2025 Hyundai Tuscon and Santa Cruz sport updated interiors and more – The Torque Report

Hyundai has taken the sheets off the 2025 Hyundai Tuscon and 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, featuring numerous updates to keep the models competitive in their respective classes.

2025 Hyundai Tuscon

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is the company’s entry into the highly competitive compact crossover segment. As such, it must remain as competitive as possible, and Hyundai is using this refresh as an opportunity to address multiple pain points from the current iteration.

Outside, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson features mild styling tweaks. The most obvious of these is an updated frontend treatment that features an updated grille/daytime running light/headlight arrangement that includes fewer individual lighting units and a slightly more squared-off look. The general shape of the rest of the vehicle retain much the same look as the current Tuscon, while the rear also remains largely unchanged, with slight updates to the bumper detailing. New wheel designs and colors will also be available on the updated Tucson.

The current Hyundai Tucson interior has received its fair share of criticism for its fiddly touch-sensitive climate controls. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson features a complete redesign of the center console, replacing those touch-sensitive buttons with physical knobs and switches for easier use while in motion. Hyundai is also introducing a curved digital cockpit design that features two 12.3-inch digital displays mounted side-by-side, powered by an upgraded processor, and with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new steering wheel rounds out the interior updates, as does a new wireless charging pad placement and enhanced USB-C outlets.

The 2025 Hyundai Tuscon will continue to be available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and gas configurations. The hybrid now makes 231 hp, a slight increase from the current version, while the plug-in hybrid model also gains a slight boost to 268 hp thanks to a more powerful electric motor. Both hybrid and plug-in hybrid will come standard with AWD. The standard, no hybrid version will continue to feature a 2.5-liter gas engine producing 187 hp and will be available in both FWD and AWD configurations.

The electrified versions of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson will also feature a new “baby mode” that allows for gentler, less sudden acceleration mapping to ensure your precious bundles of joy are not awakened from their slumbers should you decide to suddenly mash the accelerator peddle.

Updated standard safety equipment will include a Forward Attention Warning that monitors the driver’s gaze and can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop should it detect the driver is no longer responsive/engaged.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

As the Tucson and Santa Cruz are sister vehicles that share numerous components, including most of their interiors and parts of their exteriors, many of the updates made to the 2025 Hyundai Tucson also find their way to the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Outside, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz receives much the same new frontend treatment for a more rugged look, though even more squared-off and boxy here so as to emphasize the Santa Cruz’s truckiness. New wheels and color options also join the mix of updates, while the XRT trim gets its own specific front and rear facias as well as all-terrain tires mounted to unique 18-inch rims.

The inside of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz shares many of the same updates as the Tucson, including a fully updated center console and screen layout for improved ease of use, as well as a new steering wheel. Rear seat passengers will enjoy a new center armrest that features two cupholders.

Powertrain options for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz remain unchanged. Buyers will be able to choose between a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 191 hp or a 2.5-liter turbo making 281 hp. Both powertrains will come with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, with the turbo model capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs.

Both the 2025 Hyundai Tuscon and 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz will begin rolling into US dealers this summer, with updated pricing information released closer to their on-sale date.