The Hyundai Palisade has quietly turned into one of the most important three-row SUVs on the road, and the numbers from 2025 prove it. The Hyundai Palisade just logged its strongest global sales yet, with families and fleet buyers around the world snapping up the big crossover in record volume. That momentum is now colliding with a fresh redesign, a new hybrid, and a trophy case that keeps filling up, setting the stage for an even bigger run in 2026.
What started as Hyundai’s bid to get a seat at the full-size family table has become a core pillar of the brand’s lineup. The Hyundai Palisade is no longer the upstart alternative to established nameplates, it is the benchmark many shoppers are cross-shopping first, and the latest wave of product updates shows Hyundai knows it.
How the Palisade Became a Breakout Hit
The Palisade’s breakout year did not happen by accident. Hyundai spent the last few seasons turning its three-row into a global workhorse, and the payoff arrived when The Hyundai Palisade posted its best-ever worldwide sales in 2025, with demand especially strong in markets that prize space and comfort. That surge reflects how quickly the SUV has moved from “nice surprise” to default choice for buyers who want minivan practicality without the sliding doors. It also underscores how effectively Hyundai has used the Palisade to pull shoppers up from compact crossovers into something larger and more profitable.
Hyundai has been just as aggressive on the product side. At NEW YORK, the company used the New York International Auto Show to unveil the all-new 2026 Palisade, describing the three-row SUV as “bigger, better, further” and signaling a second-generation reset for the nameplate. The updated Palisade leans into a more upscale design, a roomier cabin, and longer-range road trip credentials, all aimed at keeping those new customers from drifting back to rivals when it is time to trade in.
Award Momentum and the Hybrid Turning Point
Sales success is one thing, but the Palisade’s recent run through the awards circuit shows it is resonating with critics as well as customers. Earlier this year, the Hyundai Palisade was named North American Utility, a high-profile nod that put the SUV at the top of a crowded field of crossovers. Hyundai Motor has been quick to point out that PALISADE plays a pivotal role in its global SUV portfolio, and the company framed the North American recognition as validation of its strategy to offer diverse powertrains and family-focused packaging in one flagship SUV.
The accolades have not stopped there. The Hyundai Palisade Wins 2026 MotorWeek Drivers, Choice Award, reinforcing its status as a go-to pick for shoppers who want a big, comfortable hauler that still feels manageable in daily driving. Reviewers who sampled the 2026 model have highlighted how the latest Palisade feels more refined and more luxurious, with one early First Drive noting that, although a highly anticipated hybrid Palisade is on the way, the gas-only V6 already delivers a quieter, more composed experience than before. That combination of comfort and capability is exactly what keeps three-row buyers loyal.
Hybrid Power, Dealer Buzz, and What Comes Next
The next big chapter for the Palisade is electrification, and Hyundai is treating it as more than a token add-on. At FOUNTAIN, VALLEY, Calif, Hyundai announced that the all-new Palisade Hybrid had been named to a prestigious 10Best list, a strong early signal that the electrified version is not just about fuel economy but about raising the overall driving experience. The Hyundai team is positioning the hybrid as a full-fledged member of the lineup, not a niche variant, which should help the SUV stay relevant as family buyers grow more conscious of running costs without wanting to give up space.
Dealers are already leaning into that story. One retailer notes that, heading into the 2026 model year, the Palisade is about to get even better, with a complete second-generation redesign that brings sharper styling, more advanced tech, and greater capability than ever before. That Heading into 2026 message is filtering down to showroom floors, where the Palisade is increasingly treated as a halo product that can pull in shoppers who might otherwise be looking at luxury brands. The broader retail world is shifting too, with rivals like Subaru reworking dealership design for the first time since 2007, planning a makeover that would transform much of a store’s footprint from the facade to the lot surrounding the showroom and the front-of-house inventory. In that context, Hyundai’s decision to give the Palisade a more upscale presence and a hybrid option looks less like a nice-to-have and more like table stakes in a fast-evolving SUV market.
All of this adds up to a simple reality: the Palisade Just Had Its Biggest Year Ever because Hyundai treated it like a long-term franchise, not a one-off hit. With global sales peaking, a fresh 2026 redesign, a headline-grabbing hybrid, and a growing stack of awards, the big three-row is positioned to keep that streak going. For families shopping in the heart of the SUV market, the Palisade is no longer the underdog, it is the one everyone else has to beat.
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