The New Tucson standing in front of a modern-style building The New Tucson standing in front of a modern-style building

2024.03.05 Hyundai Motor Company 분량6min

The New Tucson: The Reason Behind the Evolution of Hyundai’s Global Best‒Selling SUV

Hyundai’s Tucson, a vehicle that has established a standard of excellence in the global compact SUV market, returns with a new look, showcasing a more dynamic and robust design and enhanced features that highlight the Tucson’s distinct appeal.

A side view of The New Tucson standing against the background of an orange-painted building.

Since its debut in the South Korean auto market in 2004, the Tucson quickly became a leading mid‒sized SUV for Hyundai, establishing a legacy through generations of evolution. Its appeal resonated globally, capturing the hearts of international consumers with its design, functionality, convenience features, safety, and spacious interior, which, combined with numerous global awards, has solidified Tucson’s exceptional value.

The New Tucson on display at Hyundai Motor Studio

The Tucson has undergone another transformation, refining its design and enhancing its features to solidify its stance as a top global SUV. This significant change comes just three years after the introduction of the fourth‒generation model.

A Robust Exterior Design Refined with Attention to Detail

The new Tucson’s changed bumper and radiator grille

The thin and angular radiator grille completes a robust image

The New Tucson has been meticulously redesigned to offer a bold, sophisticated, and robust demeanor. Embracing Hyundai’s ‘Parametric Dynamics,’ the design evolution involves a wider overall layout. The most noticeable changes are at the front, where the parametric jewel hidden lamps have been reduced from four lines to three, and the radiator grille’s graphics have been streamlined to a thin, angular shape. The bumper and skid plate, extended horizontally with sleek lines, contribute to a strong and broad appearance.

Front-side view of the New Tucson N Line and N Line-specific wheels, diffuser, and badge

The rear design also benefits from careful adjustments, creating a stable and wide appearance

The rear has seen thoughtful modifications as well. The integrated skid plate with the rear bumper extends further, echoing the front’s robust design. The emblem on the rear glass has also been redesigned for a more cohesive look, with the rear wiper extended by 75mm for improved visibility.


The side profile reveals changes in wheel design, enhancing the Tucson’s sharp character lines and robust image. Additionally, two new colors, Pine Green Matte and Ultimate Red Metallic, expand the exterior color options to nine.

Front-side view of the New Tucson N Line and N Line-specific wheels, diffuser, and badge

The N Line’s exclusive features deliver a more dynamic and sleek image

The New Tucson N Line boasts a mesh grille, straight‒lined 19‒inch wheels, and sportier front and rear bumpers, emphasizing its dynamic presence. Additional features like an aero fin‒equipped rear spoiler, diffuser, single twin‒tip muffler, and color‒matched side garnish and cladding enhance the N Line’s sporty ambiance.

A Significantly Transformed Interior Space

Interior of Hyundai’s The New Tucson

The interior, which has seen the biggest changes, is full of consideration for passengers

Significant changes are found inside, where the cabin has been completely reimagined. Despite being a facelift model, the interior has undergone extensive changes akin to a new model. The wrap‒around architecture with a horizontal layout maximizes comfort and space, highlighting the Tucson’s evolved interior.


Panoramic curved display with two 12.3-inch displays connected inside the New Tucson

The existing 10.25‒inch open‒type cluster has been enlarged to 12.3 inches


The most striking interior update is the panoramic curved display, combining a 12.3‒inch digital cluster and infotainment display into a seamless unit, enhancing luxury and driving safety by elevating the display for better visibility.


Buttons and touchpad to operate the air conditioning and audio system

Physical buttons ensured convenience to areas that require many operations

The New Tucson has significantly improved usability through interior enhancements. While the previous models employed touch‒sensitive buttons for both the infotainment system and climate control, the New Tucson adopts a hybrid approach of touch and physical buttons. As a result, the infotainment system can be conveniently operated with two dial knobs and eight buttons, and the climate control is easily manageable through capacitive touch controls and two temperature adjustment knobs.

A driver operating the display screen from the driver's seat of The New Tucson

Another notable change in the New Tucson’s cockpit is the gear shift lever, now relocated to the steering column. Unlike the previous Tucson, which had shift buttons on the center console, the New Tucson features a column‒mounted shift lever, adding intuitive usability and freeing up space on the center console for a wireless smartphone charging tray. The floating console design further expands the open tray space beneath, signifying a thoughtful consideration of user feedback in the redesigned climate and audio controls, and the column‒type transmission.

Newly designed seat and passenger seat open tray

Ambient mood lighting in the console tray and passenger‒side open tray adds a touch of luxury


A new open tray on the passenger‒side dashboard provides storage for small items like phones or wallets. Additionally, ambient mood lighting in the console tray, open trays, and door pockets elevates the interior’s finish. The introduction of a new tri‒tone shade ‒ green, black, and gray ‒ combination for the interior, along with new punching details and quilting designs on the seats, marks a noticeable change.

Top‒Class Safety and Convenience Features for Passenger Consideration

A person walking while looking at The New Tucson

The New Tucson extends a warm welcome to its occupants with a plethora of convenience features. The implementation of Hyundai Motor Group’s next‒generation infotainment system, ccNC (Connected car Navigation Cockpit), stands out, offering a range of content including natural language voice recognition, media streaming, and real‒time navigation. Features can be continuously updated to the latest specifications via Over‒the‒Air (OTA) wireless software updates. The newly applied Digital Key 2 allows the use of smartwatches and smartphones as car keys, enabling door locking/unlocking and engine start. It also allows sharing usage rights with up to 15 devices.

12.3-inch display with various functions such as built-in Cam 2 and CarPay

The built‒in cam 2 also supports wireless updates via OTA

Additional features such as the built‒in cam 2, an in‒car fingerprint authentication system, touch sensor outside handles, and a 12‒inch head‒up display (HUD) significantly enhance the convenience specifications. The HUD, in particular, adopts a windshield type with a new GUI and boasts excellent daytime visibility with a brightness exceeding 16,000 candela.

The New Tucson's HUD while driving, and the information displayed on the HUD when ADAS is activated.

The New Tucson also doesn’t skimp on safety features, incorporating various specifications to protect not only the passengers but everyone on the road. It includes Forward Collision‒Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind‒Spot Collision‒Avoidance Assist (BCA), and more. The addition of a second‒row side airbag to the eight‒airbag system, second‒row safety belt pretensioners, and radar sensor‒based Advanced Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) ensure top‒class safety.


Furthermore, features like Smart Cruise Control (SCC S&G) with stop‒and‒go capability, Navigation‒based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) that recognizes curves and speed zones on highways, and Parking Distance Warning (PDW) for the front, side, and rear provide an even safer and more comfortable driving experience.

Completing a Distinctive Driving Experience

Rear view of The New Tucson driving on a curved road

The New Tucson’s powertrain lineup includes a 1.6 Turbo Gasoline, 2.0 Diesel, and a 1.6 Turbo Hybrid. The 1.6 Turbo Gasoline engine delivers a maximum output of 180 horsepower and a maximum torque of 27.0 kgf·m, while the 2.0 Diesel engine boasts a maximum output of 184 horsepower, featuring a lightweight design with high‒strength aluminum block and optimized architecture.

Front-side view of the new Tucson Hybrid on display at Hyundai Motor Studio

The New Tucson Hybrid offers both powerful performance and excellent fuel economy


The electric motor in the New Tucson Hybrid has been upgraded from 44.2kW to 47.7kW, enhancing the combined power of the electric motor and the 1.6 Turbo Gasoline engine to a system total output of 235 horsepower, with a system total torque of 37.4 kgf·m. The New Tucson Hybrid boasts a combined fuel efficiency of 16.2 km/L (based on an 18‒inch, non‒built‒in cam model). The inclusion of E‒Motion Drive ensures superior driving performance and comfort, with the E‒Ride 2 feature minimizing pitching during acceleration to enhance ride comfort.

Front view of the new Tucson in motion and auto terrain mode button

Efforts were also made to enhance NVH performance in the New Tucson

The New Tucson has been equipped with an Auto Terrain Mode that enhances driving performance by dynamically adjusting the driving mode based on real‒time road conditions. Moreover, efforts to increase quietness are evident. The New Tucson features a 2‒way dynamic damper on the front struts to control resonance and has extended the application of double‒laminated acoustic glass to the first‒row door windows. Notably, the double‒laminated acoustic glass for the first row has been standardized across all trims to enhance quietness. Additionally, reinforcements have been added to the floor carpet, front wheel guards, enlarged C‒pillar sound‒absorbing materials, B‒pillar sound‒absorbing materials, and the cover under the driver’s seat.

Front view of the New Tucson N Line standing against a gray building in the background

Despite being a facelift model, the New Tucson encompasses changes that transcend its class. The evolution of its design, while maintaining the essence of the Tucson, coupled with significant enhancements in interior space and features based on customer feedback, deepen the value and appeal of the New Tucson. With these elements, the New Tucson is set to establish new standards in the mid‒sized SUV market once again.