Hyundai unveils all-new Tucson SUV with next-generation hybrid, Pleos Connect AI and XRT PRO off-road trim

Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the all-new TUCSON on October 1, 2026, at a world premiere staged against the Manhattan skyline in New York City, calling it its boldest SUV yet. The model combines Hyundai's "Art of Steel" design philosophy, a Next-generation Hybrid System guided by an "Intelligent Efficiency" principle, and the Pleos Connect next-generation infotainment system, while the rugged TUCSON XRT PRO debuted alongside the standard model. The lineup introduces Hyundai's first Smart Terrain Assist (STA). TUCSON has been Hyundai's best-selling SUV worldwide since its 2004 debut, with cumulative global sales exceeding 11.1 million units, of which the U.S. accounts for roughly 20 percent, and hybrids represented 31 percent of total U.S. TUCSON sales in 2025. The all-new TUCSON will launch in Korea later this year, with North America, Europe and other global markets to follow in 2027, and every powertrain uses an integrated electric water pump (EWP) that consolidates separate cooling circuits, cutting weight while maintaining thermal performance.

Under the "Art of Steel" design language, the redesigned body is longer, wider and taller than the previous model: the long-wheelbase TUCSON measures 4,700 mm in length (+60 mm), 1,905 mm in width (+40 mm) and 1,685 mm in height (+20 mm), with a 2,785 mm wheelbase (+30 mm), 915 mm front and 1,000 mm rear overhangs, 180 mm of ground clearance, 17- to 20-inch wheels and up to 235/50R20 tires; door opening angles grow from 73 to 83 degrees to ease entry. Exterior styling centers on pronounced muscular fenders balanced by restrained door surfaces and crisp body lines, with H-Edge lighting that pairs indirect center lighting with edge lighting, sculptural Prism Rear Lamps, and available Micro Pixel Lighting (MPL) that uses 25,600 individual LED pixels for precision beam patterns, a rain guide and dynamic welcome/farewell animations, while standard LED headlamps use a two-in-one module design and LED taillamps are standard across the lineup. New nature-inspired exterior colors include Ranger Green Pearl/Matte, Kodiak Blue Pearl, Driftwood Gray Metallic/Matte and Red Rock Orange Pearl/Matte. The cabin offers 1,036 mm of front headroom, 1,031 mm of rear headroom, 1,052 mm front and 1,064 mm rear legroom, 1,470 mm front and 1,428 mm rear shoulder room, 41.7 cu. ft. (1,067 L) of cargo space, five seats and a 6:4 split-folding rear seat for North America and Korea. Interior features include a two-layered instrument panel with a horizontal upper layer and a deep open tray, soft cushioning across the panel top, doors and console armrest, a Double D-Cut steering wheel with a 9.9-inch slim display above the steering column, tactile HVAC and audio buttons, a steering column-mounted Shift-By-Wire lever, dual 15W wireless charging pads, a hidden storage tray, 100 W USB-C seat-back charging, the Multi-Air Mode climate system with an available three-zone HVAC, an available Ergo Motion Seat with a seven-cell pneumatic massage system, an available four-link Relaxation Comfort Seat with one-button recline to 10 degrees, and an available 13.5V metal-coated heated glass that fully de-ices in 15 minutes and rejects 60 percent of solar energy.

Pleos Connect, Hyundai's Android Automotive OS (AAOS)-based infotainment system, pairs a 17-inch or 12.9-inch primary touchscreen with the 9.9-inch slim display, adds three-finger gesture controls and a single-screen mode, and centers on Gleo AI, an in-vehicle agentic AI that understands natural conversation and user context so drivers need not navigate menus; it natively integrates third-party entertainment, productivity and gaming services without smartphone mirroring and receives over-the-air (OTA) updates. Structural strength relies on extensively applied hot-stamped steel in key body structures, reinforced center pillars and multi-point collision energy management, while an In-Cabin Monitoring Unit tracks driver eye activity and drowsiness for fatigue alerts and Child Presence Detection and Rear Occupant Alert notify drivers if children or pets are left unattended. Driver assistance includes Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Navigation-Linked Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) that decelerates for curves, roundabouts, intersections and speed bumps, Level 2+ features such as Stop & Go cruise control, Lane Following Assist and Emergency Stop, and a front design with a 20 mm longer front overhang for pedestrian protection. The lineup targets NHTSA 5-star, IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Euro NCAP 5-star, KNACP Level 1 and 5-star (Australia) ratings. For off-road driving, Smart Terrain Assist (STA), a Hyundai first, assesses terrain difficulty in real time with a green, orange or red "stuck score", supported by Target Speed Control (2–25 km/h), class-first Memory Reversing Assist (MRA) that records driving up to 30 km/h, the available Ground View Monitor (GVM) and Trailer Reverse Assist (TRA); in North America the HEV tows up to 3,000 pounds (1,361 kg), a 1,000-lb increase over the previous model, while European towing capacity rises by up to 350 kg for the ICE model, 260 kg for the HEV and 450 kg for the PHEV.