- Fresh spy shots reveal the 2027 Tucson’s boxier design makeover.
- Design channels Santa Fe edginess in a compact SUV package.
- Hyundai continues testing amid hints of a future 300-hp N hybrid.
Hyundai’s next-generation Tucson just popped up in public testing again, and even though the prototype is still wearing more camo than a military surplus catalog, one thing is now crystal clear. This SUV has the kind of square-jawed face maxxing-obsessed teen narcissists couldn’t achieve with a lifetime of mewing.
If the current Tucson is a smooth pebble shaped by aerodynamics, the new one looks like it’s shaping up to be a brick thrown through a wind tunnel to smooth off the edges. Hyundai seems intent on giving the Tucson the same boxy presence that transformed the Santa Fe from a bland family hauler into an edgy, cut-price Land Rover Defender.
Related: Hyundai Crater Concept Digs In As A Potential Bronco Fighter
But wait, maybe it’s not the Sante Fe we should be looking at for a guide to Tucson’s final look. It’s more likely that the Crater SUV concept Hyundai is bringing to this year’s LA Auto Show provides a bigger indication of what to expect. Although the prototype’s roofline isn’t quite so sporty, the arches are similar, and the start of a kink in the waistline is just about visible where the door meets the C-pillar.
Hyundai
Inside, we’re still guessing, but the more angular shape should pay dividends in headroom and rear-seat space. The bigger change, though, could be up front, in the form of a very different screen setup. Instead of adopting the conjoined digital gauge cluster and infotainment display setup seen on the new Santa Fe, we have a hunch that Hyundai might pick the layout we saw recently in spy shots of the new Ioniq 3.
The upcoming electric crossover was spotted with a slim instrument display behind the steering wheel and a large, Tesla-like infotainment tablet mounted in the center of the dash, floating above the console. It’s hard to be sure from these Tucson pics, but it looks like we can see a glimpse of a similar skinny speed readout.
Although engine specs remain under wraps, we can expect to see the usual small-capacity turbocharged petrol and hybrid engines under the hood when the Tucson hits the street next year. But one major departure from the current SUV is the prospect of a genuine N model, as distinct from a warm-looking, but mechanically ordinary N-Line trim.
We reported recently that Hyundai is considering a hot 300 hp (304 PS) Tucson N powered by a high-performance hybrid engine that could compete against the new 320hp Toyota RAV4 GR Sport. Intel suggests the go-faster SUV’s front wheels will be driven by combustion power while the rear axle is electric-only. If Hyundai does make a Tucson N it probably won’t debut until 2027 or 2028, while the stock SUV will be revealed next year.
Baldauf
