Three Midwest Automotive Media Association honors suggest Hyundai’s three-row SUV strategy is landing with reviewers, as buyers weigh comfort, practicality, and electrification in the same showroom.
Hyundai Motor America picked up three Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) “Favorite Vehicle” awards at the opening of the 2026 Chicago Auto Show, a reminder that the three-row SUV has become one of the industry’s most competitive battlegrounds. The all-new Palisade earned both Favorite Vehicle and Favorite Family Vehicle for 2026, while the IONIQ 9 was named Favorite Electric Vehicle. The awards were decided by votes from more than 100 automotive journalists and creators, reflecting the consensus view of a group that spends much of the year driving and comparing new models.
While awards shows rarely change the trajectory of a vehicle on their own, they often signal which design priorities are resonating in a crowded market. The Palisade’s recognition, in particular, points to a continued appetite for spacious family vehicles that feel more refined than utilitarian. Hyundai notes that the new Palisade adds 2.5 inches in length and a 2.7-inch wheelbase increase, expanding both cabin and cargo space while also improving ease of entry and exit—small dimensional changes that can matter a great deal in daily use.
The Palisade is offered in both internal combustion and hybrid configurations, with front- or all-wheel-drive powertrains. That flexibility reflects a broader reality in the U.S. market: many buyers want improved efficiency but are not ready to commit fully to electric ownership. By keeping multiple drivetrain options under one familiar nameplate, Hyundai appears to be positioning the Palisade as a practical choice for households navigating shifting fuel preferences.
The IONIQ 9, Hyundai’s all-electric three-row SUV, earned the Favorite Electric Vehicle award and represents the brand’s push to bring EVs into the same family-oriented space traditionally dominated by gasoline models. Hyundai highlights features such as three rows of seating, available Relaxation Seats, a sliding center console, Over-the-Air updates, 100W USB-C ports, and Feature on Demand technology. In a segment where buyers increasingly expect cars to function like evolving devices, those details speak to how EV competition is now as much about software and convenience as it is about range.
MAMA’s praise for the Palisade emphasized completeness over spectacle, describing a vehicle that feels confident, comfortable, and balanced rather than dependent on novelty. In an era of attention-grabbing automotive design, that may be the most telling endorsement of all.
