New Hyundai Tucson 2027: design, engines and release date

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The next Hyundai Tucson is already going through summer testing on roads in southern Europe, and the prototypes are gradually shedding their camouflage. But what's more interesting than the exterior changes is the powertrain lineup: the fifth generation could drop diesel engines entirely, relying instead on 48-volt mild hybrid gasoline engines, along with regular and plug-in hybrids.

Hyundai has not officially announced the new Tucson's engine lineup. The spy car is mostly covered in black wrap rather than dense camouflage film, so the new lighting, grille and bumpers are already visible. Motor.es expects a significantly sharper style with far more straight lines — the current fourth-generation Tucson, launched in 2020, leaned into a distinctive “parametric” design.

For European buyers, something else matters more. The outlet reports that the gasoline engines will be electrified with a 48-volt system, while the HEV and PHEV versions will be upgraded for better efficiency. The plug-in hybrid's electric range is expected to grow, though no exact figure has been given yet. The current European Tucson PHEV, with its 13.8 kWh battery, officially covers up to 71 km on WLTP, so that number serves as the real benchmark for the new car.

Another expected change is the Pleos Connect infotainment system. Hyundai has already officially launched this software platform: it supports over-the-air updates, apps and the Gleo AI voice assistant. The company says it plans to roll out Pleos across roughly 20 million Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles by 2030, though the new Tucson specifically hasn't yet been named on the official list.

A future sporty Tucson N variant has also come to light. The same caveat applies here: Hyundai hasn't publicly confirmed a production fifth-generation Tucson N, so it's too early to call it a done deal. According to the outlet's forecast, the full reveal of the new Tucson will come before the end of 2026, first in South Korea, with the car reaching European showrooms in the first half of 2027.

Hyundai hasn't announced an exact debut date yet. If the diesel forecast holds true, the generational shift will be far more significant than a typical facelift: the Tucson will keep its internal combustion engine, but the European lineup will effectively move to varying degrees of hybridization. And for the PHEV, there's already one clear benchmark — more than the current 71 km without firing up the gasoline engine.