The automotive landscape has never been more competitive, especially in the compact SUV segment where family-friendly vehicles battle for supremacy. Enter the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, a refreshed powerhouse that’s positioning itself as the luxury option in an increasingly crowded field. With significant updates to its interior design, technology features, and ride quality, this latest iteration proves that sometimes the most meaningful changes happen where you can’t immediately see them.
What’s New for 2025: A Subtle Revolution
While the exterior changes might require a keen eye to spot, the 2025 Tucson’s interior transformation is nothing short of remarkable. The new dashboard features a pair of optional 12.3-inch displays similar to those found in other premium Hyundai models, along with the welcome return of physical buttons for HVAC and audio functions.
Design Evolution: More Than Meets the Eye
The Tucson features a new grille design teamed with wider bumpers and streamlined lighting elements front and back. The 2025 Tucson evolves its style with a sharper, bolder exterior look that includes a redesigned front grille and an updated, simplified, daytime running light signature. These changes might seem minor, but they contribute to a more cohesive and modern appearance that helps the Tucson stand out in crowded parking lots.
The interior revolution is where Hyundai truly invested its efforts. Previously, nearly every feature was controlled through the touchscreen or flat, featureless buttons. For 2025, Hyundai has added new knobs for the audio and climate systems, which are easier and less distracting to use.
Powertrain Options: Something for Everyone
Standard Gasoline Engine
A 187-hp four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive are standard, with all-wheel drive optional. While acceleration is leisurely, the Tucson delivers a comfortable ride. The 2.5-liter front-wheel-drive variant is estimated at 25/32/28 mpg city/highway/combined, while opting for AWD dips those figures slightly to around 23/29/25 mpg.
Hybrid Powertrains: The Sweet Spot
The hybrid variants represent the Tucson’s most compelling offerings. The hybrid is rated at 231 horsepower and the PHEV 261 horses, increases of 44 and 74 horsepower respectively over the standard Tucson. Both deliver significantly better fuel economy and feature a traditional six-speed automatic that eliminates much of the drone associated with continuously variable automatic transmissions used in many hybrid competitors.
Plug-in Hybrid: Maximum Efficiency
The 2025 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid can go 33 miles on electric range alone, making it perfect for local errands without visiting gas stations. Last year’s model achieved an equivalent of 80 mpg, or 35 mpg with a depleted battery pack.
Technology and Features: Premium Experience at Mainstream Prices
Infotainment Excellence
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and look sharp on the 12.3-inch touchscreen. Hyundai has long been praised for its generous standard features, and the 2025 Tucson is no exception, with wireless connectivity, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, multimedia software over-the-air updates, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and second-row USB charging ports.
Advanced Driver Assistance
Every Tucson comes with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor. The 2025 Tucson introduces Highway Driving Assist (HDA) for the nameplate in Australia, which activates adaptive cruise and lane centering functions using navigation data for semi-autonomous highway driving capability.
Trim Levels and Pricing: Value Across the Board
| Trim Level | Starting Price* | Key Features | Fuel Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE | $28,355 | 12.3″ touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration | 25/32/28 mpg |
| SEL | $30,215 | Heated front seats, digital key, wireless charging | 25/32/28 mpg |
| SEL Convenience | $32,665 | Synthetic leather, 12.3″ digital cluster | 25/32/28 mpg |
| XRT | $32,665 | Adventure-focused styling, tow hitch | 25/32/28 mpg |
| Limited | $38,295 | Premium materials, advanced tech | 25/32/28 mpg |
| Hybrid Blue | $34,510 | Standard AWD, 231 hp hybrid system | 35/35/35 mpg |
*Prices include destination fee
Driving Experience: Comfort Over Thrills
Ride Quality: The Tucson’s Secret Weapon
Thanks to Hyundai’s improved ride quality game, the Tucson has become the luxury car of the group. While no Tucson delivers the driving verve of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-50, or Volkswagen Tiguan in terms of corner handling, if you’re more inclined to lazy commutes and quiet road trips, the Tucson has you covered.
Special Driving Modes
Two new driving modes have been added this year: a user-configurable My Drive mode and Baby Mode, which dulls throttle response to avoid disturbing infants or pets. There’s also a new Green Zone drive mode that optimizes pure EV operation in hybrid models.
Interior Space and Practicality
Cabin Comfort
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson offers a more spacious cabin and cargo area than many rivals. The Tucson provides 38.7 cubic feet of trunk space, making it practical for family hauling duties.
Materials and Build Quality
Thanks to Hyundai’s new interior design, the Tucson feels far more upscale than ever before, featuring the same sort of tech found in more expensive models. Higher-end trims come appointed with surprisingly posh materials and feature more conveniences and tech gadgets.
Safety Ratings and Reliability
Crash Test Performance
The 2025 Tucson gets mostly good ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat.
Predicted Reliability
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson has a predicted reliability score of 85 out of 100, which J.D. Power considers “Great” (81-90 range).
Competition Analysis: Standing Out in a Crowded Field
Against the Segment Leaders
When taking on well-established, popular cars like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Tucson brings its A-game with luxury-focused comfort and ride quality. While the PHEV pushes up to 268 horsepower, placing it ahead of the Honda CR-V Hybrid’s 204 hp, it still trails the Toyota RAV4 Prime’s 302 hp.
Value Proposition
The Tucson is priced competitively within a few thousand dollars of every other car in the segment, but it shines when considering what you get for that money. With good standard features such as an intuitive 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a value buy starting at $29,750, and an industry-leading 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson earns recognition for exceptional value.
Should You Buy the 2025 Hyundai Tucson?
Who It’s Perfect For
The majority of crossover customers want something comfy, quiet, and tech-forward. Few cars in this price point meet those demands like the 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The Hyundai Tucson is made for those who want their car to be a reliable appliance—something that’ll reliably and comfortably do its job.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid gets some key improvements that have made it an even more user-friendly and well-rounded SUV. This small SUV delivers good mpg, a comfortable ride, and lots of standard technology features. Small, affordable crossovers are everywhere, so it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Hyundai does that with the Tucson through edgy styling and a surprisingly high-quality cabin and comfy ride that proves it has the substance to back up its style.
For 2025, the Hyundai Tucson represents more than just another compact SUV—it’s a statement that practical doesn’t have to mean boring, and that luxury doesn’t require a premium price tag. Whether you choose the efficient hybrid, the ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid, or stick with the traditional gasoline engine, you’re getting a vehicle that prioritizes your daily comfort over weekend thrills.