2025 Hyundai Tucson Fixes the Biggest Problem in Its Interior

Competes with: Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-50, Toyota RAV4

Looks like: The bring-back-buttons update we’ve all been waiting for — finally

Powertrains: 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; eight-speed automatic transmission; front- or all-wheel-drive (gas-only); 231-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 47.7-kilowatt electric motor and 1.49-kilowatt-hour battery; six-speed automatic transmission; AWD (hybrid); 268-hp, turbo 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 72-kW electric motor and 13.8-kWh battery; six-speed automatic transmission; AWD (PHEV)

Hits dealerships: Gas-only variants in June; hybrid and PHEV variants in late summer

We spoke; Hyundai listened. When the automaker redesigned its Tucson SUV for the 2022 model year, it made the baffling decision to hamstring its top trims with an array of capacitive-touch controls that were frustrating to use. Fortunately, the Tucson is getting a significant refresh for 2025 that brings key physical controls back to its interior and upgrades its tech across the board.

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The Tucson will still offer a choice of powertrains for 2025, with the hybrid versions getting a modest bump in power. It’s also getting an aesthetic redesign. Read on for everything that’s coming to Hyundai’s popular compact SUV for the new model year.

Fixing a Big Mistake

When we last tested the Tucson, we were baffled by its higher trims. Lower-spec Tucsons got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but higher trim levels got only wired phone-mirroring services. Worse yet, the higher trims got an array of hard-to-use touch-sensitive controls for basic functions like stereo volume, heating and cooling. Tucson shoppers would end up paying more for a vehicle that was harder to use.

Not anymore. For 2025, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be standard across all trims, and Hyundai is bringing physical knobs and buttons back to the most used interior controls, including audio tuning, audio volume and select climate controls. Higher trims with shift-by-wire also now have a column shifter behind the wheel to free up center console space.

Much like the recently refreshed Sonata, the new Tucson will feature dual displays in a curved bezel up front: one in front of the driver as a digital instrument cluster and another as the center touchscreen for the infotainment system. A 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and a 12-inch color heads-up display are optional, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen is standard across all trims. Hyundai claims the newest infotainment system boasts faster processing speeds and response times, and most importantly, it has the ability to accept over-the-air updates to keep everything running as intended. Everything from maps to powertrain and safety tech can be updated over the air without a trip to the dealership. Buyers can also add a Wi-Fi hot spot to the car that can connect up to five devices at a time.

Even starting the Tucson is going high-tech. The 2025 model now gets a proximity key with push-button start as standard, and an available fingerprint authentication sensor on the instrument cluster will let users start the SUV using biometric authentication — without the need for a key at all. Users can also upgrade to the Digital Key 2 system, which allows you to forgo the key fob entirely using a smartphone app in its place.

The steering wheel, door panels and center console have also been redesigned in the name of an airier, more functional interior. Limited trims feature acoustic laminated glass up front for further isolation from noise outside.

Extra Safety Tech

New for 2025 is Forward Attention Warning, which uses infrared sensors on the steering column to monitor whether the driver is alert and paying attention to the road ahead. This is even more important if the car comes with the available Smart Cruise Control 2, Hyundai’s adaptive cruise control system. If the system senses the driver is unresponsive, the system will try to safely guide the car to a stop, enable the flashers and apply the electronic parking brake.

Fresh Looks

No refresh is complete without a cosmetic update, and the Tucson features revised looks both inside and out. The new Tucson gets a redesigned look both front and rear, a revised lighting signature, new alloy wheel designs, anodized-aluminum badging and, of course, that updated interior. The Tucson keeps its funky faceted looks, but it looks a bit more muscular this time around. Adding function to form is a longer rear wiper blade for increased visibility. The off-road-oriented XRT trim also gains new bridge-type raised roof rails for 2025 for added cargo space up top.

More Hybrid Power

Hyundai will still offer something for everyone with the Tucson’s drivetrain options, as it plans to keep offering a base 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder version with 178 pounds-feet of torque and front-wheel drive, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants that use electric motors mated to a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder. For 2025, the hybrid gets a modest increase in combined output, up to 231 hp, and 258 pounds-feet of torque thanks in part to a more powerful 47.7-kilowatt electric motor. The PHEV also gets a bump, to 268 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque, with a more powerful 72-kW motor.

Both hybrid versions get driver-adjustable levels of regenerative braking, as well, helping hypermilers make the most of their drivetrain, and both also feature standard all-wheel drive. A new Baby Mode smooths out the Tucson’s responses to make it a less jarring ride for the youngest passengers. There’s also a new Green Zone mode that optimizes for maximum pure-electric use in crowded urban areas.

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Pricing and Availability

The gas-powered version of the 2025 Tucson will arrive at dealerships in June, with both hybrid variants becoming available in late summer. Pricing has not yet been announced, but we expect that closer to the SUVs’ on-sale dates. Stay tuned.

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