Sales:
(904) 592-3846
Service:
(904) 592-3831
Parts:
(904) 592-3799
Open Today Sales: 9 AM-7 PMOpen Today Service: 7 AM-6 PM
The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and 2026 Hyundai Palisade are 3-row midsize SUVs that compete on different strengths. The Traverse leads with more standard power, noticeably more cargo room, and available hands-free driving, while the Palisade counters with a wide set of choices, a smooth V6 or a strong hybrid, a long warranty, and an off-road trim. Where you land depends on which of those advantages matters most to your family.
The Traverse uses a single turbocharged engine, while the Palisade offers a V6 or a hybrid, and the power order is not what you might expect. The Traverse's 2.5L turbo makes 328 hp and 326 lb-ft. The Palisade's 3.5L V6 makes 287 hp, so the Traverse out-powers the Palisade's gas engine. The hybrid is the surprise: the Palisade's turbo hybrid produces 329 combined hp, essentially matching the Traverse while adding fuel economy the Traverse cannot offer.
| Setup | Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|---|
| Traverse | 2.5L turbo 4-cylinder | 328 hp |
| Palisade Gas | 3.5L V6 | 287 hp |
| Palisade Hybrid | 2.5L turbo hybrid | 329 hp combined |
So the Traverse beats the Palisade on standard gas power, but the Palisade Hybrid pulls level on power and ahead on efficiency. That hybrid is the Palisade's strongest answer to the Traverse.
The Traverse holds the clear cargo advantage in this matchup. It offers up to 98 cubic feet of maximum cargo room against the Palisade's 86.7, a gap of more than 11 cubic feet that shows up on a Costco run or a beach-trip load-out. Both SUVs seat up to 8 and offer a second-row bench or captain's chairs, so the real difference is space behind the seats rather than how many seats there are.
| Space | Traverse | Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Max seating | 8 | 8 |
| Second-row options | bench (seats 8) or captain's chairs (seats 7) | bench (seats 8) or captain's chairs (seats 7) |
| Max cargo volume | up to 98 cu ft | up to 86.7 cu ft |
The Palisade Hybrid is the efficiency choice here, and the Traverse has no hybrid to match it. A front-drive Palisade Hybrid is rated around 33 city and 35 highway, while the Traverse's gas turbo rates 20 city and 26 highway. The Palisade's gas V6 lands close to the Traverse on the highway and slightly behind in the city.
| Configuration | EPA MPG (city / hwy) |
|---|---|
| Traverse (gas, FWD) | 20 / 26 |
| Palisade Gas (FWD) | 19 / 25 |
| Palisade Hybrid (FWD) | 33 / 35 |
| Palisade Hybrid (AWD) | 29 / 30 |
If fuel cost over years of ownership ranks high on your list, the Palisade Hybrid is the only choice here built around it.
Both SUVs tow up to 5,000 pounds with the right setup, and both offer an off-road trim, which makes this the most evenly matched part of the comparison. The Traverse and the Palisade gas V6 each tow 5,000 pounds, while the Palisade Hybrid is rated at 4,000. For unpaved roads, the Traverse offers a Z71 with Twin-Clutch all-wheel drive, and the Palisade fields an XRT PRO with off-road drive modes and all-terrain tires.
| Capability | Traverse | Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs (gas); 4,000 (Hybrid) |
| Drivetrain | front-wheel drive standard, AWD available | front-wheel drive standard, AWD available |
| Off-road trim | Z71 with Twin-Clutch AWD | XRT PRO with all-terrain tires |
For Clay County buyers who head toward the more rural stretches around Middleburg and Keystone, either trim handles a dirt road, so the decision comes down to the rest of the package.
The Traverse leads on center-screen size and hands-free driving, while the Palisade answers with a strong digital cluster and an available head-up display. The Traverse runs a 17.7-inch touchscreen with Google built-in and an 11-inch driver display. The Palisade pairs a 12.3-inch touchscreen with a 12.3-inch digital cluster, and its top trim adds a 12-inch head-up display.
| Technology | Traverse | Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Center touchscreen | 17.7-inch | 12.3-inch |
| Driver display | 11-inch | 12.3-inch digital cluster |
| Hands-free driving | available Super Cruise | not offered |
| Standard safety suite | Chevy Safety Assist | Hyundai SmartSense |
Hands-free driving is the one capability only the Traverse has. Its available Super Cruise runs hands-free across more than 585,000 miles of mapped roads and comes standard on the RS and High Country. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist centers the lane and holds following distance, but your hands stay on the wheel. Our overview of Super Cruise hands-free driving in Florida shows what that looks like on roads near you.
The Palisade's clearest edge is its factory warranty. Hyundai covers the Palisade for 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, with powertrain protection running 10 years or 100,000 miles, terms longer than most rivals carry. If maximum factory coverage is your single deciding factor, that is a genuine point for the Palisade.
What the Traverse brings to ownership is local and immediate. Every new Traverse is backed by GM coverage and our own Chevrolet service department, so routine maintenance stays close to home at our Orange Park location. The buying side stays No Bull: one clear, competitive figure, with no add-on stickers, no forced equipment packages, and no games on the total. Every new Traverse also includes free paintless dent repair for its first 90 days. For many local families, a straightforward price and a service department close to home matter more than a longer factory warranty.
Choose the Palisade if a hybrid option or the longest warranty drives your decision; choose the Traverse for more standard power, more cargo room, the bigger touchscreen, and available hands-free driving. The Palisade makes a strong case for buyers who want efficiency or maximum factory coverage and can give up some cargo room to get it. The Traverse makes the better all-around case for families who haul a lot, want a single strong gas engine, and value Super Cruise.
When the trim or color you want is not in stock, we can source it or order one to your spec, and our broader range of Chevrolet SUVs shows where the Traverse fits among Chevy's other body styles.
Numbers frame this choice, but loading the cargo area and driving it is what settles it. We keep the 2026 Traverse on the lot across the LT, Z71, RS, and High Country, so you can fold the seats, check the room, and feel the turbo before you commit. When you are ready, you will find us on the money-saving end of Blanding Blvd.
2026 Chevrolet Traverse Inventory
Handle the rest online first: value your trade or grab a no-obligation cash offer, work out a monthly payment, and get prequalified with no impact to your credit score. More head-to-head matchups live on our Chevrolet comparisons page.
A few questions come up again and again when buyers cross-shop the Traverse and Palisade.
The Traverse, clearly. It offers up to 98 cubic feet of maximum cargo room against the Palisade's 86.7, a difference of more than 11 cubic feet that you notice on a big load-out.
It depends on which Palisade engine you compare. The Traverse's 328 hp beats the Palisade's 287-hp V6, but the Palisade Hybrid's 329 combined hp essentially ties the Traverse.
The Palisade offers a hybrid with 329 combined hp and roughly 34 mpg combined; the Traverse does not. The Traverse is gas only, so if a hybrid 3-row is a must, the Palisade is the one here that has it.
The Palisade Hybrid, by a wide margin. It rates around 33 city and 35 highway in front-drive form, against the Traverse's 20 city and 26 highway. The Palisade's gas V6 is close to the Traverse, at 19 city and 25 highway.
The Traverse tows 5,000 pounds, and so does the Palisade with its gas V6. The Palisade Hybrid is rated lower, at 4,000 pounds, so match the configuration to what you plan to pull.
Both are built for light off-road use, so it comes down to feel. The Traverse Z71 uses a Twin-Clutch all-wheel-drive system, while the Palisade XRT PRO adds off-road drive modes and all-terrain tires. We can walk you through both on the lot.
The Palisade. Hyundai covers it for 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain, longer than most of the segment. If warranty length is your top priority, that favors the Palisade.
Both seat up to 8, using a second-row bench, or up to 7 with second-row captain's chairs. Seating capacity is a tie.
No. Available Super Cruise is a Traverse feature the Palisade does not match. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist handles lane centering and following distance, but the driver keeps hands on the wheel.
We stock the Traverse at our Orange Park location on Blanding Blvd, close by for Clay County and greater Jacksonville shoppers. Since cargo room and powertrain are the big differences here, the most useful thing you can do is load the Traverse's cargo area and drive it before you decide.