The new Hyundai Tucson is bigger, squarer and brings back physical controls

Hyundai has revealed the next-generation Tucson, one of the brand's most important family SUVs, and the changes aren't cosmetic. The car gets a completely new, much more square design, larger dimensions and a new digital cockpit, but it retains physical controls below the central display. That's an important message at a time when more and more manufacturers are reconsidering moving almost every function to a touchscreen.

The new Tucson is 4.700 millimeters long, or 60 millimeters longer than the outgoing model. The wheelbase has been increased by 30 millimeters, to 2.785 millimeters, the width has grown by 40 millimeters, to 1.905, and the height by 20 millimeters, to 1.685 millimeters. Hyundai also claims 29 millimeters more headroom in the rear, while the rear doors now open at an angle of 83 degrees, ten degrees more than before. These are small numbers on paper, but practically important when getting in adult passengers or installing child seats.

The exterior design abandons the complex, sharp surfaces of the current model in favor of upright lines and a more robust silhouette. An H-shaped light signature appears at the front and rear, and larger side windows further emphasize the vehicle's height. This brings the Tucson closer to larger SUVs in terms of visual appeal, although it remains in a highly competitive family segment where it competes with the likes of the Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The cabin features Hyundai's Pleos multimedia system and a large central screen, with a separate, narrow digital instrument cluster in the driver's field of vision. The most important practical news is a row of physical buttons below the screen. The photos also show wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and a combination of perforated upholstery and decorative surfaces, but Hyundai has not yet announced a complete list of equipment or the size of the central screen.

What we know and what we don't know yet: the dimensions, design and basic cabin concept are known. The engines, power, consumption, battery and electric range of a possible plug-in hybrid version have not been announced. There are also no prices, European sales start date, final equipment packages, warranty conditions for individual markets or new safety ratings. According to information transmitted by Motor1, sales in Korea are set to begin later this year, with other markets likely to follow during 2027, but the European schedule has yet to be officially confirmed.

Positioning will therefore depend on powertrain and price. The current Tucson offers classic petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants in some markets, but these specifications should not automatically be attributed to the new generation. The larger body and more space give it a stronger family argument, while the real relationship to the Sportage, RAV4 and Tiguan will be clearer only when power, efficiency, luggage and prices are known.

Article prepared with the support of AI tools.