From the outside, you might miss the fact that the 2025 Hyundai Tucson got a refresh. Yes, the grille is redesigned. And yes, the daytime running light signature is updated. But it really doesn't look that different. So, what's new? The interior design and technology.
Yes, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson has wireless CarPlay
Perhaps the biggest and most-anticipated change to the 2025 Hyundai Tucson is to the infotainment system. Hyundai still uses its own native system operating system - including non-Google maps - but now it allows for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In my brief one-day test, I found that CarPlay worked really well with the wireless connection, sans lag, and filled out the screen beautifully. It's also well integrated with the native system.
Additionally, the overall screenage grew. Like the new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, you now have a single swath of glass that goes from behind-the-wheel gauges to center stack and houses two separate 12.3-inch screens - one for the digital cluster, the other for infotainment.
The one tech feature I didn't appreciate: The wireless charging. Surprise. The charging pad heated up my phone, and while it didn't immediately overheat my phone, my phone was definitely hot. Then, later in the day, it did stop charging my phone because of the heat. So, even though I was using CarPlay wirelessly, I had to wire in to charge my phone. That's annoying.
Hallelujah! We've got dials!
Another big change is the re-implementation of dials for things you touch frequently. The 2024 model uses what I call "touch points" on a screen to adjust things like volume, audio tuning and temperature. With the 2025 model, Hyundai brings back the dial for these three things. You still have a touch point for fan speed, but I can live with that.
Hyundai also brought back physical buttons for things like seek and scan, media modes and the map. These buttons and dials allow you to feel rather than look to make adjustments, which means you're less distracted while driving. As it should be.
My passenger has a place to put stuff
With the interior refresh, the cabin feels more open. A large part of that is due to the large horizontal screen that makes the center stack feel less chunky. But, in the hybrid models we were driving, the gearshift was moved to the column, so that opened up the console area. This freed up space between the dash and armrest, creating space for a purse or small bag.
Another part of the redesign added a shelf in front of the passenger space. I absolutely love this because it gives your front passengers a place to set their phones and ear pods. My husband is perpetually putting his stuff in the door cubbies - and he's perpetually forgetting stuff in the car. This shelf makes stuff easily accessible and very visible, which makes it less likely to be forgotten.
Ride & handling is still comfy
Our primary test vehicle was a hybrid model in the Limited trim. This model is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo engine mated to the hybrid powertrain. Though this is essentially the same as 2024, this combo does get a small power boost for 2025, adding 5 horsepower. Total system output is 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This is a peppy powertrain with decent off-the-line starts and plenty of power for passing maneuvers.
While I wouldn't call the Tucson sporty, it can hold its own on some twisty bits, and the overall effect is a vehicle that feels comfortable in both cruising situations and some more aggressive maneuvers.
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson retains both the regular gas powertrain as well as the plug-in hybrid. The 2.5-liter 187-horsepower gas engine is completely unchanged. But the plug-in hybrid, similar to the hybrid, gets a small power boost, delivering 268 horsepower (instead of 261).
While I generally liked my driving position and had good visibility out all windows, I will issue a small note of caution to petite drivers. Because of my far-forward driving position, my knee actually hit the steering column when I would shift from gas to brake. So, if you are on the short side of things, this is definitely something you'll want to pay attention to and test for yourself.
Subscription redux
I've been on a bit of a tear lately about subscription fees. Automakers seem to want to charge you to breathe these days, and while they will offer free trials for remote start app functions and the ability to use your phone as a key, they'll slam you with subscription fees sooner or later. Hyundai seems to be taking a different track, and it is one of the few automakers that is limiting the things they'll charge for. For example, all the app features will be forever free for the first owner. Plus, Hyundai's Digital Key 2 will also be free. Over the air updates for critical functions will also be free for the life of the vehicle.
The only fees you'll see will be for Wi-Fi connectivity and map updates. But the latter won't matter if you use the wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for map functions.
2024 vs 2025 pricing
As you would expect with some of the huge changes, you will get price increases. In most instances. Comparing the 2024 to 2025 pricing below, increases range from $1,710 to $3,035 depending on trim. The one anomaly is the XRT. Hyundai said this is because the 2024 model was built off of the SEL Convenience trim, but the 2025 model is built off the SEL, which is one rung down on the trim ladder. Therefore, the 2025 model has slightly less standard content but still gets all the facelift and tech features the SE and SEL trims get.
But wireless CarPlay/Auto, the large screen and the transmission change in some of the trims certainly account for the price increases we see in the upper trims. Though all trims get the interior redesign, it's only the hybrid, plug-in hybrid and Limited gas model that get the shift-by-wire transmission change, and therefore the column mounted shifter.
The bottom line
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is a great little SUV, and it shows well against its primary competitors: Toyota RAV4 ($30,025) and Honda CR-V ($31,450). It has more updated tech than both SUVs, and arguably, it also has better interior and exterior styling. Not to mention the fact that the seats are actually comfortable - unlike the CR-V, which has seats like rocks - and the styling is modern - unlike the RAV4, which was last updated in 2018.
Plus, we just really like the packaging, pricing and plethora of powertrain options.
Jill Ciminillo
Jill has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, representing the female point of view amongst her predominantly male colleagues. And since something like 80 percent of all car-buying decisions are either made by or influenced by women, that's nothing to sneeze at. Formerly the online automotive editor for the Chicago Sun-Times, the print auto editor for Pioneer Press Newspapers and the automotive editor for the Sinclair Broadcast Group, this 5th percentile (aka petite) female tells it like it is from the fun to the functional. She is now a syndicated automotive writer, podcast co-host, TikTok influencer and YouTube personality as well as the managing editor for the Pickup Truck + SUV Talk website. Jill is a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and currently sits on the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Jury.
