Previewed: 2025 Hyundai Tucson – 4 Variants, launches July 2

Also previewed earlier today by Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY) next to the Santa Fe was the refreshed 2025 Hyundai Tucson C-SUV offering.

Besides the all-new fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, the newly established Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY) firm also elected to preview the face-lifted 2025 Hyundai Tucson model alongside which.

Like the Santa Fe mentioned, it took about two years for this refreshed model to make landfall locally since its global debut in 2023. As the old saying goes, "better late than never…"

A total of four variant will be offered, and it includes a brand new hybrid-powered variant too.

Four variants will be offered starting with a base Style guise primed with a familiar 2.0-ltre 4-cyl MPi petrol mill offering 156 HP and 192 NM. Paired to said mill here too is a 6-speed automatic box and front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup.

Next comes a mid-specced Prime guise brimmed with an also familiar 1.6-litre TGDi 4-cyl turbo petrol heart that puts out 180 HP and 265 NM. This guise also gains a slick 7-speed DCT automatic box plus a FWD setup too. 

Above that comes the Prestige guise, and it sees two powertrain choices. The first of which sees it share the Prime variant's 1.6-litre TGDi 4-cyl turbo petrol setup, but this one gets an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup added into the mix.

Next comes a new hybrid option, which pairs the 1.6-litre TGDi 4-cyl turbo petrol mill mentioned with an added hybrid e-motor plus a hybrid variant-specific 6-speed automatic box and FWD setup. Headlining figures for this package reads at 235 HP and 367 NM (combined).

Exterior visual enhancements include a revised front fascia featuring the signature 'Parametric Jewel' LED DRLs set, as well as reprofiled front and rear bumpers.

Visually retained in this face-lift is the signature ‘Parametric Jewel’ LED DRL arrangement that dominates its front fascia. Versus the pre-facelift, this updated version rocks a revised iteration of which with more sparse grille elements, as well as larger and rounder lights.

Also reprofiled here is the front bumper, and there’s also redesigned rolling stock whilst the rear bumper now has the rear skid plate element both integrated and enlarged. Overall, these exterior visual changes have resulted in an arguably more rugged-looking Tucson.

Changes are more apparent on board as it sees a new dash, new steering wheel, revised centre stack and console, as well as a new column-mounted gear selector plus steering-mounted paddle-shifters in Prestige variants.

On board, visual changes here are more substantial to say the least as it sees a new dash design inspired by the Ioniq-series EVs, new steering wheel, new column-mounted gear-selector stalk in the Prestige guise, plus a revised centre console and stack area with more space.

Naturally, level of kit varies based on variant and trimline. Leather seats comes as standard from the Prime guise and up, whereas paddle-shifter are reserved for the Prestige guise too.

As for safety and driving assistance, basics such as six airbags is primed across the board, but only Prime and Prestige guises benefit with advanced driving assistance (ADAS) features.

Critically, CKD status should see this left-field C-SUV offering re-enter the local market with favourable new prices, which will be announced on July 2.

Overall, there are indeed some welcoming improvements aboard the face-lifted and upgraded 2025 Hyundai Tucson versus the outgoing model. However, just one question remains, that being price.

Like the larger Santa Fe detailed earlier, this refreshed fourth-gen Tucson will be localised (CKD) at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, and this promises to remedy the outgoing model’s biggest challenge – CBU (fully imported) pricing.

Pre-facelift Hyundai Tucson 1.6T Max variant pictured. You can read out take of it by clicking here.

As a refresher, previous principals now turned dealers Hyundai Sime Darby Motors launched the pre-facelift fourth-gen Hyundai Tucson priced at RM158,888 (2.0 Lite), RM178,888 (1.6T Plus) and RM195,888 (1.6T Max).

With CKD status, expect these figures to be lowered drastically once they’re officially announced on July 2. Until then, what do you folks reckon then? Can this left-field Korean number hold a better fight versus established Japanese rivals and upstart Chinese alternatives? Hit the comments below…