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Do not adjust your computer screen. What you are seeing is not a concept. It’s the actual production version of the 2027 Hyundai Tucson, with the bold new “Art of Steel” design language as previewed in the N Vision 74 and Boulder concepts. Beneath this style, there is substance; the new Tucson is bigger, with a beautiful new interior, an updated hybrid option, and a rugged off-road XRT Pro version.
Sheet Steel, and More of It
Let’s start with the new look, which really is a head-turner. Hyundai says the flat planes and sharp creases were inspired by the look of the raw steel the Tucson is made from and Hyundai’s ability to stamp those sharp creases (which, we are told, is not as easy as you might think). The design is highlighted by straight-edge light bars running vertically at the edges and horizontally across the width of the car, a lighting theme Hyundai calls “H-edge.” It gives the Tucson a unique nighttime look up front, though out back the vertical taillights are very Cadillac-esque, while the hooded red light bar reminds us of the updated Model Y. Hopefully you like the Art of Steel theme, because Hyundai says we’ll be seeing a lot of it in future products.
If the Tucson seems to have more presence, that’s not just the new styling. The new Tucson is bigger—2.4 inches longer, 1.6 inches wider, and 0.8 inch taller, with a 1.2-inch wheelbase stretch over the outgoing Tucson. Most of that newfound size is used to increase back-seat and cargo space. The new Tucson has 41.7 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, a slight increase over the current Tucson and, more important, quite a bit more than competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Rogue.
Inside, the Tucson’s cabin is inspired, Hyundai says, by living room furniture, with rounded, upholstered shapes for the dashboard and armrests. The shifter has been moved to the steering column, freeing up space for a split-level center console with generous cupholders and a pair of wireless chargers.
Access to the back seat is easier thanks to rear doors that open to 83 degrees, 10 degrees more than the previous Tucson. (In person, the door opening seems as close to a right angle as it’s possible to be.) Once inside, we found a well-padded, supportive back seat, with plenty of leg- and headroom and toe space under the front seats, along with USB-C ports mounted in the front seat backs.
New Big-Screen Infotainment Targets Tesla and Rivian
You’ve probably noticed the dominating feature of the interior: the massive center screen that runs Hyundai’s new Pleos infotainment system. Higher trims get a ginormous 17-inch touchscreen, while less expensive Tucsons get a still-pretty-darn-huge 12.9-inch screen. We’ve discussed the Pleos system in detail; suffice it to say that it’s a real shot over the bow of Tesla and Rivian.
Like Tesla, the new screen devotes its left third to information about the car, while the right two-thirds is your app screen, used for navigation, audio, or, if you like, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—because unlike Tesla and Rivian, Pleos supports phone mirroring. The Tucson also features physical rocker switches and dials for basic stereo and climate controls, things drivers often need to manipulate while driving. As Hyundai so wisely puts it, you can’t use muscle memory to scroll through a menu.
You’ll note the center screen displays speed and gear selection on the left side; as with Tesla, Hyundai plans to use a single-screen setup on some of its cars, but not the Tucson. Here, Hyundai follows Rivian, with a ribbon-style driver display just above the “squircle” steering wheel. It’s meant to display vital stats—speed, fuel gauge, warning lights—and drivers can customize the display to show the trip computer, what’s playing, and the like.
Another nifty aspect of Pleos is the Gleo AI assistant, developed in-house by Hyundai. Most cars have some sort of voice command system that can control infotainment functions, like changing the temperature or radio station. Gleo will have access to more functions, such as the windows, and will, in a future release, be able to stack multiple natural-language commands—so you can say, for example, “Close the windows and turn on the A/C.” Hyundai will continue developing the system, and improvements will come to the Tucson (and other Pleos-equipped cars) via over-the-air updates.
What Makes the New Tucson Go?
U.S.-market Tucsons will be offered with two powertrain choices. The lineup starts with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that develops 187 hp and 195 lb-ft and drives through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid option is also based on the 1.6T, but it uses the internals from the new TMED-II hybrid drivetrain, as seen on the Palisade hybrid. It delivers 233 horsepower and 280 lb-ft and is expected to score up to 42 mpg on the EPA combined cycle. Both powertrains will be available with front- or all-wheel drive, and the hybrids will be able to tow up to 3,000 pounds. (Non-hybrids should be rated to tow, but Hyundai didn’t have a figure for us.) Hyundai will offer 2.0-liter non-turbo and plug-in hybrid drivetrains in other markets, but they won’t make it here. No big loss on the 2.0-liter, but that PHEV would be nice to have.
As with other Hyundai SUVs, the Tucson will get an XRT Pro off-road variant. Modifications include a unique front fascia with functional tow hooks and beefy fender and rocker-panel cladding. More important, the XRT Pro gets a 1.2-inch increase in ground clearance, increasing the total to 8.3 inches, along with all-terrain tires. The XRD Pro features Smart Terrain Assist, an AI-powered system that assesses terrain difficulty. The XRT Pro will come exclusively with the all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain and will tow the same 3,000 pounds as other Tucson Hybrids.
Along with the XRT Pro, the 2027 Tucson will be available in SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited trims, similar to the current lineup. Pricing has not been announced, but Hyundai is well aware that “affordability” is a buzzword in today’s economy, and we’d be surprised to see a massive increase. The new Tucson will arrive in dealerships in the first quarter of 2027.
2027 Hyundai Tucson Specifications | |
BASE PRICE | $32,000 (MT est) |
LAYOUT | Front-engine, front- or all-wheel-drive, 4-door, 5-passenger SUV |
ENGINE | 1.6L/187-hp/195-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve turbocharged I-4; 1.6L DOHC 16-valve turbocharged I-4 plus electric motor, 233 hp/280 lb-ft combined |
TRANSMISSION | 8-speed auto (1.6T), 6-speed auto (hybrid) |
CURB WEIGHT | N/A |
WHEELBASE | 109.6 in |
L x W x H | 185.0 x 75.0 x 66.3 in |
0–60 MPH | N/A |
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | N/A |
EPA RANGE, COMB | N/A |
ON SALE | Early 2027 |
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