The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is a well-rounded entry in the competitive compact SUV segment. It has handsome looks, an upscale and roomy interior, and a long list of standard and available features and tech, all at a reasonable price. It’s not as peppy as some rivals but does have a cushy ride.
Base Price: $34,165
As Tested: $36,240
Horsepower: 187
Mileage: 24 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined
The Tucson is the best-seller for Hyundai in the U.S. It was introduced back in 2004. In 2022, the Tucson got a makeover for the start of the fourth generation. For 2025, it gets a styling refresh with tweaks to the grille, bumpers and wheels, and a redesigned interior including an updated infotainment system with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The 2025 Tucson comes in five trims: SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, XRT and Limited. The starting price of the SE is $28,355, which is low for a compact SUV. The top-of-the-line Limited starts at $38,295. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on all trims for $1,500. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The Tucson also comes in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Those will be reviewed separately.
All regular gas-powered trims get the same engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
On paper, it looks like the Tucson could use more power, and that’s the case when you get behind the wheel, especially if the Tucson is carrying passengers and cargo. Acceleration is pokey and the eight-speed can be leisurely in finding the right gear, especially when downshifting. There’s enough oomph for driving around town, but plan ahead for the times when you need quicker acceleration, such as when merging and passing at freeway speeds. On the plus side, the Tucson does have a smooth and comfortable ride – one of the best in the segment. Steering is responsive and the Tucson feels planted when cornering. The cabin is quiet and well insulated from road and wind noise.
Fuel economy is about average for the class. EPA estimates for my AWD tester are 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with a combined rating of 26. I got 26 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Front-wheel drive models get 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with a combined rating of 28.
When properly equipped, the Tucson can tow up to 2,000 pounds.
The cabin is roomy, comfortable and stylish. Seats are comfy and supportive. Front row passengers enjoy good leg- and headroom. The backseat is roomy enough for two taller adults – unlike many other compact SUVs – and the large door opening makes it easy to get in and out.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, cloth upholstery, 4.2-inch digital driver display, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, six-speaker audio system, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, HD Radio, satellite radio, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports, two 12-volt outlets, and automatic headlights with high-beam assist,
Available features include a fingerprint scanner, digital key, surround-view camera system, head-up display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, real leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated rear seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, eight-speaker Bose audio system, voice recognition, wireless device charging, ambient interior lighting, rain-sensing wipers, universal garage door opener, sunroof, and panoramic sunroof.
The available fingerprint scanner lets you use your fingerprint to unlock the Tucson and start the engine. The technology can be customized so that the vehicle automatically adjusts things like seating positions, mirror settings as well as climate and infotainment settings for each driver.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist,
lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver-attention monitoring, rear-seat alert, and safe exit assist which prevents the Tucson’s doors from opening if it detects another vehicle approaching.
Available driver assistance technologies include advanced adaptive cruise control, Hyundai’s semi-autonomous driving system, Blind-spot camera (displays video of the left and right blind spots when you engage the turn signal), forward attention warning (reminds the driver to focus on driving), reverse automatic emergency braking, front, rear and side parking sensors, remote park assist, and advanced rear-seat alert.
The updated infotainment system looks great with its ginormous 12.3-inch touchscreen. My test vehicle also has the available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Both sweep across the dash in one large display. Graphics are sharp and easy to see and reach. The system responds quickly to touch and voice commands. Hyundai also got rid of the tricky touch-sensitive climate controls in exchange for good old-fashioned physical controls, which are much easier to use.
The Tucson has generous cargo space for the class. There are 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row and a whopping 80.3 cubes with the second row folded. All trims except the SE come standard with a hands-free power liftgate.
The good:
Handsome looks
Smooth ride
Generous passenger and cargo space
Well-equipped with many standard and available features and tech
Good value for the money
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Could use more power
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $34,165. Creamy White Pearl paint is $470. Carpeted floor mats are $210. The delivery fee is $1,395 bringing the grand total to $36,240.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson offers great value. It’s stylish, comfortable, comes well-equipped with features and tech, and won’t break the bank. While its performance isn’t as athletic as some rivals, it’s still a top contender in the competitive compact SUV class.
