Hyundai Unveils Fifth-Generation Tucson With Hybrid and AI Upgrades

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the fifth generation of its Tucson compact sport utility vehicle in New York, marking the model’s first complete redesign in six years. The South Korean automaker is positioning the new Tucson as the opening move in a large product expansion intended to strengthen its presence in major overseas markets.

The Tucson has become one of Hyundai’s most important global products since its debut in 2004. Cumulative sales recently surpassed 10 million units, and more than 90 percent of the model’s sales come from outside South Korea. The United States is its leading market, making New York a significant venue for the world premiere.

Hyundai President and Chief Executive Jose Munoz said the company plans to introduce more than 100 new or refreshed models worldwide by 2030, including 58 in North America. The program starts with the redesigned Tucson and represents what Munoz described as the company’s most ambitious product push to date.

The latest model adopts Hyundai’s “Art of Steel” design approach, replacing the outgoing version’s curved profile with sharper body surfaces, pronounced fenders and a more angular appearance. It is also larger, measuring 4,700 millimeters in length and 1,905 millimeters in width. Those dimensions make it 60 millimeters longer and 40 millimeters wider than the previous model, supporting Hyundai’s emphasis on cabin space.

Technology is another central part of the update. The Tucson is Hyundai’s first SUV equipped with Pleos Connect, the company’s Android Automotive-based infotainment system. It also incorporates Gleo AI, an agentic artificial intelligence service designed to handle conversational voice commands for vehicle functions and information searches.

Hyundai will offer gasoline and hybrid versions in North America, along with an XRT Pro trim tailored to buyers seeking all-wheel drive and additional off-road capability. In South Korea, customers will be offered either a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine or a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid powertrain. The hybrid produces a combined 245 metric horsepower and has stated fuel economy of 17.4 kilometers per liter.

The company plans to show a Europe-specific Tucson at the Paris Motor Show on Oct. 12. Pricing is expected later in October, before sales begin. The rollout underscores Hyundai’s strategy of pairing higher-efficiency powertrains with software and AI features while defending the global position of one of its highest-volume vehicles.