2021 Hyundai Tucson Will Bring Dramatic New Looks And More Curb Appeal

Hyundai’s next-generation Tucson has been doing quite the spy rounds lately. In recent weeks, our photographers have snapped test mules with camouflage seemingly being peeled back more and more every time.

Thus, we now have a good idea of what the dramatic new front-end will look like, so let’s see what else we can expect from Hyundai’s next compact crossover, from design to powertrains.

Stunning Style

The South Korean automaker is currently on a roll with stylish new products such as the Sonata, Venue and Palisade, and according to Hyundai’s vice president of styling, Sangyup Lee, the next Tucson will be even more breathtaking to gaze upon.

Also Read: 2021 Kia Sorento Design, Powertrains & Everything Else We Know

Photo Renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes

This is reflected in a dazzling new front end, which incorporates Hyundai’s cascading grille into the upper LED headlight cluster. The main beams are positioned lower, forming part of the side air intake in an angular fashion. The aggressive theme flows into the angular fenders as well, making for a dynamic side view. Rear styling features a chiseled rear bumper with a prominent diffuser and sleek LED tail lamps.

Under The Skin

One drawback of the current Tucson is its so-so cabin and presence of hard plastics. For 2021 this will been rectified, with the SUV offering a much more premium interior ambience thanks to cleaner styling, better quality materials and various leather upholstery colors and contrasting stitching.

We can also expect a plethora of tech goodies like an integrated 12.3-inch horizontal infotainment screen, a digital key that allows the Tucson to be unlocked & started using only a smartphone, and wireless phone charging. Driver-assist features will consist of standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision braking, lane-following assist, rear-collision braking and a blind-spot monitoring system that features a video feed into the digital instrument cluster. Remote parking will also be available, which means the new Tucson can be maneuvered in and out of tight parking spaces via remote.

Powertrains

A number of engine options will be available with its arrival. These will range from a 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel carried over from the current car, a turbocharged T-GDI 1.6 producing 180 hp and 195 pound-feet (264 Nm) of torque, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, and a 2.5-litre GDI four.

Fuel conscious buyers will be offered the SmartStream 2.0-litre hybrid plucked from the Sonata, feeding a combined 192 HP to the front wheels through a six-speed hybrid automatic transmission.

Non-hybrid variants will channel power to either the front or all four wheels via an eight-speed auto gearbox. Go-fast fans can also expect a hot N Line variant to come on stream at a later date too.

Rivals & Reveal

The fourth-generation Tucson will battle it out for crossover supremacy in global markets against Ford’s new Escape/Kuga, the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Rogue/X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Mazda CX-5, Skoda Karoq, Seat Ateca, Volkswagen Tiguan, Peugeot 3008 and, last but not least, its platform stablemate, the Kia Sportage.