The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid has earned Edmunds’ highest honor. The publication named it Best of the Best for 2026 after evaluating more than 300 new vehicles through extensive real-world testing. Hyundai’s three-row hybrid SUV stood out for its impact, innovation, and relevance to buyers. Additionally, three other Hyundai models received recognition in the same awards cycle.
Highlights
- The 2026 Palisade Hybrid earned Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best, the publication’s top annual award, beating all other 2026 category winners.
- The IONIQ 5 was named Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV for its versatility, fast charging, and range across multiple trim levels.
- The Tucson Hybrid and IONIQ 9 both earned Highly Recommended honors, reinforcing Hyundai’s competitive position across hybrid and electric SUV segments.
- Edmunds evaluates vehicles based on real-world ownership criteria, including performance, comfort, technology, efficiency, value, and everyday usability.
Palisade Hybrid Sets a New Family SUV Benchmark
Edmunds’ editorial team selected the Palisade Hybrid for what it called a new standard in family SUVs. According to the publication, the model combines refined design, premium cabin quality, and practical three-row packaging.
“The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offers a range of virtues that shame SUVs costing twice as much,” said Alistair Weaver, senior vice president, content and editor-in-chief of Edmunds.
The hybrid powertrain delivers responsive performance alongside strong fuel economy. As a result, the Palisade strikes a balance between driving confidence and everyday efficiency. Edmunds also highlighted the model’s intuitive safety and convenience technologies.
Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor America, pointed to the company’s focus on real-world functionality. She described the Palisade Hybrid as a reflection of disciplined packaging and premium execution. In other words, Hyundai designed it to perform in driveways, school lines, and road trips alike.
IONIQ 5 Named Top Electric SUV
Beyond the Palisade Hybrid’s top honor, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 earned Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV recognition. Weaver called it “a superb all-rounder” that is distinctive, spacious, and capable.
Key attributes that set the IONIQ 5 apart include:
- Lineup versatility — Standard, off-road-inspired XRT, and high-performance IONIQ 5 N trims serve a wide range of driving needs.
- Spacious interior — A roomy, flexible cabin supports both passengers and cargo for daily and long-distance use.
- 800V DC ultra-fast charging — Strong electric range and rapid charging capability reduce range anxiety for commutes and longer trips.
Tucson Hybrid and IONIQ 9 Earn Highly Recommended
Hyundai secured additional validation through Edmunds Top Rated Highly Recommended distinctions. Both the Tucson Hybrid compact SUV and the all-new IONIQ 9 three-row EV earned the designation. Edmunds reserves these honors for models that deliver strong real-world driving enjoyment and everyday usability in their respective segments.
Consequently, Hyundai now holds Edmunds recognition across four models spanning hybrid and fully electric powertrains. This breadth of awards underscores the automaker’s competitive positioning in electrified SUV segments.
How Edmunds Selects Its Top Rated Winners
Edmunds evaluates more than 300 vehicles annually on public roads and at its private test track. The testing criteria cover six core areas:
- Performance
- Comfort
- Technology
- Efficiency
- Value
- Everyday usability
Unlike many industry awards, Edmunds does not limit recognition to newly launched models. Instead, the program identifies the best vehicles currently on sale. As a result, repeat winners are common when a model continues to lead its segment. The Best of the Best winner is then chosen from category winners through additional testing and deliberation.
For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.
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