2026 Hyundai Palisade SEL: The Must-Own Midsize 3-Row SUV?

Redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade

• 🚀 The 2026 Hyundai Palisade has undergone a complete redesign, marking its fifth year in production as Hyundai's largest crossover SUV.
• 💡 This midsize, three-row SUV segment is highly competitive, and the SEL Premium trim aims to offer significant value.
• 📏 The vehicle is slightly longer with an extended wheelbase, providing more interior space.

Exterior Design and Features

• ✨ The front fascia features a modern design with stacked LED daytime running lights and turn signals, and hidden LED headlights.
• 🎨 The exterior boasts an electronic gray finish with aluminum and satin metallic gray accents, a fortified grille, and functional active air shutters for cooling.
• 🔘 The SEL Premium comes with 18-inch machine aluminum wheels and tires with a 65-series sidewall, offering a balance between style and practicality compared to the larger 21-inch wheels on higher trims.
• ⛰️ Design elements like the sculpted mirror housing, gloss black A-pillars, raised aluminum roof rails, and a distinctive rear quarter panel treatment give it a muscular yet refined look, with the rear profile drawing comparisons to a Range Rover Sport.

Powertrain and Performance

• ⚙️ Under the hood, the 2026 Palisade offers new engine options, including a 3.5L V6 (replacing the previous 3.8L) producing 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
• ⛽ Fuel economy is rated at 19 MPG city and 25 MPG highway, with a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.
• 💨 The vehicle achieves 0-60 MPH in approximately 6.4 seconds, and the driving experience is noted for its smooth shifts and quiet interior, even on the SEL trim.

Interior Comfort and Technology

• 🛋️ The interior features a clean design with soft-touch materials, a spacious feel due to the pushed-forward dash, and creative AC vent styling.
• 📱 A 12.3-inch infotainment system is paired with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, offering familiar functionality with physical buttons and a volume knob for ease of use.
• 🔌 Convenience features include dual-zone climate control, three stages of heated seats (no ventilated seats on this trim), a column shifter with an integrated start/stop button, and ample storage solutions.
• 💺 The seats are upholstered in KEX (faux leather) with perforations, offering good comfort and electric assist for the driver and passenger, while the mid and third rows provide comfortable seating with USB-C ports and AC vents.

Space, Practicality, and Value

• 📦 The cargo area offers nearly 20 cubic feet of space with the third row up, expanding to 46.3 cubic feet when folded, with underfloor storage and convenient buttons for folding both the second and third rows.
• 💰 Priced at an MSRP of $45,000, the SEL Convenience Premium trim is positioned as a value leader, offering a comprehensive package of features for its price point.
• 👍 The reviewer concludes that the 2026 Palisade SEL offers excellent value, comfort, and practicality, making it a strong contender and potentially a "must-own" midsize three-row SUV for 2026.