The Palisade is one of the best choices in its segment
If you’re considering the 2026 Hyundai Palisade, you’re not alone. The newly redesigned 2nd-generation Palisade takes what was great about the original and makes it one of the most well-rounded three-row SUVs on the market.
Hyundai
Hyundai’s flagship SUV blends comfort, technology, and value in a way that challenges both mainstream and luxury competitors. Before you sign on the dotted line, though, it’s worth taking a closer look at some key rivals that might better fit your priorities. We’ll show you the Palisade’s selling points and present three alternatives that could make you think twice before buying the Palisade.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai
The new 2026 Palisade ($39,435) is a definite head-turner and capitalizes on a more refined, cohesive design. Although the last Palisade is still a compelling buy, it debuted in 2020, so a changing of the guard was due. The 2026 model adopts a boxier, more confident look with a longer wheelbase that improves interior space.
Inside, the cabin delivers near-luxury comfort, with premium materials and vivid tech like dual 12.3-inch digital displays and an improved user interface that looks great and responds quickly. The engine is a carryover from the last Palisade, a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims except for the XRT PRO, where it’s standard. A hybrid version ($47,520) is also available, offering 329 horsepower and better fuel efficiency of 35 mpg highway.
Hyundai
Where the Palisade shines is in everyday usability, offering comfortable seating for up to eight passengers, an intuitive infotainment interface, great physical controls, and a quiet, upscale cabin. Even the top $56,560 Calligraphy trim undercuts many competitors’ highest trim levels. Performance is merely adequate with a 0-60 time of around 8 seconds, and fuel economy hovers around the mid-20s on the highway.
The new Palisade has a longer wheelbase, resulting in second row legroom growing by an inch to 43 inches and third row legroom growing by 0.8 inches to 32.1 inches. It’s not huge in row three, but it is competitive. The Palisade does lean more toward on-road comfort than performance or off-road capability, and while the XRT PRO trim provides higher ground clearance and terrain-specific drive modes, it doesn’t offer much more in terms of rugged bits. The Palisade is an excellent all-around family SUV, but for buyers seeking more driving engagement, off-road capability, or a different flavor of refinement, some rivals bring compelling advantages to the table.
Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander ($41,360) has a higher starting price than the Palisade, and its top trim starts at $59,275, also higher than the Palisade Calligraphy. The Grand Highlander was designed with the primary goal of providing the space that the regular Highlander fell short on. It’s a legitimately large SUV in the mid-size class, and big families who don’t want a bigger, gas-guzzling full-size SUV are flocking to it.
Unlike the Palisade’s two powertrain offerings, the Grand Highlander offers three powertrains: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a fuel-efficient hybrid, and a high-performance Hybrid MAX system that delivers up to 362 horsepower. The hybrid versions are particularly impressive, achieving excellent fuel economy without sacrificing capability. The top dog Hybrid MAX will launch to 60 in just 6 seconds, 2 seconds quicker than any Palisade.
Toyota
Inside, the Grand Highlander focuses on functionality and ease of use. Its cabin is spacious and practical, featuring large storage areas, big tactile controls, and Toyota’s latest infotainment system. It provides legitimate third-row seating for adults, with 33.5 inches of legroom, which is rare in this class. That’s also more than the Palisade’s 32.1 inches. Ride comfort is one of its standout traits, managing bumps with ease and providing hushed travel on the highway. Safety is another strong suit, with the robust Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of driver-assistance features standard across all trims.
Where the Grand Highlander trails the Palisade is in interior polish and design flair. While solidly built, its materials and styling lean conservative. It’s also more about comfort than performance, lacking the engaging dynamics of some sportier rivals. Still, for families who prioritize reliability, fuel efficiency, and peace of mind, the Grand Highlander is a top-tier choice that will likely outlast many competitors with minimal drama.
Mazda CX-90
Whereas the Palisade leans more toward comfort, the Mazda CX-90 is, hands down, the driver’s SUV in this set. The 2026 CX-90 ($38,800) is Mazda’s flagship three-row crossover and marked the brand’s venture into premium territory. While the base price is even lower than the Palisade’s, the top trim PHEV costs more than the Palisade Calligraphy.
The CX-90 offers a choice between a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine producing either 280 or 340 horsepower, depending on trim level, and a plug-in hybrid version ($50,495) with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor for those who want electric capability without range anxiety. The CX-90 is the second quickest in this set, getting to 60 mph from a standstill in around 6 seconds, a tad slower than the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max.
The CX-90’s longitudinal-engine platform and standard all-wheel drive contribute to its composed, rear-biased handling, making it feel more agile and responsive than most vehicles in its class. Inside, Mazda has gone above and beyond with luxurious soft-touch materials, elegant design, and tasteful stitching to make the cabin feel as though it belongs in a premium brand showroom. Even the base trims feel upscale, and the layout emphasizes craftsmanship over flash. The standard 10.2- and optional 12.3-inch infotainment screens, however, aren’t as polished as the ones found in the Palisade.
Joel Stocksdale
Where it falls short is space. The third row has 29.7 inches of legroom, and the cargo area is smaller than the Palisade’s and Grand Highlander’s. It’s less about space and cargo capacity and more about premium appointments and a rewarding driving experience, though. For those who value driving enjoyment, refinement, and design sophistication, the CX-90 stands out as the most engaging and premium-feeling alternative in this group.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
For buyers who want off-road chops with their comfort, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L ($39,035 for the base three-row) brings a different flavor to the segment. The starting price is a bit lower than the Palisade’s, but the top-dog Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve is priced at $65,040 —the most expensive model in this set.
The Grand Cherokee L comes with just a 293-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 for 2025, now that the smoother 5.7-liter V8 engine is no more. 0-60 happens in a slow-ish 8.0 seconds, about the same as the Palisade but slower than the other two. The good news is that the Grand Cherokee L sets itself apart with multiple four-wheel-drive systems for varying levels of capability, along with an optional air suspension system. The Grand Cherokee L’s three-row format also keeps with Jeep’s signature off-road DNA while offering more passenger capacity. The longer model, however, doesn’t offer the bonkers Trailhawk trim.
Jeep
Where it truly excels is in versatility. With its available air suspension and terrain-select systems, it can handle dirt trails, snow, or sand with surprising competence. Towing capacity reaches up to 7,200 pounds, making it a great option for families who haul boats or campers. Inside, the Grand Cherokee L balances ruggedness with refinement, offering quilted leather, ambient lighting, and large digital displays in upper trims. The result is an SUV that feels both adventurous and premium.
Jeep
The third row is competitive with 30.3 inches of legroom, more than the CX-90 but less than the Grand Highlander and the Palisade. In terms of a luxury look and feel, the cabin of the Grand Cherokee L, especially in Overland and Summit Reserve trims, is up there with the CX-90. While displays aren’t as big as some here, it’s the only model that offers an optional 10.3-inch passenger display. For those who want a balance of off-road capability and interior refinement, the Grand Cherokee L is the best choice here.
Final thoughts
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is hard to fault, but these three competitors might surprise you with their blend of strengths. If it’s overall space and reliability you want, choose the Grand Highlander. If you’re all about premium polish and driver engagement, the CX-90 is for you. On the other end of the spectrum, the Grand Cherokee L is the only one that can legitimately go off-road while not scrimping on luxury. Even with all of that in mind, the newest model that will get the most eyeballs while still providing tremendous value that doesn’t ignore polish and tech is the Palisade. Before you make your final decision, take a closer look at some of these models, too. You might find that one of these alternatives is an even better fit for your life.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog