Our List Of The Best Midsize SUVs of 2026

A new year brings a new slate of midsize SUVs, but which are worthy of a test drive? Midsize SUVs represent one of the most popular segments in today’s market, and there are plenty of options on the table, with 40 distinct models ranging from budget-friendly models like the Kia Sorento and Nissan Pathfinder to luxury rides like the BMW X5 and Cadillac VISTIQ. Throw in a new generation of hybrid and EVs, and it can be tough to know where to start when visiting your local car dealer near Fayetteville. Hendrick Automotive Group is here to help. We’ve combed through the 2026 lineup and selected three of our top picks, including both two- and three-row models. Each midsize option offers something a little different, whether it's off-road ability, class-leading cargo space, or luxury features. Join us as we discover some of the best buys for 2026.

Hyundai Palisade / Kia Telluride 

Best Midsize Option For: Luxury and value 

The Hyundai Motor Group has become a force to be reckoned with in the crossover class, producing affordable, family-friendly models that are perennial favorites with drivers and critics alike. For example, take the three-row Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The two midsize SUVs are built on the same platform and have both snagged some serious hardware in recent years. The Telluride was recently named the best midsize SUV for 2025 and 2026 by U.S. News and World Report and landed the number three spot in Car and Driver’s own annual rankings. The Palisade also earned plenty of recognition for the new model year, with the hybrid version logging a first-place finish on both the same Car and Driver list as well as Edmunds’ best midsize three-row SUVs. 

The Palisade and Telluride might share the same platform, but the two SUVs do differ in a few important ways. While the Telluride offers slightly more cargo space, the Palisade represents a more luxurious approach to the midsize formula. Hyundai has clearly made comfort a top priority when designing the Palisade, gracing the three-row SUV with a long list of high-end features and premium materials. 

Even the Palisade’s base SE trim offers a tri-zone automatic climate control system, a cabin intercom, and plenty of advanced infotainment tech like a 12.3-inch display, integrated navigation system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, but the upper trims turn the Palisade into a midsize oasis complete with leather upholstery, available heated, ventilated and massaging seats, a dual-pane sunroof and even a center console with an built-in UV-C sterilization system that’s perfect for giving your smartphone or tablet a quick clean. The range-topping Calligraphy trim includes a full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), such as Remote Smart Parking Assist and Highway Driving Assist 2, as well as some novel technologies like integrated front and rear dash cams that can save your bacon and your insurance premiums in the event of an accident.

There is one caveat when it comes to the Kia Telluride: there won’t actually be a 2026 model as Kia takes a brief recess to prepare for the launch of the SUV’s second generation. It’s important to remember that model years and actual years don’t tend to match up, which means the all-new 2027 Telluride will actually make its way to Fayetteville dealerships in early 2026. The Telluride might be worth waiting for, as the 2027 model will be the first to feature a hybrid engine. However, if you’re feeling a little impatient and want to explore a more luxurious take on the three-row format, it’s the perfect time to seek out the Hyundai Palisade. 

Toyota Grand Highlander

Best Midsize Option For: A roomy, efficient ride 

The “midsize” designation is pretty fluid when compared to some other common automotive categories. Today’s midsize models range from smaller, two-row options, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Hyundai Santa Fe, to three-row SUVs, such as the Chevy Traverse and Hyundai Palisade/Kia Telluride. As the name implies, the Toyota Grand Highlander occupies the larger end of the midsize spectrum, offering a spacious cabin that provides ample room for both passengers and their cargo. The Grand Highlander easily places towards the top of the midsize segment in terms of cargo space with a maximum capacity of 97.5 cu.ft. That’s significantly more than some of the SUV’s midsize rivals, besting the Hyundai Palisade (86.7 cu.ft.), Kia Telluride (86.9 cu.ft.), and Mazda CX-90 (75.2 cu.ft.) by a wide margin. The Grand Highlander also outclasses the competition when it comes to passenger space with first- and second-row dimensions that Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda’s models can’t match. It becomes a bit more competitive when comparing third-row headroom, but the Toyota still has the edge over most of the class in legroom and shoulder room.

The Grand Highlander is also one of the most flexible options on our list, with three different engines to choose from. The gas-powered model is powered by a 2.4L turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers 265 hp and offers respectable fuel economy, up to 28 MPG when cruising into Fayetteville on I-95. Toyota also offers two hybrid setups that enable drivers to get the most out of every gallon. The first, a 2.5L I-4, is aided by two electric motors, giving drivers 245 hp to play with and letting the Grand Highlander reach 36 MPG combined when opting for the FWD format. Adding AWD causes the crossover to lose a couple of MPG. The base hybrid can still tow up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped.

Then there’s Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain. The hybrid’s engine measures in at 2.4L, but an added turbocharger enables the SUV to make the most out of the mill, producing 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The i-Force Max engine is paired with AWD by default, offering a satisfying combination of efficiency and performance. This hybrid engine enables the Grand Highlander to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, while still achieving 26 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.

Honda Passport

Best Midsize Option For: Outdoorsy families 

Honda has made plenty of changes to keep the new, fourth-generation Passport at the top of its game, including a retuned 3.5L V6 that now produces more power than ever before. Offering 285 hp and 262 lb-ft. of torque, this engine is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs. However, it’s the engine’s improved efficiency that really caught our attention this time around. Despite churning out an extra 5 hp over the 2025 model, the SUV’s engine now logs up to 25 MPG on the highway, one better than last year. This upgrade can largely be credited to the new ten-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the older nine-speed design. Honda has also extended the Passport’s wheelbase and track for the new model year and given the crossover a little extra ground clearance that’s sure to come in useful when venturing into off-road environments.

Speaking of the road less traveled, the TrailSport trim also returns for 2026, giving Fayetteville drivers an enticing off-road option that still offers plenty of practical appeal as a daily driver. First introduced in 2022, the TrailSport sees the midsize Honda gain plenty of rugged off-road equipment to complement its standard all-wheel drive system and torque-vectoring rear differential. All-terrain tires and protective skid plates are par for the course on any off-road trim, but Honda adds to the TrailSport’s adventure-ready appeal with front and rear recovery hooks and an upgraded, lifted suspension that’s specifically designed to withstand the rigors of tough terrain. 

The automaker has also introduced a new TrailSport Elite option for the 2026 model year. The standard TrailSport already includes a generous array of premium features, such as a panoramic sunroof, heated windshield, and synthetic leather upholstery with eye-catching orange accents. However, the Elite adds to the SUV’s appeal with ventilated front seats wrapped in genuine leather, a heated steering wheel, and more. Noise-reducing front side windows help to create a quieter cabin, whether you’re rolling down the highway or blazing a new trail, and should allow drivers to better enjoy their favorite playlist on the Passport’s 12-speaker Bose audio system. The TrailSport Elite also adds a surround-view camera along with a forward-facing trail camera designed to help drivers avoid common off-road obstacles and reducing the stress of trying to park the midsize SUV or connect to a trailer during your next towing task.

Those looking to set themselves apart from the crowd can opt for the TrailSport Blackout and TrailSport Elite Blackout packages, which add blacked-out wheels and badges. The Passport also provides riders with plenty of modern infotainment and ADAS technology, as well as a spacious cabin that can accommodate up to 83.8 cu.ft. of cargo. Honda has even brought an old favorite back into the fold, designing the 2026 Passport with a built-in picnic table that can be stored right in the rear cargo area. Perfect for trail-side meals, camping trips, and card games, the clever little picnic table was first offered in Honda’s innovative CR-V all the way back in 1997.

Only the Best at Hendrick Automotive Group

It’s hard to go wrong when picking between these three choices. The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are upping the bar in the midsize segment, and reaping the rewards as fixtures on multiple best-of lists. The Toyota Grand Highlander excels in its class-leading cargo and passenger space, while also staying current with its hybrid engine options. The Passport is the segment’s off-road MVP, and doubles down on its outdoorsy reputation with a new TrailSport Elite trim for 2026.

No matter which midsize SUV you’re looking for, you’ll find it at one of our many dealerships. We’ve long been a mainstay of the North Carolina auto scene with dozens of dealerships all throughout the Tarheel State, but we also operate a vast dealership network that stretches from California to Virginia. We offer 26 distinct brands across our 133 franchises, and are able to leverage our considerable resources to ensure every driver is connected with the new car, truck, or SUV of their dreams. From reliable midsize SUVs designed to meet the needs of today’s busy families to hardworking pickups, sporty sedans, commercial vehicles, and exciting new hybrid and EV options, your next daily driver or a specialty vehicle is just waiting to be discovered.