Hyundai Kona vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

Among subcompact crossovers, the 2026 Kona is one of the biggest in size, passenger room, and cargo volume. Turbocharging and all-wheel drive (AWD) are available, and for this class, the technology is impressive. In Canada, the Kona carries over into the 2026 model year with no changes.

Verdict: With the 2026 Kona, Hyundai offers a terrific small SUV. Putting the polarizing design and the unimpressive base powertrain aside, there are few reasons to skip it and a long list of reasons to choose it.

Redesigned for 2026, the new Hyundai Palisade brings more than just fresh looks. For the first time, Hyundai is now offering a hybrid powertrain with its big three-row, family SUV. Capable of traveling more than 950 kilometres on a single tank of fuel, the Palisade Hybrid solves one of the only downsides of the market’s best three-row SUV: fuel efficiency. The Palisade Hybrid delivers more than just great fuel economy, though. It’s more powerful than the gas model, and in higher trim levels the Palisade Hybrid feels more luxurious than its competition.

Verdict: Simply put, Hyundai currently sells the best mass-market three-row crossover SUV in North America. The 2026 Hyundai Palisade looks good, drives well, and feels special — and it will keep you away from the gas station, too.