the rear, the design of the lights is similar to the outgoing model but with the same stacked design used for the headlights.

The interior is an even bigger departure from the outgoing generation and looks to take the Hyundai flagship even further down the premium route. Dual 12.3-inch digital screens in a single display panel face the driver but are integrated in a niche in the dash instead of the more common floating design. Multiple physical buttons sit in the center stack, while additional controls can be found on the steering wheel.

The only features in the center console, which is separated from the dash, appear to be charging ports and cupholders. There’s a reason for this: the center console can be converted into a middle seat for the first row, which lifts the seating capacity of the Palisade to nine. It isn’t clear whether this option will be available in markets outside of Korea. The second and third rows each come with three-seat benches as standard, but the second-row bench can be swapped out for a pair of captain’s chairs.

Hyundai hasn’t provided any details on the powertrains, though rumors point to Hyundai offering the new generation with the choice of a hybrid option using a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder as its gas component and a turbo-4 option replacing today’s standalone 3.8-liter V-6. For buyers interested in an electric vehicle, Hyundai has introduced the Ioniq 9 three-row SUV. The Ioniq 9 starts sales early next year, also a 2026 model.

The Palisade is one of Hyundai’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. The SUV’s sales have averaged more than 80,000 units annually since launch, and 2023’s tally of 89,509 units was the best on record. The redesign should keep that momentum going, even as the Palisade faces new competition from various EV entries, including Hyundai’s own Ioniq 9.