Fortune Favors the Bold in the All-New 2027 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson is a Global Heavy Hitter  

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the world premiere of the all-new 2027 Hyundai Tucson in Long Island City, New York. This fifth-generation model promises to be an entirely new machine compared to its predecessor, boasting a chest-thumping exterior design and a laser focus on interior comfort with soft materials and advanced software.  

Did you know the Tucson is Hyundai’s second-best-selling vehicle globally? It comes right after the Hyundai Elantra. When you have a golden goose crossover, one would assume an automaker would play it safe with a new generation—not trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Maintain the status quo and let the sales figures keep rolling in. We’ve seen it with vehicles like the Crown Victoria, 4Runner, and Frontier. Vehicles that went nearly two decades without any radical changes.  

But they say fortune favors the bold, and Hyundai is banking on it. They even wrote it on the side of a building.  

Keeping it Bold for 2027  

Hyundai calls the 2027 Tucson’s design philosophy the “Art of Steel.” They define it as “muscular exterior styling with a purposeful, tech-forward interior.” After seeing the 2027 Hyundai Tucson up close, I can see what they mean. This mid-size SUV looks like it hired a personal trainer and never skips leg day. It’s taller, wider, and larger than the current 2026 Hyundai Tucson.  

Its predecessor offered a curvy, rounded face with a smooth profile decorated with sharp angles. This new Tucson sports a broader, boxier, “bolder” exterior design with a squared jaw fascia and a flat-top roofline. Hyundai also improved the door opening angles, allowing the doors to open wider for easier access and entry.  

I particularly like the rear prism-design taillights and how they sit flush with the design while still standing out like the tip of a spear.

At the front, the 2027 Tucson’s face is easy to miss. The slim H-Edge lighting headlamps sit at the far edges of the front end at an angle, leaving the center basically empty except for a razor-thin LED light bar and a set of double LED lamps below. Hyundai wanted to project a futuristic design, and it succeeded. This SUV looks like Robocop wearing sunglasses.  

Hard Exterior, Soft Interior  

While the 2027 Hyundai Tucson boasts a suave, tough-guy exterior, the interior showcases a softer, more sensitive side. Hyundai designers wanted to create an ergonomic interior where everything is placed for easy access. It promotes a relaxing, calm cabin environment with quality materials that genuinely feel soft to the touch, with cushioned support.  

The steering wheel features a squared shape with rounded edges that amplifies the futuristic allure. Behind the steering wheel, you’ll find nothing, but a shelf illuminated with ambient lighting. Need-to-know information has been moved to the top of the dashboard, an ultra-slim 9.9-inch diagonal digital gauge bar displaying fuel level, speedometer, and range.  

The center screen, while large, looks like a brand-new flat-screen TV. Best of all, an array of physical buttons sits beneath the screen to manage key features like the emergency hazard lights, climate controls, heated seats, and audio.  

The driver monitoring camera located behind the steering wheel.

Cabin interior space is impressive for a “mid-size” SUV. During the premiere, I watched a fellow auto writer over six feet tall sit comfortably in the driver’s seat without invading the legroom of rear passengers. The 2027 Hyundai Tucson does not offer a third-row seat, so it has plenty of rear cargo space. It also has a convenient hidden cubby storage space under the rear cargo floor mat for tools, a first-aid kit, etc.  

2027 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Claims High MPGs

The base engine for the 2027 Hyundai Tucson is a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. That’s three ponies less than the outgoing 2.5L engine, but it produces more torque, so it should balance out as a mild-mannered performer for entry-level models.  

The standout powertrain is the Tucson hybrid, which uses the same 1.6L turbo and adds two electric motors to boost the combined output to 233 horsepower. The hybrid engine is available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. If you want to go the distance, Hyundai claims the front-wheel-drive Tucson hybrid can achieve 42 mpg (combined). Both engine variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission.  

It also uses an advanced HEV Stay Mode, which allows features like air-conditioning and heating to stay on while the engine is off, using battery power. This will help during those long waits in rush hour traffic or when stuck idling at a railroad crossing. No more listening to the engine crank over every few minutes to keep the AC or heat running.  

Hybrid variants also carry a 3,000-pound towing capacity. No plug-in hybrid variants were announced.  

2027 Hyundai Tucson XRT Pro

At the event, I saw three variants of the 2027 Hyundai Tucson: the Limited, Hybrid, and XRT Pro.  

The off-road-focused XRT Pro is the more dramatic-looking variant, with all-wheel drive, standard all-terrain tires, better ground clearance, and front-mounted recovery hooks. It also features forged-carbon-inspired cladding and an exclusive front grille. This model also adds an XRT button on the steering wheel to select terrain modes. Hyundai Tucson XRT Pro variants also add an exclusive seat pattern that adds a wilderness vibe.  

The 2027 Hyundai Tucson XRT Pro shown in the photos sports Red Rock Orange Pearl paint.  

New Hyundai Tucson Comes with an AI Co-Pilot Named Gleo  

The highlight tech feature on the all-new 2027 Hyundai Tucson is Gleo, an onboard AI agent meant to serve as a “co-pilot.” What makes Gleo different from the standard voice command features in many modern vehicles is that it offers a more “conversational” function.

Hyundai is aiming for you to talk to the Tucson’s Gleo AI like Tony Stark talks to Jarvis.  

Hyundai also mentioned that because this AI system will be capable of receiving software updates, Gleo can essentially evolve with the vehicle’s owner. Like Alfred raising Bruce Wayne, Hyundai’s Gleo will grow with the driver and its passengers. Ideally, to the point where it will be able to predict climate control settings, music, seat position, and preferred route based on driver profile.

Like a digital member of the family permanently riding shotgun. Which sounds great. BUT! It makes me wonder if consumers actually want this in their vehicle. I’d be very interested in an independent study from a neutral party to ask consumers if they want and if they need this level of AI in their vehicle. I personally don’t.

This is an incredible amount of technology, but all that personal data has to be stored somewhere, and it won’t be between the seat cushions.

Pricing TBA  

At the time of this publication, Hyundai has not disclosed pricing for the 2027 Tucson. However, we won’t have to wait long to find out, as these new models are expected to hit dealer showrooms in early 2027.