Hyundai has been busy slapping the XRT trim level on just about all of its crossovers. When applied to the Palisade, the XRT Pro adds more ground clearance, a rear electronic limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, all-wheel drive, terrain modes, and a built-in tow hitch.
Here’s What Else The Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Has
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade doesn’t come cheap, with the XRT Pro basing at nearly $50K. My test vehicle came standard with the aforementioned XRT Pro features, plus 18-inch wheels, front and rear recovery hooks, a power sunroof, LED lighting all around, roof side rails, keyless entry and starting, hands-free smart power liftgate with automatic open, smart cruise control, highway driving assist, 360-degree monitor, heated and cooled power front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, 12.3-inch gauge screen, ambient interior lighting, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front and rear USB ports, 115V power outlet, navigation, 12.3-infotainment screen, Bose premium audio, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, digital key, satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot, and Hyundai’s BlueLink connectivity system.
Advanced driver-aid systems included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, forward-attention warning, blind-spot collision warning, blind-spot view monitor, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, park distance warning (forward, reverse, and side), parking collision-avoidance assist (reverse), rear occupant alert, and rearview camera.
The as-tested base price came to $49,370. The only option was carpeted floor mats ($245), so with that and the $1,495 destination fee, the as-tested total price came to $51,110.
On The Road With The 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro.
One might worry that the XRT Pro’s additions, particularly the higher ground clearance - 8.4 inches, which is one inch more than other Palisade models - and all-terrain tires might affect the Palisade negatively on pavement. Would ride or handling suffer? Would the all-terrain rubber be noisier?
In a word, no. In more words - not so much to be easily noticeable. Perhaps there was a tish more tire noise, and maybe the ride was a teeny bit more stiff, but overall the Palisade XRT Pro had the same nice balance of ride and handling that the non-XRTs have.
Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and the transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
There’s enough grunt for around-town driving, but you won’t be winning stop-light drags anytime soon.
Inside, the cabin feels spacious, and the layout is logical, with a nice amount of buttons and knobs. I also liked how the gauge cluster and infotainment screen integrated into each other. On the other hand, the steering wheel looks a bit odd and overstuffed in the airbag area, and the column-mounted shifter takes some getting used to, especially in parking maneuvers. It feels a bit overly complicated.
At least there is plenty of storage available - take note, families with children.
That’s the key here - it’s not that the Palisade XRT Pro is somewhat more capable off-road than other Palisade trims, it’s that selecting the XRT Pro package doesn’t negatively impact the cabin. It’s an interior that’s made for families, and Hyundai got it mostly right.
Speaking of that off-road capability, I had no opportunity to test it out. I’d guess that the Palisade XRT can get you to the campsite over some rutted roads, but you’re not going to an off-road park. If you’re tailgating at a concert and the venue makes you park on grass, and it rained heavily recently and some cars are getting stuck in a bit of mud, the XRT will do fine in that situation. But you’re not going to Hell’s Revenge in Moab. Instead, you will be OK getting down some difficult ruts to visit the ranch-house AirBNB you’re staying while visiting Moab.
That may sound harsh, but it’s not meant to - the XRT Pro trim gives you some off-road capability that the other Palisades don’t have, but there are limits.
The good thing is that the Palisade, regardless of trim, is a pretty darn good package overall. I’d not select this trim unless I had plans to do (very) light off-roading on a regular basis, but that’s a use-case issue. If you have the want or need to go XRT, you’ll be happy to note that the best of the Palisade translates and the off-road goodies don’t hurt on pavement.
When you start with a solid base, it’s pretty easy to make sure variations are also done well. That is the case here, and the Palisade is better for it.
Images: Tim Healey
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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