2027 Hyundai Tucson Bets On Hybrids And A Modern Infotainment System

Hyundai’s best-seller is bigger, more efficient, and fancier than ever.

Photo by: Hyundai

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 2, at 4:01am ET

Comment

The all-new Hyundai Tucson debuted last night in New York.
Hyundai’s best-seller is bigger, more powerful, and leans more on hybridization than its predecessor.
Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid come with two electric motors, and the PHEV gets a bigger battery.

There’s a new Hyundai Tucson, and it looks nothing like its predecessor. The compact crossover has been Hyundai’s breadwinner for the longest time, and now the 2027 Tucson brings an exterior design that seems to have been made with little more than a ruler, a properly modern infotainment system, and an emphasis on hybridization.

I’ll start with what’s under the hood. All 2027 Tucsons come with a 1.6-liter turbocharged gas engine, which can be had in three configurations: a traditional combustion setup with 184 horsepower, a traditional hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. That’s the same as the outgoing model, but it’s the details that matter here, because the latest-gen Tucson is more powerful, more efficient, and the hybrid models get more electric motors.

The traditional hybrid has a 17-horsepower (13-kilowatt) electric motor bolted at the rear of the gas engine, directly to the crankshaft. This little pancake-like motor replaces the traditional belt-driven starter-generator, but it can also send power to the wheels during hard acceleration and send energy back to the high-voltage battery during deceleration.

The hybrid’s main motor, however, is a more powerful unit sandwiched between the little electric motor and six-speed automatic transmission. It makes 64 hp (47.7 kW) on its own and is energized by a 1.49-kilowatt-hour battery rated at 270 volts. The main e-motor and its accompanying battery are the same as on the outgoing Tucson hybrid, but the addition of the crank-integrated motor is new. The crank-mounted motor, however, is new.

2027 Hyundai Tucson Limited

Photo by: Hyundai

Hyundai says the 2027 Tucson Hybrid can get up to 42 miles per gallon when specced with front-wheel drive and 17-inch wheels, while the all-wheel drive models get between 40 and 42 mpg. That’s better than the 38 and 36 mpg achieved by the previous model. The combined power output is also slightly higher, with the new Tucson hybrid putting down 233 horsepower and 279.9 pound-feet of torque, up from the previous generation’s 231 hp and 271 lb-ft.

The 2027 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid gets the same engine and electric motor layout as the hybrid, but with a higher output and a larger-capacity high-voltage battery that enables a more-than-decent electric driving range. The PHEV’s main e-motor makes 106 hp (79 kW), up from the previous model’s 97 hp, leading to an overall output of 288 hp, a 20 hp increase over the previous generation.

2027 Hyundai Tucson XRT

Photo by: Hyundai

The traction battery also got a capacity boost to 17.1 kWh, up from 13.8 kWh, leading to an estimated all-electric range of roughly 50 miles on a full charge. That’s quite an impressive figure, but I’d take it with a grain of salt because Hyundai didn’t say whether it’s on the NEDC, WLTP, or EPA cycle. By comparison, the 2026 Tucson PHEV has a 32-mile EPA-estimated electric range on a full battery. There’s no DC fast charging, and the on-board AC charger is capped at 7.2 kW.

All powertrain options come with an integrated electric water pump, and the hybrid model gets a Stay Mode, which keeps the A/C, heating, and audio running even when the engine is turned off.

Here’s the catch, though. A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed to InsideEVs that the plug-in hybrid version is not coming to the United States, with the traditional combustion model launching first, followed by the hybrid.

Photo by: Hyundai

Size-wise, the automaker’s best-selling model is bigger in every metric than its predecessor. The 2027 crossover is 2.3 inches longer, 1.57 in wider, and 0.8 in taller than the previous generation, totalling 185 in in length, 75 in in width, and 66.3 in in height. The wheelbase is 109.6 in, and the rear doors now open 10 degrees wider than before, up to 83 degrees. The standard models’ ground clearance is 7.1 in (180 mm), while the off-road-flavored XRT PRO trim gets an extra 1.1 in for a total of 8.2 in (210 mm). Cargo volume stands at 41.7 cubic feet.

Inside, the new Tucson gets Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment system that pairs a 12.9- or 17-inch central touchscreen with a 9.9-inch slim digital gauge cluster. Based on Android Automotive OS, Pleos Connect comes with Gleo AI, a natural-sounding voice assistant that can take complex commands without the driver having to fiddle with the screen.

And because it’s based on AAOS, drivers can install third-party apps like Spotify, Waze, and others. Over-the-air software updates are also part of the deal. Thankfully, Hyundai hasn’t forgotten about proper buttons, with a row of physical controls under the main touchscreen for essential functions.

What do you think?

View

Comments

The 2027 Hyundai Tucson with gas and hybrid powertrains will launch in the U.S. in early 2027.

Updated with information in the ninth paragraph about the plug-in hybrid's availability in the U.S.