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Hyundai
debuts 'boldest' Tucson in New York, eyes deeper U.S. inroads
By
Sarah Chea, Korea JoongAng Daily from New York - Hyundai Motor staged the global
debut of a massively redesigned Tucson in New York on Thursday, courting the
U.S. drivers who have helped make the family SUV its best seller.
It was the first global premiere in the
Tucson's 22-year history, a testament to the weight the compact SUV has come to
carry as a price war intensifies across the auto industry.
The Tucson compact SUV will come with
gasoline and hybrid powertrains, along with the XRT Pro, an off-road version
exclusive to the North American market. U.S. sales begin in 2027, with Europe
to follow.
"For many families, Tucson is the
first Hyundai they ever choose. And very often, it is the reason they come back
to us," said Hyundai Motor CEO José Muñoz, during the event in Long Island
City, New York. "So when we redesign this car, we are not working on one
model. We are working on the center of our business, for customers on six
continents. That is why Tucson is our global hero model."
Flared fenders, a crisp character line
along the doors and a more muscular lower body give the Tucson a commanding
stance. H-shaped lighting accentuates its width, while prism taillights with a
floating, three-dimensional design lend a futuristic touch.
Inside, Hyundai kept physical buttons
for climate and volume, a choice that owners of its recent models have
welcomed. A concealed tray in the driver's armrest offers discreet storage.
Hybrids gain a Stay Mode that runs the
climate and infotainment systems with the engine off, just like EVs.
The latest Tucson adds a backup power
system that lets the doors open even if the main supply is cut, helping
occupants escape in an emergency. It is a pointed answer to long-running
criticism of Tesla, whose door mechanisms have drawn scrutiny after crashes.
Other additions include a reversing
assist that remembers and retraces the car's path along narrow or winding
roads, and a segment-first Ground View feature that shows the terrain beneath
the vehicle in tight spaces.
The Tucson is also the first Hyundai SUV
with Pleos Connect and its AI agent, Gleo AI, that runs on a large language
model and handles vehicle controls and searches through natural conversation.
Third-party services are available through the Pleos app market.
A version tailored to Europe will debut
at the Paris Motor Show scheduled for Oct. 12.
Hyundai sold a total of 984,017 vehicles
in the United States last year, and of them, 234,230, or 23.8 percent, were
Tucsons.
Since the model's U.S. debut in 2004,
2.23 million have been sold in the United States, or 19.9 percent of its global
total and 23.1 percent of its overseas sales. Put another way, nearly one in
four Tucsons sold abroad goes to an American buyer.
The Tucson was Hyundai's top seller
every year from 2021 to 2025, with 90.9 percent of its sales coming from
outside Korea.
