2026 Hyundai Palisade All Wheel Drive (AWD) User Guide
This blog introduces the 2026 Hyundai Palisade All Wheel Drive (AWD), which blends strength, style, and superior performance. Understand how innovative design, comfort, and technology can transform driving confidence.
Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
The 4WD system delivers engine power to all front and rear wheels for maximum traction. 4WD is useful when extra traction is required on roads such as slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered roads.
4WD may also be used for occasional off-road use such as established unpaved roads and trails. Always reduce the speed to a level that is appropriate for those conditions.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:
- Do not drive in conditions that exceed the vehicle’s intended design such as challenging off-road conditions.
- Avoid high speeds when cornering or turning.
- Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
- The risk of a rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of your vehicle at highway speeds.
- Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the roadway and the driver over steers to reenter the roadway.
- In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow down before pulling back into the travel lanes.
- Always be aware of your surroundings and check the terrain as needed when driving off-road. HYUNDAI is not responsible for any damage to vehicle resulting from off-road driving.
- HYUNDAI is not responsible for any problems caused by the user’s negligence or improper use. Be carefully drive.
- Keep pay attention and check the vehicle area for obstacles when driving off-road.
NOTICE
- Do not drive in water if the water level is higher than the bottom of the vehicle.
- Check your brake condition once you are out of mud or water. Depress the brake pedal several times as you move slowly until you feel normal braking condition return.
- Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in off-road conditions such as sand, mud, or water. (For more information, refer to the Maintenance Under Severe Usage and Low Mileage Conditions.)
- Always wash your vehicle thoroughly after off-road use, especially the bottom of the vehicle.
- Make sure that a full time 4WD vehicle is towed by a flat-bed tow truck.
4WD Mode
Auto 4WD mode (Normal driving)
If the 4WD system determines there is a need for 4WD, the engine’s driving power is distributes to all four wheels automatically.
For safe 4WD operation
Before driving
Make sure all passengers always wear their seat belts.
Driving on snow-covered or icy roads
- Start off slowly by applying the accelerator pedal gently.
- Use snow tires or tire chains.
- Keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
- Use engine braking during deceleration.
- Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns to prevent skids.
Driving in sand or mud
- Maintain slow and constant speeds.
- Use tire chains when driving in mud if necessary.
- Keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
- Reduce the vehicle speed and always check the road condition.
- Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns to prevent getting stuck.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stuck in snow, sand, or mud, place a non-slip material under the drive wheels to provide traction OR slowly spin the wheels in forward and reverse causing a rocking motion that may free the vehicle. Avoid running the engine continuously at high RPM to prevent damage to the 4WD system.
Transmission overheated warning
- When driving on muddy and sandy roads under the severe condition, the transmission could be overheated.
- When the transmission is overheated, the safe protection mode engages and the ‘Transmission hot! Park with engine On’ warning message appears on the cluster display with a chime.
- If this occurs, pull over to a safe location, stop the vehicle with the engine running, apply the brakes and shift the vehicle to P (Park), and allow the transmission to cool.
- If you ignore this warning, the driving condition may become worse. You may experience abrupt shifts, frequent shifts, or jerkiness. To return to the normal driving condition, stop the vehicle and depress the brake pedal or shift to P (Park). Then allow the transmission to cool for a few minutes with the engine on, before driving off.
- When the message ‘Transmission cooled down. Resume driving’ appears you can continue to drive your vehicle.
- If the warning messages in the cluster display continue to blink, for your safety, have the system inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
Driving uphill
- Before starting off, check if it is possible to drive uphill.
- Drive as straight as possible.
Driving downhill
- Do not change gears while driving downhill. Select a gear before driving downhill.
- Drive slowly when using engine braking while driving downhill.
- Drive straight as possible.
WARNING
- Exercise extreme caution driving up or down steep hills. The vehicle may roll over in the grade, terrain, and water/mud conditions.
- Do not drive across steep hills. A slight change in the wheel angle may destabilize the vehicle. A stable vehicle may lose stability if the vehicle stops its forward motion. Your vehicle may roll over, resulting in a serious injury or death.
Driving through water
- Try to avoid driving in deep standing water. It may stall your engine and clog your exhaust pipes.
- If you need to drive in water, stop your vehicle, set the vehicle in 4WD Lock mode, and drive under 5 mph (8 km/h).
- Do not change gears while driving in water.
Additional driving conditions
- Become familiar with the off-road conditions before driving.
- Always pay attention when driving off-road and avoid dangerous areas.
- Drive slowly when driving in heavy wind.
- Reduce vehicle speed when cornering. The center of gravity of 4WD vehicles is higher than conventional 2WD vehicles. The vehicle is more likely to roll over if you turn the steering wheel too quickly.
- Always hold the steering wheel firmly when you are driving off-road.
WARNING
Do not grab the inside of the steering wheel when you are driving off-road. You may hurt your arm by a sudden steering maneuver or from steering wheel rebound due to an impact with objects on the ground. You may lose control of the steering wheel that may lead to serious injury or death.
4WD Terrain Mode
Press the DRIVE/TERRAIN button to change from normal driving mode to multi terrain mode. Press the button up or down to select SNOW, MUD, or SAND.
CAUTION
Maintain DRIVE mode when driving on roads in normal conditions. Driving in TERRAIN mode on normal roads may damage the 4WD system and cause mechanical vibration or noise.
When driving (especially when cornering) under normal road conditions in TERRAIN mode, a driver may find minor mechanical vibration or noise, which is extremely normal phenomenon, not a malfunction. When TERRAIN mode is released, such noise or vibration will be immediately gone. When you turn off TERRAIN mode, it can lead to little shocks but this is a normal phenomenon that lasts until the traction forces on the front and rear wheels of the vehicle are released.
Emergency Precautions
Tires
Do not use tires or wheels with different size and type from the one installed on your vehicle. It may affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could cause steering failure or rollover causing serious injury.
When replacing the tires, be sure to equip all four tires with the same size, type, tread, brand, and load-carrying capacity. If you equip your vehicle with any tire/wheel combination not recommended by HYUNDAI for off- road driving, do not use these tires for highway driving.
WARNING
Never start or run the engine while a full-time 4WD vehicle is raised on a jack. The vehicle may slip or roll off of a jack causing serious injury or death.
Towing
4WD vehicles must be towed with all the wheels off the ground. For more information, refer to the Towing.
Vehicle inspection
- If the vehicle needs to be operated on a vehicle lift do not attempt to stop any of the four wheels from turning. This could damage the 4WD system.
- Never engage the parking brake while running the engine on a car lift. This may damage the 4WD system.
Dynamometer testing
A full-time 4WD vehicle must be tested on a special four wheel chassis dynamometer.
If a 2WD roll tester must be used:
- Roll tester (Speedometer)
- Temporary free roller
- Check the tire pressures recommended for your vehicle.
- Place the front wheels on the roll tester for a speedometer test as shown in the illustration.
- Release the parking brake.
- Place the rear wheels on the temporary free roller as shown in the illustration.
WARNING
Keep away from the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is in gear on the dynamometer. The vehicle may jump forward and cause serious injury or death.
NOTICE
- Never engage the parking brake while performing the test.
- When the vehicle is lifted up, do not operate the front and rear wheel separately. All four wheels should be operated.
Useful Links:
2024 Hyundai PALISADE Specs, Price, Features, Mileage and Review
2026 Hyundai Palisade Interior and Exterior Features User Guide