A heavily covered SUV has been spotted driving through the Austrian Alps, giving us an early look at Hyundai’s next-generation Tucson. The test vehicle is still wearing camouflage, but several details are easy to spot. Hyundai is expected to showcase the new SUV later this year, with European sales planned for 2027.
A More Square Looking Tucson
The biggest change can be seen from the outside. Hyundai appears to be moving away from the softer shape of the current SUV.
The test car shows:
- A taller and more upright front end
- Vertically placed LED headlights
- Lower fog lights
- A possible full width LED light bar
- A clamshell style bonnet
- Straighter window lines
- More defined body surfaces
- Vertical tail lights at the rear
The rear is still covered heavily, so some details are difficult to make out. An exhaust pipe can be seen on the test vehicle, suggesting that Hyundai is testing a petrol or hybrid version.
New Cabin Details
The interior also gets some interesting changes. Spy shots show Hyundai’s latest three spoke steering wheel. Four small dots are placed in its centre, which represent the letter H in Morse code.
The wheel has controls for the infotainment and driver assistance systems. Shift paddles are also visible.
A slim display sits ahead of the driver, while a larger central screen is placed in the middle of the dashboard. Physical shortcut buttons can also be seen below the screen.
| Expected Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Global debut | Later in 2026 |
| European sales | 2027 |
| Design | More upright and square |
| Headlights | Vertical LED units |
| Power | Petrol or hybrid expected |
| Range extender | Reportedly under consideration |
| Platform | Yet to be confirmed |
Hybrid Power Could Be Important
Hyundai has not shared engine specifications for the new Tucson yet. Hybrid technology is expected to remain an important part of the SUV’s powertrain range.
The company is also considering range extender technology for some future models. However, there is no confirmation that this system will be offered on the Tucson.
What About India?
Sadly, the Tucson was discontinued in India last year in November. Hyundai has not confirmed plans to bring the next generation model back to the Indian market.
For now, the new Tucson remains a global product, and more details should come out when Hyundai officially reveals it later this year.