Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), via Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY), has officially said annyeonghaseyo to Malaysia with the preview of three upcoming models. Among them is the new Hyundai Tucson facelift, with three variants – Style, Prime, and Prestige – slated for launch in Malaysia as a locally assembled (CKD) model.
Compared to the outgoing model, the Tucson facelift has received an update to its exterior design. The front bumper now gains a new black trim piece for a sportier look and is accented with a new black Hyundai emblem.
In terms of the futuristic-looking “Parametric Jewel” daytime-running lights (DRLs), which were previously flush with the front grille on the pre-facelift model, they have been redesigned with the DRLs now protruding from the front grille, giving it a more dynamic vibe. Additionally, the lighting elements have been reduced to eight in total as compared to 10 on the pre-facelift model, for a much cleaner look.
Towards the rear, the most notable change is the Hyundai emblem, which is now integrated into the rear windshield as opposed to a physical emblem on the outgoing model.
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Perhaps the biggest change on the facelift is on the inside, where the new 2025 Hyundai Tucson now features an all-new dashboard design sporting a new three-spoke steering wheel, redesigned air vents, and reworked door cards. In terms of tech features, the Tucson facelift has now gained a new 12.3-inch Panoramic Curved display with separate segments for the infotainment system and driver’s digital gauge cluster.
A major change can also be seen in the centre console, where the previous row of buttons for gear selection has now been replaced by a new column-type gear shift knob behind the steering wheel. This has freed up the centre console to now house a wireless charging pad and two cupholders, along with a row of controls for vehicle settings.
If you prefer physical buttons over touch-sensitive controls, you’re in luck, because the new 2025 Hyundai Tucson facelift has introduced new prominent rotary knobs for temperature adjustments, along with two rows of shortcut buttons that are housed in a 6.6-inch digital control panel for climate settings.
In terms of powertrain, HMY has revealed that the Hyundai Tucson facelift in Malaysia will be available in three different configurations: a 2.0-litre MPi (multi-point injection) turbocharged four-cylinder, a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four, and a 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid – the latter similar to that found on the Santa Fe.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produces 156 hp and 192 Nm of torque, and is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Moving up to the 1.6-litre turbo-four will see an increased output of 180 hp and 264 Nm. This is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
As for the hybrid variant, it combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with an electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 235 hp and 367 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful variant. The hybrid powertrain is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox, and is the only variant with an all-wheel drive setup, rathe than front-wheel drive.
For safety equipment, HMY has stated that the new 2025 Hyundai Tucson facelift will be equipped with six airbags and the Hyundai SmartSense suite of ADAS systems, which includes forward-collision avoidance assist, lane-follow assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot view monitor, and adaptive cruise control.
HMY has not yet revealed pricing information for the Hyundai Tucson facelift which they will reveal next week. With the C-segment SUV now a CKD model instead of a CBU model, does this mean that we’ll get to see a sticker price that is significantly lower than the RM158,888 to RM195,888 as priced for the outgoing model?
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