The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid: A Luxurious Road Trip Warrior That Survived a Bear Hit and Some Early Growing Pains

Our long-term 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid has already racked up over 11,000 miles, and its latest adventure involved a close encounter of the furry kind. While cruising toward Bear Lake, Michigan, testing editor Dave Beard had a small black bear dart across the SUV’s path. Despite Beard’s quick braking, the right front corner of the Palisade tagged the animal.

The SUV escaped unscathed, and the bear’s fate remains unknown. The built-in dash cams, front and rear, with continuous-loop recording and motion detection, captured the whole thing, storing the footage on a MicroSD card accessible through the infotainment screen.

Beyond wildlife dodging, the Palisade Hybrid has won over our staff with its interior. ” Others praised the smooth ride, slim A-pillars for visibility, and adjustable side bolsters on the seats. A few gripes surfaced, though: VanderWerp noted the hybrid feels “substantially larger and less wieldy than the previous model,” and the lack of touch-sensitive locking for the rear doors frustrated parents juggling kids and coffee.

At 8,400 miles, the Palisade visited the dealer for routine service, oil change, tire rotation, and multipoint inspection, costing $146. A recall (No. 297) addressed a potential third-row seatbelt wiring harness issue, fixed under warranty with a harness extension. An over-the-air update also corrected the power seat pinch-detection problem that had briefly halted sales.

With 30,000 miles still to go, we’re hoping the onboard cameras capture only scenic views from here on out, no more bears, please.