Butch-Looking Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition Targets LandCruiser

• Hyundai has confirmed the new generation Palisade will gain a more off-road-ready avatar.
• Australian market launch for the Palisade XRT Pro off-road would be early 2026.
• The SUV will likely receive a hybrid powertrain and tuned suspension.
• No pricing has been confirmed for the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition.

South Korean automotive giant Hyundai has unveiled the next-generation Palisade; the company’s first to boast the XRT PRO moniker. Unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition sports an edgy new design, refined 4×4 capabilities and a surprising smattering of luxury additions. Most importantly, Hyundai has already outlined plans to bring the Off-Road Edition Down Under, suggesting that the design will come to Australia shortly after the stock Palisade’s arrival towards the end of this year. Here is what you can expect.

2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition

From the outset, the Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition is a sharp step up visually. The butch looking luxury SUV undoubtedly has the Toyota LandCruiser in its sights and thankfully, Hyundai has done more than simply wrap a standard Palisade around some off-road bits. The changes dig deeper with the XRT Pro Off-Road Edition getting 8.4 inches of ground clearance (+1 inch vs. non-XRT Pro models) and improved approach (20.5°), departure (22.4°), and breakover (18.3°) angles.

According to Olabisi Boyle, SVP, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America, these updates have been implemented to further expand the mixed-use capabilities of the much-loved Palisade. Aiming to be the everyman for the everyman, the new vehicle is built around the philosophy of versatility.

“The 2026 Palisade XRT PRO is for people doing it all—raising families, chasing goals, showing up every day,” Boyle said. “We built this SUV by putting people first, thinking about real lives, real needs. It’s got space for your crew, capability when the road gets rough, and the kind of comfort, style, and efficiency that proves luxury doesn’t have to come with a luxury price. We wanted to deliver a vehicle where affordability can meet lifestyle—no matter where off-road you want to go.”

Design

• XRT PRO-exclusive 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels
• XRT PRO rear badging
• XRT dark exterior accents (grille, window surround, cladding)
• H-Tex leatherette seating surfaces with front heating/ventilation
• Heated steering wheel
• Bose® 14-speaker premium audio system
• Ambient lighting
• 115-volt power outlet
• Power moonroof

Styling wise, the SUV wears a more sinister look with off-road friendly bumper designs and darker wheels. The other big highlight is the electronic rear limited-slip differential which is exclusive to this model. Despite all of this, at heart the Palisade XRT Pro is still a bona-fide luxury SUV with trinkets like a Bose 14 speaker audio system, power moonroof, ambient lighting and a heated steering wheel.

Of course, an off-road-focused version cannot be complete without some meaty tyres, and this time, they are a set of all-terrain 255/60R18s. Along with all-wheel drive, there are Mud, Sand, and Snow terrain modes plus real-time pitch and roll, compass, and elevation displays. The surround-view monitor also has a forward ground view, while there are exposed functional ‘canyon red’ recovery hooks at the front and rear.

2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro Off-Road Edition Powertrain

Under the hood, the XRT Pro does not come with the hybrid powertrain in the US market, as it has a big 3.5-litre V6 unit with 287 horsepower. According to Hyundai, the newly developed powertrain can produce up to 260 lb.-ft. of torque, with the naturally aspirated, direct-injected engine is coupled to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Importantly, this standard ICE powertrain is available exclusively with HTRAC All-Wheel Drive (AWD) on XRT PRO.

For Australia, we are not sure if this powertrain would make its way here in the XRT Pro as instead we would wager that it will come with the same turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain as on the standard Palisade. Hyundai might tune the SUV to suit our market requirements before launch, and the XRT Pro could also have some adjustments over the US-spec version.

Compared to the purely cosmetic XRT versions of the past, Hyundai is now focusing on style as well as substance in adding some real off-road capability to match those rugged looks. We also expect more Hyundai SUVs to wear the XRT Pro badge in the future with the carmaker getting serious about off-roaders.

XRT PRO Capability Features

• XRT PRO-exclusive rear electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD)
• 8.4 inches of ground clearance (+1 inch vs. non XRT PRO models)
• Improved approach (20.5°), departure (22.4°), and breakover (18.3°) geometry
• All-terrain 255/60R18 tires
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Surround View Monitor with forward ground view
• Real-time pitch & roll, compass, and elevation displays
• HTRAC® all-wheel drive
• New Mud, Sand, and Snow terrain modes
• Exposed functional canyon red recovery hooks front and rear
• Downhill Brake Control
• Tow mode
• Factory-installed tow hitch with conceal panel

As mentioned, the new 2026 Palisade range is available with Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel-Drive system with Tow Mode. Exclusive to the XRT PRO model, however, is the factory-installed, fascia-concealed OEM tow hitch. Hyundai claims that when paired with the upgraded Tow Mode, the system can optimise the powertrain’s performance parameters for “confident and efficient towing”, holding lower gears longer and reducing shift frequency while towing heavier loads. For 2026, a new terrain mode controller includes Mud, Sand, and Snow settings, with the 2026 PALISADE XRT PRO also copping from a model-exclusive rear electronic limited-slip differential.

Availability

Hyundai has yet to officially confirm any pricing details for the upcoming XRT Pro Off-Road Edition and it is not clear exactly when the model will be headed Down Under. Instead, the company has simply stated that all 2026 Palisade models will be built in Ulsan, South Korea, with the XRT PRO models set to arrive at local Hyundai dealers in early summer. Fingers crossed it won’t take too long for the upgraded off-road model to land on Australian shores.