The Hyundai Palisade (Korean: 현대 팰리세이드) is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured and marketed by Hyundai Motor Company since late 2018.
It replaced the Maxcruz (also known as Santa Fe XL outside of South Korea) as the flagship SUV under the Hyundai brand. A second-generation Palisade was introduced for the 2026 model's first hybrid powertrain.
The term palisade can refer to a bluff or cliff along a body of water, and Hyundai associated the model name with Pacific Palisades in Southern California.
Contents
First generation (LX2; 2018)
Overview
The first-generation Palisade debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show on 28 November 2018, following Hyundai's Grandmaster concept unveiled in June 2018. At launch, it was positioned as Hyundai's largest SUV and flagship three-row model, measuring 4,980 mm (196.1 in) long with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm (114.2 in). It has 21 cu ft (595 L) of cargo space behind the third row and 87 cu ft (2,464 L) with both rows folded down. Like its predecessor, the Palisade features three rows of seating, with seating for up to eight passengers when equipped with a second-row bench seat or seven passengers with the optional second-row captain seat. The model had a coefficient drag of 0.33.
Introduction of the right-hand drive model started in December 2020 in Australia and Indonesia. CKD assembly in Russia started in 2020 by Avtotor for domestic sales.
Markets
The Palisade went on sale in Indonesia in January 2021 after December 2020 introduction. It is offered in Prime and Signature trim levels with all-wheel drive only available for the latter trim and all variants use a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine. The facelifted model debuted in July 2022. The XRT variant was made available in June 2024.
The Palisade was launched in Malaysia on 16 December 2021. At launch, it is offered in Luxe and Exec variants with available 7- and 8-seater configurations and available with two engine option; a 3.8-litre V6 petrol front-wheel drive (Luxe) or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel all-wheel drive (Exec). The facelifted model debuted in January 2023 with same seating configuration and engine options as the pre-facelift model.
The Palisade was launched in the Philippines in April 2019. At launch, it was offered as a sole variant with 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine and a 7-seat configuration. The facelifted model debuted in January 2023 only available on special order.
The Palisade was launched in Singapore on 30 April 2021 in a sole variant with a 8-seater configuration and uses a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. The facelifted model was introduced in January 2023 and was offered in a seven-seat configuration.
In South Korea, the Palisade was launched on 11 December 2018 as Hyundai's flagship SUV, with 2.2-litre diesel and 3.8-litre gasoline engine options. The first-generation model was produced at Hyundai's Ulsan plant complex. The car sold faster than expected in South Korea, with over 52,000 units sold by February 2019. The unprecedented demand led to significant delays in supply throughout 2019, with customers having to wait up to 9 months to receive their vehicle. The K-pop group BTS was chosen as the brand ambassador for the new model of Hyundai and have since been involved in numerous commercials and ad campaigns in South Korea and U.S.
The Palisade was launched in Thailand on 8 November 2024 with a facelifted model. Imported from Vietnam, it is offered in Exclusive 2WD and Prestige AWD trim levels all variants use a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine.
The Palisade was launched on 15 September 2023 in Vietnam as a local assembled model at HTMV plant in Ninh Bình. It is offered in Exclusive and Prestige trim levels with 6 and 7-seater configurations and all variants use a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine.
Facelift
The updated Palisade debuted for the North American market at the New York International Auto Show on 13 April 2022, for the 2023 model year. It features a revised front end, and an enhanced infotainment system with 12-inch navigation.
In South Korea, the updated Palisade was released on 19 May 2022, following its physical release at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. The thickness of the sound-absorbing material was increased and the shock-absorbing device was improved. In addition, technologies such as Digital Key 2 and second-row ventilation seats became an option.
Safety
The Palisade was awarded "Top Safety Pick" and "Top Safety Pick+" (from 2021 to 2023 model years) by IIHS.
Second generation (LX3; 2024)
The second generation Palisade was unveiled on 6 December 2024.
The Palisade has a boxy shape for the exterior design. The exterior design elements include vertical rectangular LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, a thin LED light strip across the upper section of the grille, a silver-finished D-pillar trim piece on the side, and a minimalistic rear fascia. The vertical taillights resemble the headlights, the rear wiper is hidden underneath the roof spoiler, and a faux skid plate on the lower part of the rear bumper conceals the exhaust pipes.
Inside, the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and instrument cluster screens are housed within the wraparound design of the upper dashboard. The lower part of the dashboard features the air-con vents and the physical switches. The centre console is disconnected from the dashboard, providing additional storage space below and features a wireless charger, 100W USB charging outlet and storage cubby. The gear selector used for the automatic transmission is relocated from the centre console to the steering wheel column.
In South Korea, the Palisade is offered with a 9-seat configuration for the first time, alongside the 7-seat layout, with the front centre console folding down to form an additional middle seat in the front row; the nine-seat version is also eligible to use the country's bus-only lanes. With a 3-seat bench in both the second and third rows, this brings the total to nine seats; the second row is alternatively available with captain's chairs, while the third row has a 60:40 split-folding bench as standard.
In January 2026, the Palisade was named the 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show, ahead of the Lucid Gravity and Nissan Leaf finalists.
Markets
The second-generation Palisade was launched in Brunei on 12 December 2025, in the sole variant: Calligraphy AWD, powered by the Smartstream G 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol.
The second-generation Palisade was launched in Indonesia on 13 June 2025, with three variants: Signature, Calligraphy and Calligraphy AWD, powered by the Smartstream G 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol hybrid.
The second-generation Palisade was launched in Laos on 5 March 2026, with two variant: GLS AWD and Calligraphy AWD, powered by the Smartstream G 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol.
The second-generation Palisade was launched in the Philippines on 23 July 2025, in the sole HEV Calligraphy variant, powered by the Smartstream G 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol hybrid.
In South Korea, pre-orders for the second-generation Palisade opened on 20 December 2024, and deliveries began in January 2025. About 45,000 orders were placed during the pre-order month, of which around 70% were for the hybrid model and about 40% for the nine-seat configuration.
The second-generation Palisade was launched in Saudi Arabia on 10 September 2025, offered through the local distributor in GL, GLS and Calligraphy trims, and reached the United Arab Emirates, through the exclusive distributor Juma Al Majid, in late 2025.
The 2026 Palisade was revealed for the North American market during the New York International Auto Show on 16 April 2025. Powertrain options for the North American market include a 3.5-litre V6, the same Smartstream G3.5 as the fourth-generation Kia Carnival, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and an all-new hybrid powertrain containing a 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-4 paired with electric motors and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The V6 powertrain can tow 5,000 pounds and the hybrid powertrain can tow 4,000 pounds.
Additionally, a new XRT Pro trim was revealed, promising improved off-road capability over the previous XRT trim. Specs include 8.4 inches of ground clearance, a 20.5-degree approach angle, a 22.4-degree departure angle, and an 18.3-degree breakover angle, and front and rear recovery hooks.
Safety
In the United States, the 2026 Palisade was named a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest award. The award applies only to vehicles built after November 2025, when Hyundai revised the rear seat-belt buckles, which raised the moderate overlap front rating from acceptable to good.
Recall
In March 2026, Hyundai issued a stop-sale and recall covering about 69,000 model-year 2026 Palisade and Palisade Hybrid vehicles in the Limited and Calligraphy trims in the United States and Canada, after the second- and third-row power-folding seats were found to inadequately detect an occupant or object; the action followed the death of a young child in the United States, and Hyundai also reported related injuries. South Korea's transport ministry separately ordered a recall of about 58,000 Palisade hybrids, and the related Kia Telluride was affected by the same issue. The defect was remedied through an over-the-air software update that improves occupant and object detection, disables seat folding from the touchscreen, and requires the tailgate to be open and the physical switches to be pressed and held to fold the seats. Once the update had been applied, the stop-sale was lifted and sales resumed in April 2026.