Hyundai Motor's Palisade Hybrid Named to WardsAuto's "10 Best Engines"

2.5-liter turbo hybrid system recognized for performance and efficiency
20 honors in total since its first win in 2008

Hyundai Motor's large sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Palisade Hybrid, has demonstrated its world-class competitiveness in hybrid technology.

Hyundai Motor said on Oct. 15 that the 2.5-liter turbo hybrid powertrain equipped in the Palisade Hybrid had won a place on the "2026 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems" list.

Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Hyundai Motor Company

The award recognizes the competitiveness of the Hyundai Motor Group's next-generation hybrid system, which was first applied to the Palisade Hybrid, in terms of performance and efficiency. Hyundai Motor Group has been selected a total of 20 times, starting with its first win for the 4.6-liter Tau gasoline engine installed in the first-generation Genesis in 2008.

Since 1995, WardsAuto has evaluated the powertrains of new vehicles sold in the United States each year and selected 10 outstanding engines and propulsion systems. Reflecting advances in electrification technology, the award's name was changed in 2019 from "Wards 10 Best Engines" to its current title. This year, it comprehensively evaluated 26 powertrains installed in new vehicles sold in the United States, assessing output, torque, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), efficiency, and technology.

The award-winning 2.5-liter turbo hybrid system in the Palisade Hybrid earned high marks for combining powerful performance with fuel efficiency. The system produces a maximum output of 334 horsepower, while its combined fuel economy is 14.1 kilometers per liter for the two-wheel-drive (2WD) model with 18-inch wheels.

The next-generation hybrid system is built around a new transmission that incorporates two motors. It can be paired with various engines to deliver performance and fuel economy suited to different vehicle classes and characteristics. Electrification technology using the drive motor has also improved ride comfort and driving performance.

Key technologies include E-Ride, E-Handling, E-EHA (Electrically Evasive Handling Assist), and e-DTVC (Electric Assisted Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control), which control body movement while driving.

Convenience features tailored to electric vehicles have also been added. The Palisade Hybrid is equipped with a 300-volt-class, high-voltage lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1.65 kilowatt-hours. It supports V2L, which allows users to power devices inside the vehicle, and Stay Mode, which keeps functions such as climate control running while the vehicle is stopped.

The Palisade has also earned recognition for its quality in global markets. In January this year, it won the utility vehicle category of the North American Car of the Year awards. It was also named the "2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year" and included on Car and Driver's "2026 10Best Trucks & SUVs" list.

A Hyundai Motor representative said, "This award recognizes the technological competitiveness of the Palisade's 2.5-liter turbo hybrid powertrain. We will provide customers with an enhanced mobility experience by building on the driving performance and efficiency of our next-generation hybrid system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.