#USA #Fountain Valley #Hyundai Palisade #North American Utility #SUV Awards

Hyundai Palisade Named Finalist for 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade has recently been recognized as a finalist in the North American Utility of the Year award category, an honor selected by a prestigious jury of automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada. This year’s finalists were announced during AutoMobility LA at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, setting the stage for an exciting reveal at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2026 when the winners will be announced.

Recognition and Significance

Each year, the North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) awards aims to spotlight vehicles that stand out in innovation, design, and performance. Jeff Gilbert, the president of NACTOY, remarked, “These finalists show the wide range of choices available to consumers in today's market.” The selection process culminates in an evaluation from 50 distinguished automotive journalists, testament to the rigor of their standards and the value of these accolades.

Olabisi Boyle, Senior Vice President of Product Planning and Mobility Strategy at Hyundai Motor North America, expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting, “We appreciate that buyers consistently come back to the same sentiment: Palisade feels engineered for real life.