Hyundai is giving its flagship family SUV a tougher, off-road edge with the introduction of the 2026 Palisade XRT Pro, arriving in Australia from September.
It becomes Hyundai Australia’s first dedicated XRT Pro model – following the XRT option pack for the Santa Fe – and goes beyond the usual black wheels and rugged styling treatment, with substantial chassis and drivetrain changes aimed at improving its ability away from sealed roads.
The biggest changes underneath include a unique Australian suspension tune, increased ground clearance, all-terrain tyres and a rear electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD). Ground clearance rises from 187mm in regular Palisade models to 212mm, while exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in Continental all-terrain tyres with a taller sidewall.
The suspension also uses different hardware and geometry from the Elite and Calligraphy grades. Hyundai’s Australian team worked with its global engineers to evaluate different springs, dampers and anti-roll bars before settling on the local setup.
The rear e-LSD can actively direct torque towards the rear wheel with the most available traction, while Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes provide additional calibration for different surfaces. Approach and departure angles are also increased, with a 20.5-degree approach, 22.4-degree departure, and 18.3-degree break-over (up from 18.6, 21.1, 15.5 from the regular Palisade).
There’s also some genuinely useful off-road technology inside. A dedicated display can show pitch and roll angles, torque distribution and e-LSD operation, while a ground-view camera system helps the driver see the vehicle’s wheel path at low speeds.
Front and rear red recovery hooks are fitted, along with a factory towbar and wiring. Maximum braked towing capacity is 2200kg when equipped with the Hyundai Genuine towing kit, with a 160kg maximum towball download.
Power comes exclusively from Hyundai’s 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. This package produces 207kW and 422Nm.
Visually, the XRT Pro gets its own metallic grille treatment, black exterior detailing, unique wheels and XRT badging. A new Titan Charcoal paint colour is also exclusive to the variant.
Inside, there are XRT-specific synthetic leather seats with embossed detailing, darker trim and dedicated dashboard branding. Importantly for families, it retains the Palisade’s three-row layout with seating for up to eight passengers.
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro is priced from $79,900, making it cheaper than the Calligraphy, with deliveries in Australia beginning in September. See below for the full price list (excluding on-road costs):
| Variant | Powertrain | Seats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite | 2.5 T-GDI Hybrid | 8 | $76,500 |
| XRT PRO | 2.5 T-GDI | 8 | $79,900 |
| Calligraphy | 2.5 T-GDI Hybrid | 8 | $89,828 |
| Calligraphy | 2.5 T-GDI Hybrid | 7 | $90,828 |
| Calligraphy Black Ink | 2.5 T-GDI Hybrid | 8 | $92,400 |
| Calligraphy Black Ink | 2.5 T-GDI Hybrid | 7 | $93,400 |
