Families near Fishers, Indiana, have been waiting for a three-row SUV that seats eight without drinking fuel like a full-size truck. The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid answers that with a turbocharged hybrid powertrain rated up to 34 mpg combined and a cabin that swallows car seats, hockey bags, and a full grocery run with space left over.
At Ray Skillman Hyundai West, we have helped a lot of families make this exact call. Our team knows which trim fits a daily I-69 commute and which one earns its price when the third row is full five days a week.
The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid runs a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with two electric motors, and the combined system produces 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. That torque shows up early in the rev range, which is what you feel merging onto I-465 with seven people and a cargo area full of luggage. Front-wheel drive comes standard, and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive is available on every trim.
Efficiency is where this SUV separates itself from the gas V6 version. Front-drive SEL and SEL Premium models carry EPA estimates of 33 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, or 34 combined. Limited and Calligraphy trims ride on bigger wheels and come in at 31 city and 32 highway, while all-wheel-drive versions land at 29 city and 31 highway. On an 18.2-gallon tank, the most efficient setup stretches to roughly 619 miles of range.
Seating flexes depending on how you spec it. SEL, SEL Premium, and Limited trims come standard with an eight-passenger second-row bench, with captain’s chairs available if you want seven seats and an easier path to the back. Calligraphy goes straight to power-adjustable captain’s chairs. Third-row legroom measures 32.1 inches, and those seats split 60/40 with handles that make climbing back there less of a chore for adults.
Cargo works the way parents need it to. There are 19.1 cubic feet behind the third row, enough for a week of groceries without folding anything. Drop the third row and you have 46.3 cubic feet. Fold both rows and the number climbs to 86.7. Every trim gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three-zone automatic climate control, and USB-C ports in all three rows.
Hyundai puts SmartSense gear across the whole lineup instead of saving it for the expensive trims. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, and Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go all come standard on the SEL.
Climb the ladder and the list deepens. SEL Premium adds a Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist. Calligraphy brings Highway Driving Assist 2, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. Behind all of it sits Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty with matching coverage on the hybrid battery and system.
Trims run from SEL through Calligraphy, plus a Calligraphy Black Ink appearance version that swaps in black exterior accents, black alloy wheels, and a black Nappa interior. Here is how the four core trims compare.
| Feature | SEL | SEL Premium | Limited | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Powertrain | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp combined | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp combined | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp combined | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp combined |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard, HTRAC AWD available | FWD standard, HTRAC AWD available | FWD standard, HTRAC AWD available | FWD standard, HTRAC AWD available |
| EPA Combined (FWD) | 34 mpg | 34 mpg | 31 mpg | 31 mpg |
| Wheels | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy | 20-inch alloy | 21-inch alloy |
| Seating | 8-passenger bench standard, captain’s chairs available | 8-passenger bench standard, captain’s chairs available | 8-passenger bench standard, captain’s chairs available | 7-passenger power captain’s chairs |
| Seating Surfaces | H-Tex leatherette | H-Tex leatherette | Leather-trimmed | Nappa leather-trimmed |
| Front Seat Comfort | Heated, 8-way power driver | Adds ventilation, 4-way lumbar, power passenger seat, memory | Adds ventilation, 4-way lumbar, power passenger seat, memory | Adds Ergo Motion driver seat, relaxation mode, leg cushion extensions |
| Second and Third Rows | Sliding 2nd row, 60/40 split 3rd row | Adds heated and ventilated 2nd row | Adds heated 3rd row, power one-touch 2nd-row slide | Adds power-adjustable 2nd row with relaxation mode |
| Sunroof | Not available | Conventional sunroof | Dual-panel sunroof | Dual-panel sunroof |
| Audio and Displays | 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, 12.3-inch digital cluster | 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, 12.3-inch digital cluster | Adds 14-speaker Bose premium audio | Adds 14-speaker Bose premium audio, Head-up Display |
| Cameras and Parking | Rearview monitor, front and rear parking sensors | Adds Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor | Adds Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor | Adds Remote Smart Parking Assist, digital rearview mirror |
| Driver Assistance | Highway Driving Assist | Highway Driving Assist | Highway Driving Assist | Highway Driving Assist 2 |
| Notable Extras | Wireless charging, hands-free smart liftgate | Digital Key 2, heated steering wheel, 64-color ambient lighting | 115-volt outlet, standard tow hitch | Built-in front and rear dash cam, rain-sensing wipers |
| Max Towing | 4,000 lbs with trailer brakes | 4,000 lbs with trailer brakes | 4,000 lbs with trailer brakes | 4,000 lbs with trailer brakes |
Picking a trim usually comes down to how often anyone actually sits in the third row and how much the extras matter day-to-day. The SEL covers the fundamentals well and posts the best fuel economy numbers of the group. SEL Premium is the value sweet spot for most families. Limited and Calligraphy suit buyers who want the Bose system, the glass overhead, and seats that heat and cool across all three rows.
We have been selling Hyundais on the west side since 2009, and the Ray Skillman name has been part of this market since 1980. That history shows up in a service department staffed by factory-trained technicians, a finance team that shops national banks alongside local lenders, and a sales floor where nobody rushes you. Use our value-your-trade tool to see what your current vehicle is worth, or send in the finance application online before you walk through the door.
If the drive is the hard part, we will bring the test drive to you and deliver the vehicle to your driveway when you are ready to buy. Plenty of drivers near Fishers, Indiana, have found that easier than shopping closer to home. Stop by, load the family into a few trims, and take one out on the highway.
You can see the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid at Ray Skillman Hyundai West. We keep a range of trims on the lot, so you can sit in an SEL and a Limited back-to-back and feel the difference. If getting here is inconvenient, we can bring the test drive to you instead.
EPA estimates land at 33 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, or 34 combined, for front-wheel-drive SEL and SEL Premium models. Limited and Calligraphy trims ride on larger wheels and come in at 31 city and 32 highway with front-wheel drive. HTRAC all-wheel-drive versions are rated 29 city and 31 highway across every trim.
No. This is a conventional hybrid, so the 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery recharges through the gas engine and regenerative braking. You fill it at a gas station like any other SUV and never deal with a charging cable or a home charger.
Yes. SEL, SEL Premium, and Limited trims come standard with a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench for eight-passenger seating. Second-row captain’s chairs are available on those trims if you would rather have seven seats and a walkway to the back. Calligraphy comes with captain’s chairs only.
Up to 4,000 pounds when equipped with trailer brakes, and 1,650 pounds without them. Tow Mode, Trailer Sway Control, and trailering pre-wiring are standard on every trim. That covers a small camper or a fishing boat headed out to Geist Reservoir on a Saturday morning.
Limited brings 20-inch wheels, leather-trimmed seating, a 14-speaker Bose system, a dual-panel sunroof, and heated third-row seats. Calligraphy moves to 21-inch wheels and Nappa leather, then adds a Head-up Display, a built-in dash cam, Highway Driving Assist 2, and relaxation seat modes in the first two rows. Calligraphy seats seven only.
Yes. Our service department is staffed with factory-trained Hyundai technicians who handle routine maintenance, warranty work, and hybrid-specific repairs. Hyundai covers the hybrid battery and system for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and we take care of that work here. You can schedule an appointment online whenever it suits your day.
