2026 Palisade XRT Pro

The first Palisade built to leave the pavement

Every prior Palisade generation was a capable family SUV that stayed on the road. The XRT Pro is Hyundai’s answer to buyers who wanted more: standard HTRAC AWD paired with an Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (a feature no other Palisade trim gets) sends power to the wheel with grip when one side loses traction, all-terrain tires trade a little quiet-highway manners for grip on dirt and gravel, and the extra inch of ground clearance clears the ruts and washouts that would scrape a standard Palisade’s underbody. Front and rear recovery hooks — finished in canyon red — aren’t styling accents; they’re rated tow points for a strap if the XRT Pro or a friend’s rig gets stuck. And the standard integrated tow hitch means no trip to the parts counter before hauling a trailer to Lake Isabella.

The trade-off is honest and small: EPA estimates drop to 16 city / 22 highway / 19 combined, the lowest in the Palisade lineup, purely because of the all-terrain tires and added ride height — not a different or weaker engine. It’s the same 287-hp 3.5-liter V6 as every other trim.

Comfort that doesn’t disappear off-road

Hyundai didn’t strip the cabin to build the XRT Pro. It keeps a dual panel sunroof, Bose 14-speaker premium audio, heated 2nd- and 3rd-row seats (a first for the 3rd row in this lineup), and adds a Head-Up Display and a built-in front-and-rear dashcam most owners will use far more often for parking-lot peace of mind than for trail footage. Mountainscape-embossed seating and gloss-black exterior trim mark it visually against the rest of the range, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, and full SmartSense safety suite carry over unchanged.

Who lands on the XRT Pro

Families who actually use unpaved roads — toward the Kern River, up into the Sequoia foothills, or hauling a trailer that benefits from the standard hitch and eLSD traction — without wanting to give up heated seats or a sunroof to get there. Todd P. bought a new 2026 XRT Pro and wrote: “The whole team made us feel comfortable and worked with us to give us the best deal possible on our new 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro. We absolutely love our new Palisade and we will definitely return to Bakersfield Hyundai for future purchases.” The inventory page shows current XRT Pro availability. If the dirt roads are not part of your week, the Limited delivers similar comfort on pavement-friendly tires.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Palisade XRT Pro?

$49,370 MSRP, AWD-only — there is no front-wheel-drive XRT Pro — before Hyundai’s $1,495 destination charge, local tax, and DMV fees. See the pricing guide for the out-the-door build.

Is the XRT Pro all-wheel drive only?

Yes. Every other 2026 Palisade trim offers front-wheel drive standard with AWD optional; the XRT Pro reverses that and comes with HTRAC AWD and an Electronic Limited-Slip Differential standard, with no FWD configuration available.

Does the XRT Pro have more ground clearance?

Yes — 8.4 inches versus 7.4 inches on every other 2026 Palisade trim, roughly an extra inch, paired with all-terrain tires and recovery hooks front and rear.

Does the XRT Pro come with a tow hitch?

Yes, and it’s the only 2026 Palisade trim where the tow hitch is standard equipment rather than a dealer-installed accessory. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds with a trailer-brake setup, the same as the rest of the gas lineup.

What is the XRT Pro’s fuel economy?

16 city / 22 highway / 19 combined — the lowest EPA rating in the Palisade lineup, a result of the all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance rather than a different engine.

The bottom line

The XRT Pro is the trim Hyundai never offered on the Palisade before: honest off-road hardware — AWD, an eLSD, all-terrain tires, more clearance, a standard hitch — wrapped around a cabin that still has heated 2nd- and 3rd-row seats and a sunroof. For Kern County buyers who’ll actually use the dirt roads toward the mountains, it’s the specific tool for that job. See current stock at Bakersfield Hyundai on Wible Road.