Hyundai has officially unveiled the all-new Tucson, bringing a major design change to one of its most successful global SUVs. The fifth-generation model gets a much boxier appearance, a larger footprint and a new-generation hybrid powertrain. The new Tucson will initially go on sale in international markets, with Hyundai confirming that the all-new Tucson and Tucson Hybrid will begin launching in global markets in the fourth quarter of 2026. Hyundai has not confirmed the new Tucson for India although previous generations of the SUV have been sold here.
The new SUV is based around Hyundai’s ‘Art of Steel’ design philosophy. Compared to the outgoing model, the new Tucson gets a much more upright and squared-off appearance. The bonnet is flatter, the front end is more vertical and the wheel arches have a distinctly angular treatment. This represents a significant departure from the more curvaceous styling of the current-generation Tucson.
The new Tucson has grown in virtually every important dimension. According to details posted on the Team-BHP thread, the SUV is now 4,700 mm long, 1,905 mm wide and 1,685 mm tall, with a 2,785 mm wheelbase. That means the new model is 60 mm longer, 40 mm wider and has a wheelbase that is 30 mm longer than before.
Hyundai says the additional size has been used to improve cabin space. Second-row headroom has increased by 29mm, while the rear door opening angle has gone up from 73 degrees to 83 degrees. The Tucson will continue as a 5 seater. There will also be an XRT version, which gets a more rugged appearance with a dedicated grille, wheel-arch garnishes and skid plates.
The headline mechanical change is the updated hybrid powertrain, which the new car shares with the Kia Sorento. The new Tucson Hybrid uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine combined with Hyundai Motor Group’s latest hybrid system, producing a claimed 245 PS of system output and 17.4 km/l. That is an improvement over the previous-generation Tucson Hybrid, which produced 230 PS and returned 16.2 km/l according to Hyundai’s figures.
This is particularly interesting in an Indian context because the Kia Sorento recently arrived with a closely related 1.6-litre turbo-petrol strong-hybrid setup. In the Sorento, the engine produces 180 hp and 265 Nm, while the electric motor adds 65 hp and 264 Nm. Kia pairs the system with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Tucson also gets a conventional 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 193 PS and 270 Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The cabin has also received a substantial makeover. The Tucson becomes the first Hyundai SUV to feature the company’s Pleos Connect infotainment system, which incorporates the Gleo generative AI assistant. The system can handle conversational commands, search for information and assist with travel-related functions.
The dashboard combines a large central display with physical controls, while the SUV also gets advanced safety and convenience features including nine airbags, surround-view monitoring, navigation-based Smart Cruise Control 2 and Hyundai’s latest driver assistance systems.
With its dramatically boxier styling, larger dimensions, more powerful hybrid system and new technology, the all-new Tucson marks a substantial departure from its predecessor. Hyundai has yet to confirm detailed India plans for this new generation, but its global rollout is scheduled to begin later this year.