Hyundai Motor Co. said the Palisade has been named the winner in the Utility category at the 2026 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards.
The award was announced at a ceremony held on Jan. 14 (local time) at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. The Palisade advanced to the final round alongside the Lucid Gravity and the Nissan Leaf before being selected as the category winner.
Hyundai Motor Group said the latest win brings its total NACTOY titles to nine. Previous winners from the group include the Hyundai Genesis (2009), Hyundai Elantra (2012, 2021), Genesis G70 (2019), Hyundai Kona (2019), Kia Telluride (2020), Kia EV6 (2023) and Kia EV9 (2024).
Hyundai cited the Palisade’s next-generation hybrid powertrain and interior space as key factors behind the recognition. The company said the hybrid system uses a new transmission integrating two electric motors and can be configured with multiple engine options, allowing performance and fuel efficiency to be optimized depending on vehicle class and application. Hyundai also said electrification-focused features were applied to improve ride comfort, driving performance and in-vehicle usability.
NACTOY jury chair Jeff Gilbert said the Palisade “sets a benchmark for 21st-century family vehicles,” citing interior space, driving dynamics and onboard technologies.
Established in 1994, NACTOY selects annual winners from newly launched vehicles in North America. The program added the Utility category in 2017 as SUVs became more prominent. The jury consists of 50 automotive journalists from U.S. and Canadian media outlets.
Hyundai said the Palisade has also received recognition from several industry organizations, including being named to Car and Driver’s “2026 10Best Trucks and SUVs,” receiving the Top Safety Pick (TSP) rating in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash evaluations, and winning main prizes at the 2025 iF Design Award, the 2025 Red Dot Award and the 2025 IDEA Design Award.
Hyundai President and CEO José Muñoz said the company was “honored” by the award, describing it as recognition of the Palisade’s design, technology and safety credentials.
Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to roll out a next-generation rear-wheel-drive hybrid system across key Genesis models as it expands hybrid offerings under its luxury brand.
