The Drive Finds the New Hyundai Tucson So Good, You Can’t Help but Love It

When it comes to crossovers, the Hyundai Tucson is one of the most important in the market. In 2024, Hyundai sold 206,126 Tucsons, making it the 14th best-selling vehicle in all of America. That proves that the Tucson is already a well-loved crossover SUV and that Hyundai has a good thing going in the Tucson. According to a recent review of the updated 2025 Tucson by The Drive, “Few cars in this price point meet those demands like the 2025 Hyundai Tucson.” 

How Nice Is the Tucson Compared to its Rivals? 

When comparing the Tucson to its most revered rivals (Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4), The Drive said that in previous years the crossover was plenty good but didn’t stand out against the two from Honda and Toyota. However, the car news and review site believes the renewed 2025 Tucson is “the luxury car of the group.”  

Powertrains 

Hyundai has made it a point to give buyers plenty of options when it comes to engine choices for the new Tucson. The base engine, and the one that was in The Drive’s tester, is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this may not seem like a lot of power, The Drive found it perfectly adequate and up to the task of normal daily driving. The next engine in the lineup is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that powers the Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Tucson models. The Hybrid model adds a 47.7-kW motor that helps the Tucson Hybrid produce a total of 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (PEHV) has a 72-kW motor that pushes the horsepower up to 268 while keeping the torque the same as the Hybrid. Both Hybrid models utilize a six-speed automatic transmission. All models come standard with front-wheel drive but can be optioned with HTRAC all-wheel drive.  

Fuel Economy 

The EPA estimates that the standard gas model will achieve 25 mpg (city) and 33 mpg (highway) for front-wheel drive equipped vehicles, and 24 (city) and 30 (highway) for all-wheel-drive models. The Tucson Hybrid achieves 38 mpg for both city and highway, and the PEHV has a 32-mile all-electric range and gets a combined 35 mpg.  

2025 Pricing 

For 2025, the gas-powered Tucson is available in SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, XRT, and Limited with a starting MSRP of only $30,055. The Hybrid model can be had in Blue, SEL Convenience, N-Line, and Limited and starts from $34,815. And finally, the Plug-In Hybrid starts from $41,580 and features SEL and Limited trim levels.  

What’s New on the Outside? 

While the overall exterior design is very similar to the 2024 model, the latest Tucson features a new front grille along with different front and rear fascias and wheels. Hyundai says the rear wiper is now 75 millimeters longer than before. However, it’s the interior design and appointments that really make the updated Tucson feel fresh.  

What Did The Drive Think? 

The Drive really felt as though what Hyundai offers on the inside is very upmarket, especially for the price, saying, “Despite the edgy, youthful exterior styling, the new Tucson is handsome, mature, and refined inside. The thin three-spoke steering wheel is simple and elegant, the new, massive dual-12.3-inch curved screen setup feels high-tech, and the cantilevered armrest gives the center console an open, airy feel. Like the new Santa Fe, the armrest features a wireless charging tray with a nice rubber mat.” 

Physical Buttons Are Back! 

Continuing with the interior, the website was elated to say that the climate controls are simple and easy to use with physical buttons again. There’s no need to fiddle with a touchscreen to change the temperature or try to hit the heated or ventilated seats on a screen while paying attention to the road. The editors called the seats “comfy” and said the overall build quality felt “above average for its price point.” 

New Safety Features 

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson was awarded as a Top Safety Pick+ in the small SUV category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which shows how dedicated the engineers at Hyundai were in developing a car that ended up being one of the safest in crash testing. For the new model year, Hyundai added Forward Attention Warning (FAW), which uses a forward-facing infrared camera placed on top of the steering column to monitor the driver’s eyes and ensure that he or she is paying attention. If the driver becomes unresponsive, the system will bring the Tucson to a stop in the safest way possible, turn on the hazard lights, and engage the e-brake. Another safety feature added for this year are pretensioners in the rear outboard seatbelts.  

Standard and Optional Safety Features 

The new Tucson also comes standard with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA). Optional advanced safety features that can come standard on upper trim levels include FCA with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), and Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA).  

What Did The Drive Say in Conclusion? 

Once they had their week with the Tucson, editors at The Drive felt very positive about the updates as well as the things that already made it a spectacular vehicle, saying, “Small, affordable crossovers are everywhere, so it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Hyundai does that with the Tucson with edgy styling and a surprisingly high-quality cabin and comfy ride that proves it has the substance to back up its style. The majority of crossover customers want something comfy, quiet, and tech-forward. Few cars in this price point meet those demands like the 2025 Hyundai Tucson.” That sounds like a ringing endorsement to us.  

Why Choose Dick Smith Hyundai of Greenville?

At Dick Smith Hyundai of Greenville, we value our customers and take great pride in providing some of the best prices and services around. With hundreds of new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.