2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Review, the biggest hybrid family SUV on sale here

The 2026 Palisade is bigger than the outgoing one. Hyundai has lengthened the wheelbase, widened the rear track, and added a proper three-row hybrid powertrain for the first time in this nameplate. It is now the largest hybrid family SUV on sale in Australia.

The hybrid system pairs a 2.5L turbo petrol with two electric motors, all-wheel drive standard, for a combined output of approximately 246 kW. Hyundai claims around 6.5 L/100 km combined, which is genuinely a big deal in a car this size. For context, the petrol-only outgoing Palisade was a 10 L/100 km car in family use. Halving that with a hybrid drivetrain changes the running-cost equation entirely.

Inside, this is where Hyundai has put the money. The dash design borrows from the Ioniq 5 N and looks deliberately modern. The second-row captain's chairs are heated, ventilated, and recline. The third row, which used to be the Palisade's weak spot, now fits two adults under 180 cm on a one-hour trip without complaint. Boot space behind the third row is 311 litres with the seats up, expanding to over 2,400 litres with both rows folded. The Coles trolley test passes comfortably.

The driver assist suite is HDA 2 (Highway Driving Assist), which does lane changes and curve handling without you needing to nudge the wheel. The blind-spot view in the cluster (camera feed when you indicate) is one of the best features in the car. The 12.3-inch touchscreen with native Google Maps and over-the-air updates is a generational leap over the last Palisade.

Cartell Verdict

The Palisade Hybrid is the seven-seat the Australian family market has been waiting for. It is bigger than a Kia Sorento Hybrid, more efficient than a Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid, and visually less awkward than the new LDV Mifa 9. If you have three kids, you do regular interstate trips, and you want a hybrid rather than a diesel, this is the one. Wait for the Calligraphy spec if you want the captain's chairs.