Hyundai announced its changes for the 2025 model year.
The 2025 Tucson, Ioniq 5, and Santa Cruz all received product enhancements. The rest of the lineup includes two all-new models, while the majority carry over or include refreshes for 2025.
Under the hood, the Ioniq 5 N features an electric powertrain, and dual motor all-wheel drive with N Grin Boost. Other high-performance features include e-Shift, Launch Control, Regenerative Brake Maximization, and more.
Ioniq 5 N & Ioniq 3-Row SUV Debut
The new Ioniq 5 N electric vehicle debuts for 2025, combining the IONIQ 5 model’s Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with N motorsport technology. The model leverages N expertise from Hyundai’s Rolling Lab.
Under the hood, the Ioniq 5 N features an electric powertrain, and dual motor all-wheel drive with N Grin Boost. Other high-performance features include e-Shift, Launch Control, Regenerative Brake Maximization, and more.
Exterior details show 21-inch forged aluminum wheels and lowered ground clearance to enhance stability, while the interior features N buttons to set the desired driving mode, USB-C connectivity, and bucket seats.
Ioniq SUV Debuts Later
More details on the U.S. offers for the new 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 3-row SUV (EV) will come closer to its market introduction in late 2024.
Ioniq 5 Will Receive a Refresh
The 2025 Ioniq 5 details will be revealed in a North American premiere and news conference later this summer.
The new 2025 Tucson can update different vehicle systems, such as powertrain and multimedia, via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Tucson Gets Driver Safety Update and Facelift
The 2025 Tucson SUV received an exterior and interior facelift and technology upgrades for driver comfort and safety.
Exterior updates include:
- Updated grille
- Redesigned front and rear bumper fascia
- Updated daytime running light signature
The interior offers an open design and more tech integration, with a panoramic curved display and redesigns of the steering wheel and center console features.
The new Tucson can update different vehicle systems, such as powertrain and multimedia, via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Other safety and convenience features, which could be useful for theft protection in commercial fleets, include:
- Fingerprint authentication sensor
- Proximity-key entry with push-button start
- Hyundai Bluelink+ services
- Integrated memory system
The Tucson also adds Forward Attention Warning (FAW), which utilizes an infrared camera mounted on the steering column to help track the driver’s eye gaze and monitor attention levels to help ensure safe driving. Available Smart Cruise Control 2 continually assesses driver alertness.
The SUV offers a Smartstream 2.5-liter, direct-injected and multi-port-injected gasoline engine as well as available 1.6-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The 2025 Santa Cruz features a new front fascia, grille, wheel designs, and daytime running lights, which differ from the XRT trims.
Santa Cruz Returns After Upgrades
Hyundai’s Santa Cruz received significant upgrades for the 2025 model year with redesigned exterior and interior surfaces, new infotainment, and additional advanced driver assistance systems.
The standard powertrain is a 2.5L direct-injected in-line four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine couples to an eight-speed automatic transmission with a multi-disc and individually controlled hydraulic channel torque converter to improve responsiveness.
Both 2.5L four-cylinder and 2.5L four-cylinder turbo models offer HTRAC all-wheel drive capability. HTRAC AWD was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles.
The refreshed interior provides more tech and functionality with a panoramic curved display and driver information cluster with audio-visual navigation (AVN). The center stack controls adds a physical switchgear for frequently used audio and HVAC functions.
Exterior changes include new front fascia, grille, wheel designs, and daytime running lights, which differ from the XRT trims.
The 2025 Elantra shows minor changes to trims, such as the SEL becoming SEL Sport, and no changes for the 2025 Elantra N model.
Carry-Over Models Fill Out the Lineup
The remainder of the 2025 Hyundai lineup includes carry-over models with minor exterior, interior, trim, color, and safety updates. These models include:
- Ioniq 6
- Palisade
- Santa Fe (ICF, HEV)
- Kona (ICE)
- Kona (EV, EV N Line)
- Venue
- Elantra (ICE, HEV)
- Elantra N (no changes)
- Sonata (ICE, HEV, N Line)
More details on the U.S. offers for the carry-over 2025 NEXO Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle will come closer to its market introduction.
What Else is Happening at Hyundai?
Hyundai and Kia unveiled the Universal Wheel Drive System, which could significantly change electric vehicles from both companies in the future, Automotive Fleet reported in November 2023.
The Uni Wheel system enables a flat-floor configuration by moving an EV’s reduction gear inside the wheel hub, locating a compact individual motor close to each wheel, and reducing the length of the drive shafts.
The system frees up more interior space than conventional drive systems, enabling future mobility products optimized for various applications, such as purpose built vehicles (PBVs).
