Hyundai Motor's large sport utility vehicle (SUV) Palisade topped the fiercely contested North American market, beating Nissan's Leaf and Lucid's Gravity.
Hyundai Motor said on the 15th that at the 2026 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards held at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan, the Palisade was chosen as North American car of the year in the utility category. It is Hyundai Motor's first win in five years since the Avante in 2021, and the ninth win overall for Hyundai Motor Group.
The Palisade's next-generation hybrid system received high marks at the awards. The hybrid system combines a new transmission with two built-in motors and a range of engine lineups to deliver optimized performance and fuel economy. As the North American hybrid vehicle market grows, the Palisade has proven the competitiveness of internal combustion engine vehicles based on its hybrid technology.
Jeff Gilbert, head juror for North American Car of the Year, said, "The Palisade sets the standard for a 21st-century family vehicle," adding, "Its spacious interior, driving fun, and wide array of technologies are impressive." The North American Car of the Year organizing committee has selected the best vehicles released each year since its establishment in 1994.
The Palisade has sold a cumulative 1,100,351 units in the global market, including 604,117 in the United States.
José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor, said, "The Palisade embodies all the elements Hyundai Motor aims to offer customers—beautiful design, advanced technology, excellent safety, and value for families."