The new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has attracted significant attention thanks to its bold and unconventional design. While opinions on the new look vary, Hyundai is doubling down and preparing to give the larger Palisade an edgier and more distinct design that incorporates some of the Santa Fe’s distinctive styling features. The original three-row Palisade was unveiled in 2018 and became available for sale the following year as a 2020 model year, before receiving a facelift in 2022 for the 2023 model year. Now, a prototype of the upcoming second-generation Palisade, slated for release next year as a 2026 model, has been spotted for the first time. Although much of its design is concealed under camouflage and black body cladding, it’s clear that the new SUV takes design cues from the smaller Santa Fe’s angular styling.

The second-generation Palisade’s features a slightly more upright front compared to the current model. It showcases distinctive headlights and daytime running lights. Similar to the outgoing model, it retains a large grille, and the A-pillars, roof, and side window shape closely resemble those of the 2025 Santa Fe, characterized by straight lines and sharp corners. While the tester sports rounded wheel arches, it wouldn’t be surprising if the production model adopts squared fender flares akin to its smaller sibling. We understand that the new Palisade will switch to a different platform with a longer wheelbase than the current model. This won’t just allow Hyundai to improve interior space, but also enables Hyundai to introduce new powertrains, including a 2.5-liter hybrid system and a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, which will replace the 3.8-liter V6 found in the first-generation model.

 

Hyundai’s Vice President of Product Planning, Olabisi Boyle, discussed the next-generation Palisade in late 2023, confirming that its appearance will be significantly different from the current model. She also suggested that the redesign will be as dramatic as the changes seen in the Santa Fe. The launch date for the next-generation Palisade is still uncertain. However, considering that the current model received an update in early 2022, an introduction is likely to happen within the next year.