The Hyundai Kona is one of the brand’s better designs – and one of its better values. The small compact SUV stands out on these two points, and it looks like Hyundai is gearing up to give the updated Tucson a very similar look to the next-generation SUV. This rendering illustrates what we’ve seen in spy shots so far, including a more modern front end.
Hyundai’s New Tucson Is Hyper Modern
The Tucson is the brand’s best-selling vehicle, and it’s due for a major refresh. The SUV should bring this updated look to the table, featuring the low, wide grille design introduced by the new Kona a few years ago. Like the Kona, it’ll make use of lower headlights and a split design element, along with boxy looks throughout.
Inside, we expect an updated infotainment system as well. It’s not clear yet if Hyundai will depart from its current dual-screen layout, but one thing we’re hoping to see survive is the car’s vast array of physical buttons. The brand’s interiors are often a high point, and we don’t want to see much change here.
Largely, we can expect the changes to carry over to an updated Santa Cruz at some point, too, as the two cars share a platform and many interior and exterior design elements in their current form.
What’s Powering The New Tucson?
Hyundai may continue to use combustion engines to power the Tucson, but expect hybrid powertrains to play a greater role next time around. Hyundai may opt to discontinue gasoline-only powertrains altogether. Right now, there are hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains for the Tucson, with the latter developing 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Expect a plug-in version to offer more power and some decent all-electric driving range. We’re also expecting all-wheel drive for the Tucson lineup, but how prevalent it will be is unknown at this time.
How Much Will The New Tucson Cost?
The only certainty in the 2027 Tucson’s pricing is its upward trend. Automakers raise costs when a new model is debuted to recoup development costs, and then further hike prices as new updates are fed into the lineup. The new Tucson will be no different, and we’re expecting that if the gasoline powertrains are dropped from the lineup, we could be due for a significant price increase. Today, the Tucson hybrid costs $35,460, while the plug-in hybrid costs $41,225.
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