New 2027 Hyundai Tucson. A look at the next generation.

It feels like we’re getting new illustrations of the next-generation Hyundai Tucson almost every single day. Some of them look surprisingly realistic, while others seem like they were created on a 1990s computer by an overenthusiastic kid. The one above seems to match the latest spy shots we’ve already seen. And it is looking more and more like a new Kia.

The truth is, Hyundai has become very unpredictable when it comes to design. Unlike Kia, which tends to evolve a consistent look across its lineup, Hyundai gives each model its own distinct identity. Just look at the new Hyundai Palisade, which is completely different from the previous version and doesn’t even resemble a larger Santa Fe at all.

Right now, the closest thing we have to a design clue is the new Hyundai Nexo, which the brand says previews its future design language. Even then, it’s unlikely the Tucson will copy it directly.

The current Tucson is a big success for Hyundai, with over 234,000 units sold last year alone. Or about 20,000 more than in 2024. That makes it one of Hyundai’s most important models in North America, so expectations for the next generation are high. However, it seems the next generation could look more like the current Santa Fe. Which has not been as successful as Hyundai expected. That could spell bad news for the Tucson as well…

The current version launched in 2020 and received a facelift in late 2023 for the 2025 model year. Based on Hyundai’s usual product cycle, that points to an all-new Tucson arriving later this year as a 2027 model.

One thing is clear: while the internet is full of guesses, the real design will likely be more restrained, and maybe, just maybe, a little more Kia-like than expected.