2021 Hyundai Tucson debuts with fierce new styling

The Hyundai Tucson has been a best-seller for the Korean company since it debuted in 2005 as an inoffensive, slightly-smaller compact crossover that was priced to compete with Japanese compact cars at the time. So it’s surprising to see Hyundai take such a massive design risk with the all-new 2021 Tucson that has just been revealed.

Honestly, we were prepared for this. We got an early sneak peak at the car within the walls of Hyundai’s design centre in Korea about a year ago, and it was an eye-popper in all the right ways. The little SUV is all creases and claws, a bit inspired by Lexus and a bit by Peugeot, but taking the design cues much further. The LED lights in the grille are not the actual headlights, as the latter are disguised as vents lower in the bumper. When the LED running lights are turned off, the grille hides any sign of the lighting elements, looking like a toothy smile instead.

While overall exterior dimensions are only a smidge bigger than the outgoing model, Hyundai claims substantial gains in cabin space.

The interior is in a class of its own as well, although having seen the concept idea, we feel it’s been a bit dumbed dow, especially the centre console. Available features include a dual-screen infotainment system that offers a 10.3-inch display above a climate control panel with no physical buttons. The standard infotainment system is an 8.0-inch screen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and two-device Bluetooth connectivity. Also new for 2022 is an available air quality monitoring system that keeps track of exterior pollution levels using a fine-dust sensor.

The standard engine in most markets is Hyundai’s 190 hp 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 260 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic. A 2022 Tucson Hybrid model comes with a turbocharged 1.6-litre combined with an electric powertrain, giving the hybrid 230 hp and 350 Nm of torque. A plug-in version of the hybrid will also be available. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive are available, with the latter getting more driving modes.

Available safety features include front collision monitoring and prevention with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and Hyundai Highway Driving Assist, although it remains to be seen how many are offered in the GCC.

Expect the new model to hit GCC showrooms by early next year.

Keep track of updates in the Hyundai buyer guide.