Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was available in Canada in two trim levels: Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy. These trims seamlessly integrated into the existing gas-only Palisade lineup, which included the Preferred Trend, the rugged XRT Pro, and the Ultimate Calligraphy. While the top trim was predictably more impressive, every Palisade trim exuded style and presence. The base Luxury trim came standard with 20-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille framed by LED projector headlights and five large LED daytime running lights. The Palisade's profile featured body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities on the Luxury Hybrid. Acoustic side glass on the front and rear windows was standard across all trims. The rear view was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name below a large Hyundai emblem and stacks of five LED taillights wrapping around the rear corners. The exhaust was discreetly tucked away, emphasizing the Palisade's focus on peaceful, efficient driving.

Inside, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The base gas-only trims featured H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat with two-way lumbar support, and three-stage heating elements for the front seats. Higher trims offered additional features like four-way lumbar adjustment, seat ventilation, integrated driver's seat memory settings, and Nappa leather upholstery on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The interior design was a delight, with organic and natural shapes that felt carefully crafted. Unlike competitors like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Kia Telluride, the Palisade's storage solutions felt thoughtfully engineered, contributing to a richer sense of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV returned with a familiar look, featuring slight styling changes that made the front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car. A thin slot sat behind the Chevy Bowtie logo, and the previous grille insert was integrated into the bumper. The 2027 model continued the legacy of the 2023 version, straddling the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV, referred to as an "EUV" or electric SUV. Chevy offered only the EUV body style for 2027, prioritizing utility and interior space over a sporty stance. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. The interior underwent a more dramatic makeover, with a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the centre console. The cabin featured hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing the Bolt's budget feel, but with thin padding at elbow touchpoints. The base LT trim came with cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area had an abundance of hard plastics and lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of slow hybrids, offering a fun-to-drive experience for a big, three-row crossover. The hybrid powertrain featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The turbo-four engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the Grand Highlander's base hybrid engine. Combined with the electric motors, the Palisade delivered a total of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, ensuring it never lagged in performance. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and propulsion systems contributed to the Palisade Hybrid's impressive performance. The next-generation hybrid system eliminated the old platform's starter motor and auxiliary belts, relying on a more capable electric motor connected directly to the engine. This motor supported a second unit responsible for vehicle propulsion when needed. The Palisade could disconnect the P1 and engine via a clutch in low-speed situations or under light acceleration, relying solely on the more powerful P2 motor. The result was an optimized powertrain that produced more power while consuming less fuel. The Palisade's cabin was remarkably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. The steering feel was sharp, with no play off-centre, while the pedals felt a bit squishy, creating a slight disconnect between steering and pedal inputs.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV featured significant changes under the surface. A new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack reduced costs and required fewer rare earth minerals. The new motor, sourced from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's 0-100 km/h time was similar to the previous Bolt EV, typically in the low seven-second range. While this acceleration might seem slow by EV standards, it was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, responding immediately to pedal inputs. One-pedal driving was available with medium or high levels of brake regeneration. In the highest setting, the Bolt could be jumpy at low speeds, but drivers quickly adapted. The ride was firm, allowing drivers to feel road imperfections, but larger bumps were not overly intrusive. Road noise was more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine, but the stereo easily masked it. Despite its tall, narrow stance, the Bolt was agile on curvy roads, thanks to the heavy battery in the floor, creating a low centre of gravity. On a full charge, Natural Resources Canada estimated the 2027 Bolt's range at 422 kilometres, an improvement over previous models. The Bolt featured a Tesla-derived North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, with adapters for CCS and J1772 connectors. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing the Bolt to recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing competitors like the Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Honda Pilot. However, it surpassed other three-row crossovers such as the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Mazda CX-90. The Palisade Hybrid's second-row legroom was slightly compromised due to the battery's position under the front passenger seat, but it still provided more space than most competitors. The third row, while initially a standard-bearer for usability, now trailed the Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Ford Explorer in legroom, measuring a maximum of 815 millimetres. Third-row headroom was also slightly less than the Pilot and Explorer but more than the Grand Highlander. Despite these measurements, the Palisade offered a comfortable cabin with dual-zone climate control, second-row HVAC controls, and seven 100-watt USB-C power outlets. The second row was spacious enough for adults, and the Palisade came standard with a second-row bench seat, with captain's chairs available on higher trims. The Palisade featured numerous storage cubbies, including a rubberized cargo space in the centre console and a small shelf ahead of the front passenger seat.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV had an upright driving position, providing ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel, requiring them to scoot the seat forward for comfort. The rear seats were also upright, offering plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. Unlike many in its class, the Bolt's seat cushions were not mounted lower to the floor, providing sufficient headroom without compromise. The flat floor reduced the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt could hold up to 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, which was small for the class but still sufficient for most users. A large bin beneath the floor and the ability to slide the floor into it provided additional luggage space. The release latches for the rear seatbacks were easily accessible from the cargo area, and the seats folded flat with the cargo floor in its upper position. While there was no frunk, the Bolt offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin. Additional storage included a rubberized wireless phone charger, dashboard pockets, and moderate door pockets.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was well-equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. While not oversized, the screen was a bit far from the passenger's seat. The infotainment system supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The standard Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between the first and third rows. All trims except the base model featured a 14-speaker Bose stereo, with most tech features standard across the lineup. A 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard, though it could overheat phones on warm days. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a built-in dashcam, recording front and rear views to a 64GB SD card, upgradeable to 512GB. The 2026 Palisade Hybrid introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off, provided the hybrid battery had more than 35% charge.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV featured an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, shared with the Chevy Colorado midsize truck. The infotainment system ran on a Google-based operating system, lacking support for Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto. Users had to pair their phones via Bluetooth to access personal music libraries, but browsing control was sufficient. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, additional safety features, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. Physical climate controls reduced distraction, and streaming entertainment options compensated for the lack of Apple CarPlay. The Bolt's navigation system helped drivers find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charge rates. The 2027 Bolt EV supported vehicle-to-load charging, allowing it to serve as a backup power source for a home during outages, though additional equipment and installation were required.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Hyundai's blind-view monitor, typically reserved for higher trims, was standard on the XRT Pro and both hybrid trims. The rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. During testing, the Palisade's ADAS tech performed flawlessly, even in cyclist-heavy areas. At the time of writing, crash test results for the 2026 Palisade were unavailable, but the 2025 model received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV had not been crash-tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at the time of writing. However, it was expected to achieve high scores, similar to the 2023 Bolt EUV. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional $4,200, making the Bolt EV one of the few budget EVs with such an advanced system.