The Thule rooftop tent offers just enough room for two people who are comfortable with one another. Miranda and her son brought a ground tent as well and took turns sleeping above the car.Miranda Lightstone/The Globe and Mail
There’s a specific kind of harmony that comes from packing up, leaving the concrete behind and finding tranquility beside the water. For three nights at a campsite in Long Sault, Ont., it was just me, my son, our Sphynx cat and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. I wasn’t just looking for a family getaway; I wanted to know if Hyundai’s modified three-row SUV could genuinely bridge the gap between rugged outdoor living and on-the-road comfort.
Hyundai officially badges this rugged variant as the XRT Pro in Canada, though it firmly targets the overland and off-grid crowd. The Palisade has always been a reliable, spacious family hauler, but the XRT Pro trim changes the formula. It differentiates itself from the standard luxury-oriented models with a trail-ready stance. The design features dark-finish body cladding, functional underbody skid plates, elevated ground clearance and distinct 18-inch wheels wrapped in beefy all-terrain tires. Under the hood sits a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 287 horsepower through a smooth automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
Modifying a family SUV for the trails changes the financial equation. Before tax and freight, the entry-level Palisade Preferred Trend starts at $53,699. Stepping up to the XRT Pro costs $57,799. That $4,100 premium is the price of admission for genuine off-road hardware – including an electronic limited-slip differential – and a rugged aesthetic that looks far more at home in the wilderness than a school drop-off line.
Packing the Palisade for our getaway was remarkably easy. Because our sleeping quarters – a Thule Foothill 2 camp-in roof tent – were mounted outside the vehicle, the cavernous interior was entirely freed up. We didn’t use the available space on the Thule roof rack for bicycles, though the option was there.
Inside the cabin, the Palisade shines as a mobile basecamp. The upfront storage easily swallowed our road-trip essentials, snacks and the cat’s travel seat. In the second row, a 110-volt plug proved invaluable for keeping our electronic devices fully charged, ensuring we were never completely disconnected while resting by the St. Lawrence River.
But the true test of this rig was the rooftop tent itself. Here is where physical reality sets in: At five-foot-two, attempting to deploy a heavy canvas roof tent perched atop a lifted three-row SUV is a logistical comedy. Thankfully, I was lucky to have my son with me. At six feet, he managed the bulk of the heavy lifting. Even with his significant height advantage, we still had to bring a small step ladder to properly reach the heavy-duty zipper to open and close the shell.
Miranda Lightstone's son helps to set up the tent after arriving at the camp site.Miranda Lightstone/The Globe and Mail
The entire setup and teardown process took about 13 minutes. Once fully deployed, the structure is impressively solid, its thickly padded base exceptionally comfortable for a night’s rest. Space-wise, it is intimate. The tent offers just enough room for two people who are comfortable with one another or, in my case, one person and one clingy cat. Anticipating this tight squeeze, we packed a supplementary ground tent and took turns sleeping on the roof, allowing both of us to experience the elevated views.
The financial leap to a rooftop tent is significant. Depending on the exact model and size, a Thule rooftop camper will cost between $2,750 and $5,200. The Foothill 2 atop the Hyundai was the least expensive option at $2,750. Compare that to a traditional, high-quality, four-season ground tent from a premium outdoor brand, which typically retails between $600 and $900. It is a massive premium for the camp-in setup.
However, Hyundai and Thule aren’t the only ones leaning heavily into the overland lifestyle. Brands including Land Rover and Porsche offer their own highly specialized rooftop setups. Land Rover’s Defender pairs seamlessly with bespoke, hard-shell Autohome tents, while Porsche offers a beautifully engineered Tequipment roof tent for the 911 or Macan. They come with suitably astronomical price tags – upwards of $6,000 for the Autohome tents, and more than $8,700 for the Porsche tent.
Going overlanding these days can also be done in more mainstream vehicles. Brands such as Subaru (with its Wilderness trims), Ford (Bronco and Maverick), Toyota (Tacoma and Land Cruiser), Rivian and, of course, Hyundai (Palisade and Santa Fe XRT models) have completely re-engineered the roof structures. Instead of relying on aftermarket crossbars, these vehicles are leaving the factory with reinforced, heavy-duty roof rails designed specifically to handle the high static weight limits – often more than 318 kilograms – required to safely support a tent and a family of sleepers. Many dealerships even offer branded rooftop tents as official, warranty-backed accessories right at the parts counter.
Where the Palisade XRT Pro shines is in its sheer approachable utility. It offers massive passenger volume and daily drivability for a fraction of the cost. For those who camp frequently, investing in a camp-in vehicle setup may be worth the extra expenditure. By relocating the sleeping quarters to the roof, the cabin preserves vital interior volume for friends, family or extra supplies. Furthermore, a rooftop setup maintains a compact footprint and leaves the driver mobile, removing the need to be tethered to a massive, cumbersome trailer.
Our time in Long Sault proved that the right gear transforms a simple road trip into a memorable escape. The Palisade XRT Pro, paired with a functional rooftop tent, strikes the right balance between rugged capability and everyday practicality. Just remember to pack that ladder.
The Thule Foothill 2 atop the Hyundai costs $2,750.Miranda Lightstone/The Globe and Mail
Tech Specs
2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro (AWD)
- Price: $57,799, plus $2,400 for freight and pre-delivery inspection
- Engine: 3.5-litre V6 GDI
- Horsepower/torque (lb-ft): 287/260
- Transmission/drive: Eight-speed automatic with HTRAC all-wheel drive
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 13.4 (city); 10 (highway); 11.9 (combined)
- Alternatives: Kia Telluride X-Pro, Honda Pilot TrailSport, Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek, Ford Explorer Timberline