Hyundai Palisade Wins '2026 North American Car of the Year' Award

Next-Generation Hybrid System and Spacious Interior Receive Praise
Hyundai Motor Group Wins North American Car of the Year Nine Times

The Hyundai Palisade has been named the best car in North America.

On January 14 (local time), Hyundai Motor Company announced that the Palisade was selected as the final winner in the Utility category at the '2026 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY)' awards ceremony, held at Huntington Place in Detroit, USA.

In the Utility category, three models-including the Palisade, Lucid Gravity, and Nissan Leaf-were shortlisted as final contenders, resulting in fierce competition. The Palisade received high marks for its next-generation hybrid system, which improves both performance and fuel efficiency, as well as its spacious interior-features highly valued in the North American market.

Notably, the Palisade demonstrated the competitiveness of internal combustion engine vehicles by outperforming electric vehicles, thanks to its outstanding hybrid technology.

The next-generation hybrid system installed in the Palisade features a new transmission with two built-in motors, enabling a variety of engine lineups to be combined. This allows the vehicle to deliver optimized performance and fuel efficiency tailored to its class and characteristics. The application of various electrification-focused technologies has also enhanced driving performance, ride comfort, and the overall in-car experience.

Jeff Gilbert, chair of the North American Car of the Year jury, commented, "The Palisade sets the standard for 21st-century family vehicles," adding, "Its spacious interior, driving enjoyment, and comprehensive technology are all impressive."

The Palisade continues to receive international acclaim, having been named to the '2026 10Best Trucks & SUVs' by Car and Driver in the United States, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, and winning major awards such as the main prize at Germany's 2025 iF Design Award, the main prize at the 2025 Red Dot Award hosted by the Design Center of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the main prize at the 2025 IDEA Design Award by the Industrial Designers Society of America.

With this latest award, Hyundai Motor Group has now won the North American Car of the Year a total of nine times, further solidifying its status as a leading global automotive group with world-class product competitiveness. In addition to the Palisade, previous winners include: Genesis (2009), Avante (2012), Genesis G70 (2019), Kona (2019), Kia Telluride (2020), Avante (2021), Kia EV6 (2023), and Kia EV9 (2024).

Jose Munoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, stated, "The Palisade embodies everything Hyundai aims to offer its customers, including beautiful design, advanced technology, outstanding safety, and family value. It is a great honor for the Palisade to be recognized as the best SUV at the North American Car of the Year awards."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group plans to sequentially launch key Genesis models equipped with a next-generation rear-wheel-drive hybrid system this year, expanding its hybrid lineup to its luxury brand.