AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8.0/10
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Safety9.0/10
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PRACTICALITY9.0/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9.0/10
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FEATURES8.0/10
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POWER6.0/10
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COMFORT7.0/10
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DRIVING FEEL7.0/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8.0/10
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VALUE7.0/10
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson received a mid-cycle refresh after three years on the market, bringing significant interior changes to go with minor exterior revisions.
Gas and hybrid powertrains remain unchanged, and the Tucson is still a jack of all trades amongst compact crossovers. Tested here is the XRT trim that adds cosmetic touches meant to imply ruggedness while maintaining on-road comfort and daily livability.
Styling: 8/10
Visual updates for 2025 include new front- and rear-end treatments and badging. While it's not a huge departure from last year, the front marker lighting features a classy dark chrome look with switchback-style LEDs that glow white for daytime running lights and amber for turn signals.
On the other hand, the interior is fully revamped with a new screen layout and more hard dials and buttons that significantly improve ergonomics compared to the previous full-touch setup. A more traditional three-spoke steering wheel has dropped the Hyundai logo, and the gear selector has moved from the centre console up to the steering column.
Safety: 9/10
All 2025 Tucsons come with a complete set of advanced driver assistance systems. There's forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist, as well as junction-turning detection that can warn of oncoming traffic when making a left; lane keeping and following; driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert; adaptive cruise control; and automatic high-beam control. There's also a safe exit warning system, which uses the blind-spot monitoring sensors to warn of traffic approaching from behind when opening the doors while parked.
Pricier trims beyond the XRT add features like an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system, which can detect pets or children left behind in the vehicle, as well as parking collision avoidance assist, remote parking assist, blind-spot monitoring cameras, surround-view cameras, and Hyundai’s more advanced highway driving assist system that can help with steering inputs.
Features: 8/10
Compared to the base Preferred trim, the Tucson XRT adds unique 18-inch wheels, an eight-speaker stereo, auto-dimming rearview mirror, integrated garage door opener compatibility, interior ambient lighting, a power sunroof, raised roof rails, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. Other features include a power tailgate, wireless phone charging, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and LED head- and tail lights.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is very easy to live with, with all interior functions within easy and ergonomic reach of drivers and passengers alike. It features a good seating position and hip point for easy ingress and egress, with good outward visibility. A wireless charging pad and four USB-C ports allow for simultaneous charging for all five occupants. By moving the gear selector to the steering column, there’s now more space on and under the centre console for storage, and the twist-type stalk has a short learning curve.
With its 12.3-inch touchscreen, the Tucson's infotainment is easy to use, with an intuitive menu layout. Physical buttons and dials for main functions are much better than last year’s full-touch setup. However, the climate and heated seat controls are still touch-based, requiring more focus away from the road to operate.
Practicality: 9/10
The Tucson offers a win-win combination of passenger space and cargo capacity compared to its competitors. Second-row legroom and cargo volume are nearly best-in-class, losing only marginally to the Honda CR-V that’s also available as a hybrid. The Hyundai does it all without ballooning its overall footprint on the road, and there’s plenty of room for a small family and all its gear. It's an excellent one-size-fits-all for families of four or smaller.
Comfort: 7/10
Hyundai has done a decent job with the 2025 Tucson's interior. Common touch points feature softer material, and an elegant fabric garnish now adorns the dashboard. Gloss-black plastic on the door panels and centre console look good when clean but tend to attract dust and smudges within hours. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good in the hands, with high-quality stitching and just the right amount of thickness.
The leatherette seating surfaces are a step up from cloth, and both the front and rear seats are moderately comfortable on longer trips. The front seat is eight-way power-adjustable, and rear passengers can manually adjust the recline angle on the 60/40 split backrest. The second row also gets heating vents on the back of the centre console.
Other than a tad of bouncing on extra rough roads, the Tucson’s four-wheel independent suspension rides well at any speed. Because of the powertrain’s need to downshift frequently, the sound of higher revs permeates the cabin more than it should, although vibration is still well-controlled and the transmission shifts smoothly.
Power: 6/10
The 2.5L four-cylinder engine makes 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. While those are respectable figures amongst its peers, the Tucson somehow struggles to get going with any sense of urgency. There isn’t enough power in the lower part of the rev range, and the eight-speed automatic transmission has to downshift often. Other engines this size in the segment — under the hood of the Subaru Forester, for instance — are more responsive.
Driving Feel: 7/10
While down on power, the Tucson does better with the rest of its driving dynamics. Steering is light and accurate, and the brakes are easy to modulate. The XRT’s rugged-looking 18-inch wheels are wrapped in conventional all-season tires that do their best on pavement and won't offer much in terms of off-road capability. This results in better on-road handling than the Subaru Forester Wilderness or Toyota RAV4 Woodland, which have all-terrain tires. Hyundai’s all-wheel drive system operates seamlessly in inclement weather, with unique drive modes selectable for mud and sand.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
Tucsons equipped with the 2.5L gas engine are rated at 9.7 L/100 km in the city and 7.7 on the highway, which is right in the middle of the compact crossover field. In the real world, an easy right foot on rural roads leads to an observed average of 6.7 L/100 km, with more mixed highway driving netting 7.6 after a week of testing. At higher speeds, the base engine has barely any disadvantage compared to the available hybrid, making it a good choice for long-distance commuting. On the other hand, the 2.5L engine's consumption in the city is about 30 per cent more than the hybrid. Expect to fill up more often with a relatively small gas tank size of 54 L.
Value: 7/10
At $43,999 as-tested, the Tucson XRT’s pricing sits right in the middle of the likes of the Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium, Honda CR-V LX, and Subaru Forester Sport. It becomes a better bang for the buck without the optional $1,500 paint job seen here. Curiously, it loses out to its Kia Sportage sibling, which uses the same underpinnings and engine, and has similar dimensions inside and out. The Sportage X Line is comparably outfitted to the XRT and is nearly $3,000 cheaper.
The Verdict
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT’s interior space, highway fuel economy, and (nearly) no-nonsense ergonomics make it a compelling choice, but the lack of grunt out of the base engine makes the more powerful and efficient hybrid a significantly better powertrain. Overall, the gas Tucson is as middle of the road as it goes when it comes to compact crossovers.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 9.7 / 7.7 / 8.8 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 1,096 / 2,118 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT |
| Base Price | $40,399 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,000 |
| Price as Tested | $43,999 |
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Optional Equipment
$1,500 — Matte Ecotronic Grey Paint, $1,500
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