There are a lot of things to love about Temecula—the food, the wine, the sense that time moves just a little slower here—but one of the very best things is how easy it is to escape. You don’t have to plan it. You don’t have to go far. Just pick a direction, start the engine, and let the roads do the rest.
That’s exactly what I did recently, climbing into the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade for a quick reset drive through some of Temecula’s most scenic routes. The Palisade feels more like a rolling lounge than a family SUV—quiet, confident, and surprisingly elegant. You notice it before you even pull out of the driveway. The leather interior stretches across almost every surface, the ambient lighting glows softly, and the oversized display greets you with an easy calm. Tap the start button, and the hybrid engine hums to life so quietly you’ll check twice to make sure it’s actually on.
The first stop on any good Temecula escape is De Luz. It’s one of those hidden corners that still feels wild—narrow, curving roads shaded by oaks and lined with avocado groves. The Palisade handled those tight turns like it was built for them. The steering is light but precise, and the ride stays remarkably smooth no matter how uneven the pavement gets. Even when the gas engine kicks in, it’s nearly silent, which makes the drive feel unhurried. The head-up display keeps your speed floating in your sightline, and the blind-spot cameras that appear in the digital gauges when you signal are one of those small features that instantly spoil you for every other car.
As the road winds through the hills, you start to appreciate how composed the Palisade really is. The suspension absorbs the dips and rises of De Luz Road effortlessly, and the cabin insulation mutes everything except the faint hum of the tires. The big display in the center stack feels like a command hub—navigation, music, vehicle info—all exactly where you want it. With a quick tap, the wireless charger secures your phone, and the LED lighting gives the whole cabin a soft glow that feels more spa than SUV.
Eventually, the tight curves gave way to the wide-open stretch of wine country. This is the part of Temecula that never gets old: rolling vineyards, sun-soaked hillsides, and long, open roads that beg for windows down and music up. I slid open the panoramic roof, let the afternoon breeze roll through, and turned up the sound system. It’s one of the best I’ve heard—crisp, rich, and clear even at low volume. It turns the quiet of the Palisade’s interior into something special, like your own private concert moving through the vines.
The Palisade’s hybrid powertrain also shines out here. It moves between electric and gas power almost imperceptibly, and with combined fuel economy around 30 mpg, you can cover miles of countryside without watching the gauge drop. It’s the kind of effortless efficiency that makes long drives more about where you’re going, not when you’ll have to stop.
By late afternoon, I rolled into Old Town. The streets were buzzing with weekend energy, but parking—normally a small act of prayer—was easy. Between the overhead 360-degree camera and the wide backup display, the Palisade makes tight spaces feel wide open. With the big glass roof above and the soft interior lighting below, it’s the kind of environment you don’t mind sitting in while the world moves around you.
Old Town itself is timeless—storefronts, string lights, the smell of barbecue in the air. I stepped out for a quick stroll, then slid back into that quiet leather cocoon, pressed the start button, and let the Palisade glide home as the sun set over the valley.
Driving the 2026 Hyundai Palisade isn’t about testing horsepower or chasing speed. It’s about what happens in between—the smooth rhythm of De Luz curves, the glow of the vineyards, the gentle hum through Old Town’s evening light. Around here, you don’t need a destination to justify a drive. You just need a reason to go, and the Palisade gives you plenty of them.