The Hyundai Tucson shines as a value-oriented player in the hotly contested compact SUV segment, among rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V.
2026 Hyundai Tucson Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson compact crossover has minor changes to the trim lineup for the 2026 model year. The SEL Convenience trim was renamed SEL Premium, but the hierarchy stays the same in terms of features and content. The XRT model has a new terrain driving mode for muddy, sandy, or snowy conditions.
Design
Hyundai’s SUV styling has moved decidedly upscale over the last few years, particularly with the recent redesigns of the Santa Fe and Palisade SUVs. By comparison, the Tucson is a little plain—attractive, but not particularly remarkable—but it’s the brand’s best-selling vehicle, so simplicity clearly isn’t a turnoff for most shoppers. It's fitted with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, with optional 18- or 19-inch designs, and other options include roof rails, LED lighting, and projector headlights. The XRT model goes a little bolder with a blacked-out grille, wheels, exterior trim, and badging.
Powertrain
Every Tucson features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front or all four wheels. It’s not particularly quick, but the traditional automatic transmission delivers smoother shifts than the continuously variable automatics (CVT) used by most competitors. With front-wheel drive (FWD), the Tucson is EPA-estimated at 28 mpg combined, and with all-wheel drive (AWD), that drops to 26 mpg combined. These ratings are about average for the class. We review the Tucson Hybrid and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) separately.
Interior
The Tucson has a well-built interior with spacious seating for five. Cloth upholstery comes standard, while options include a sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, synthetic or genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, and ventilated front seats. The Tucson offers above-average cargo space for the class, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 80.3 cubic feet with the second row folded. The cargo area is equipped with LED lighting, and a hands-free power liftgate is available.
Technology
The Tucson comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system. Options include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless device charging, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, a fingerprint scanner, and a smartphone-based digital key.
