Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $19,520 |
| Insurance (annual) | $2,158 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $2,500 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $383 |
| Tires (annual) | $430 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 21 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 19 / 25 MPG |
| Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC |
| Horsepower | 287 hp |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 8 passengers |
| Cargo space | 19.1 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 72 | 62 | +10 |
| Powertrain | 48 | 60 | -12 |
| Safety | 100 | 95 | +5 |
| Driver assistance | 32 | 49 | -17 |
| Livability | 71 | 53 | +18 |
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 72/100 on cost of ownership — 10 points above the suvs median. The 3-Row SUV class median 5-year ownership cost is $65,569 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: fuel or charging.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 32/100 on driver assistance — 17 points below the suvs median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 48/100 on powertrain — 12 points below the suvs median. Key figures: 21 MPG combined, 287 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 Palisade is one of the highest-scoring three-row SUVs on MotiveGrid, earning a perfect safety score with a five-star NHTSA rating and delivering a genuinely premium interior at a mainstream price. The driver-assistance suite becomes competitive on higher trims, and the cabin is spacious and family-friendly. Fuel economy and reliability are mid-pack. For families who want a three-row SUV that feels more expensive than it is, the Palisade is the segment benchmark.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Best for
- Perfect safety score with 5-star NHTSA rating
- Premium interior feel at a mainstream price
- Spacious and family-friendly cabin with eight-passenger seating
Watch out for
- Fuel economy is mid-pack for the segment
- Driver-assistance requires higher trims to be competitive
2026 Hyundai Palisade
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 Palisade is one of the highest-scoring three-row SUVs on MotiveGrid, earning a perfect safety score with a five-star NHTSA rating and delivering a genuinely premium interior at a mainstream price. The driver-assistance suite becomes competitive on higher trims, and the cabin is spacious and family-friendly. Fuel economy and reliability are mid-pack. For families who want a three-row SUV that feels more expensive than it is, the Palisade is the segment benchmark.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Families who prioritize passenger space, cargo room, and safety ratings
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by depreciation; maintenance is a minor share.
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State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Roomy and easy to maneuver for its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its 3-Row SUV segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Based on standard crash-avoidance features.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade earns a MotiveGrid Score of 79 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- What is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade safety score?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 100/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Hyundai Palisade include?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 32/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade reliable?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade has an below average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 19/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade fuel economy?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is EPA-rated at 21 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Hyundai Palisade rank among suvs?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is in the top 36% of suvs on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Hyundai Palisade compare to the Kia Telluride?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the suvs segment.
- Is the 2026 Hyundai Palisade spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 71/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other suvs in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03