Refreshed 2025 Hyundai Tucson Aims to Please Mom, Dad and Baby
The Hyundai Tucson is getting a mid-cycle refresh for 2025 including updated looks, a significantly revised interior and several new technologies, as we can see today at the New York Auto Show where the vehicle is making its North American debut.
On the outside, the popular compact crossover from South Korea sports a new front grille with larger openings and revised LED daytime running lights on each side. Throw in some redesigned front and rear bumpers along with new wheel designs, and you get a more rugged-looking exterior.
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Incidentally, following the lead of the brand new 2024 Santa Fe, the 2025 Tucson adds a more adventurous XRT model featuring bridge-type roof rails. Meanwhile, the 75 mm longer rear wiper blade will improve visibility anytime the weather gets bad.
In Line With Other New Hyundais
The most significant evolution can be found inside. The entire dashboard and centre stack have been redesigned to bring them in line with Hyundai’s latest products such as the aforementioned Santa Fe, the next-gen Kona and the refreshed Sonata. The main highlight, of course, is the panoramic curved display combining two 12.3-inch displays (on select models) for the instruments and navigation.
The infotainment system features faster processing speeds, enhanced colours and sharper graphics along with more intuitive layouts for improved ease of use, while wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity now comes standard. Also, over-the-air software updates are available to keep the various vehicle systems fresh.
Drivers will face a new steering wheel and a new shifter mounted on the steering column—again similar to a growing number of Hyundai models, a trend that started with the IONIQ 5 electric crossover. The control panel for the HVAC system is brand new, too, while freed up space on the centre console allowed designers to add a wireless smartphone charger, not to mention extra storage underneath. Speaking of storage, don’t miss the new dashboard tray located above the glovebox.
New USB-C ports in the front row, available head-up display and acoustic glass in Ultimate trim are further enhancements to the cabin. By the way, if you forget your key, you’ll still be able to start and drive the Tucson thanks to the newly available fingerprint authentication sensor. Another option is using the digital key on your smartphone, and this key can even be shared with other users if necessary.
On the safety front, the 2025 Tucson adds Forward Attention Warning, which utilizes an infrared camera mounted on the steering column to help track the driver’s eye gaze and monitor attention levels. If the driver is found to be unresponsive, the system can even help safely bring the vehicle to a stop.
A Bit More Hybrid Power… and a Baby Mode
The same three powertrain options return for 2025, starting with the naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 187 hp. The Tucson Hybrid equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine gets a slight boost from 226 hp to 231 hp thanks to a more powerful electric motor (47.7 kW instead of 44.2 kW). It’s a similar story with the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, which goes from 261 hp up to 268 hp as a result of a more potent electric motor (72 kW instead of 67 kW). Drivers can now adjust the levels of regenerative braking for improved comfort.
All Tucson models in Canada continue to rely on Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system. A new My Drive mode is available, and within it there’s a Baby Mode you can select to help reduce the sharpness of initial acceleration and the potential disturbances that may upset infants or pets. Call it a new dimension of WAH.
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson will reach Canadian dealerships later this year starting with 2.5L models in June and Hybrid/PHEV models in late summer. Expect prices to increase once more.
