From Family Favorite to Best Overall: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Wins MAMA’s Top Award

The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) today announced the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy as the overall winner of the 2026 MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle Awards, rising to the top from a highly competitive field evaluated by over 175 automotive media professionals across the past year.

After driving and evaluating more than 100 new, redesigned, and refreshed vehicles at MAMA signature events—including Spring Rally, Favorites Fall Fest, and Chicago Drives Electric—members selected the Palisade Calligraphy for its standout combination of design, comfort, technology, value, and everyday usability.

“Each year, our members experience an incredible range of vehicles, but the Palisade Calligraphy consistently impresses across the board,” said MAMA President Jim O’Brill. “It delivers premium refinement, family-friendly versatility, and thoughtful technology in a way that resonates with both journalists and real-world drivers. It’s a vehicle that truly does it all, which is why it earned our top honor this year.”

“Being recognized with three Favorite Award wins by the MAMA organization is a true feather in our cap,” said Ricky Lao, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor North America. “The Palisade and IONIQ 9 each offer a robust set of features and technologies that consumers desire in their daily commutes. Whether shopping for ICE, hybrid, or all-electric, our three-row SUVs have consumers covered with award-winning style and capability.”

2026 MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle Category Winners

MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle Awards recognize excellence across seven key segments, with the overall winner selected from the category champions. The 2026 category winners are:

• MAMA’s Favorite Off-Roader: 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

• MAMA’s Favorite Family Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

• MAMA’s Favorite Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Prestige

• MAMA’s Favorite Pickup Truck: 2026 Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI

• MAMA’s Favorite Affordable Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen GTI

• MAMA’s Favorite Performance Vehicle: 2025 BMW M5 Touring

• MAMA’s Favorite Plug-In Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy

Together, these winners reflect the diversity, innovation, and excellence shaping today’s automotive landscape—from high-performance driving and rugged capability to family-focused practicality and electrified advancement.

MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle Awards continue to evolve as a trusted barometer of what resonates most with automotive media and consumers alike. Through hands-on testing, in-depth discussion, and real-world evaluation, the awards spotlight vehicles that rise above their segments and set new benchmarks.

2026 MAMA's Favorite Vehicle of the Year:

2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

2025:

MAMA’s 2025 Favorite Vehicle: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Performance: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Family: Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Luxury: Genesis GV80 3.5T

Most Affordable: Honda Civic Si

Off-Roader: Toyota Land Cruiser

Pickup: Ram 1500 Rebel

Plug-In: Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD

2024:

MAMA's Favorite Vehicle: Chevrolet Trax

Family: Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX

Luxury: Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharger AWD

 Off-Roader: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X 4xe

Pickup Truck: Ford Maverick Tremor

Performance: Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Affordable: Chevrolet Trax

Plug-In: Hyundai IONIQ 6

Past MAMA Family Vehicle of the Year Award recipients: 

2011 – Hyundai Sonata

2012 – Volkswagen Passat

2013 – Ford Fusion

2014 – Chevrolet Impala

2015 – Chrysler 200

2016 – Volvo XC90

2017 – Chrysler Pacifica

2018 – Honda Odyssey 

2019 – Subaru Ascent 

2020 – Kia Telluride 

2021 – Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban

2022 - Kia Carnival

2023- Hyundai Palisade

Past MAMA Luxury Family Vehicle of the Year Award recipients: 

2019 – Volvo XC40

2020 – Lincoln Aviator 

2021 – Genesis G80

2022 - Genesis GV70

2023 - Genesis GV60

*Luxury category added in 2019