Hyundai Palisade Named 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year
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What Happened
The Hyundai Palisade has been named the 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at the Canadian Car of the Year Awards in Toronto. The award is determined through extensive real-world testing by over 45 AJAC members across Canada.
“Being recognized as AJAC’s Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year is an honor we’re incredibly proud of, especially in a segment as competitive as this one. The all-new PALISADE represents Hyundai at its best: bold design, advanced technology and a commitment to delivering exceptional value to Canadian families. Earning this award for the fourth time since 2022 underscores the importance of applying”
“Congratulations to Hyundai PALISADE for earning AJAC's 2026 Canadian Utility of the Year Award. Hyundai has completely redesigned its three-row SUV, delivering more features, more comfort and a new, efficient hybrid system. Our expert jurors scored PALISADE highly for its interior styling, its overall quality and for the high consumer appeal this SUV brings to the Canadian marketplace.”
PALISADE wins Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year
SANTA FE wins
IONIQ 5 wins
TUCSON wins
Why this matters
This marks the fourth time in five years a Hyundai SUV has won the award, highlighting the brand's consistent strength in the competitive Canadian SUV market.
Terms in This Story
- AJAC
- Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, an organization of automotive journalists that evaluates vehicles.
- CCOTY
- Canadian Car of the Year Awards, an annual awards program organized by AJAC.
- XRT PRO
- An adventure-ready trim level of the Hyundai Palisade.
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