Hyundai‘s 2027 model year doesn’t hinge on one announcement. The brand is rolling out an all-new fifth-generation Tucson, launching the IONIQ 6 N performance sedan this spring, and reshuffling trim content across nearly every vehicle in its US lineup. Some of those changes are substantive. Others amount to equipment shuffles and color deletions. Here’s what actually matters.
All-New Tucson
The fifth-generation Tucson is a full ground-up redesign, and the numbers support treating it seriously. The standard 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 184 hp and 195 lb-ft, paired with an 8-speed automatic and your choice of front-wheel drive or Hyundai’s HTRAC AWD system. The hybrid powertrain combines the same 1.6-liter with an electric motor for 233 combined hp and 280 lb-ft, routed through a 6-speed automatic, again with FWD or AWD available. Towing capacity is 2,500 lbs on ICE models and 3,000 lbs on all hybrid variants.
Cargo volume reaches 41.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 77.9 cubic feet with the seats folded, backed by a dual-height adjustable cargo floor with underfloor storage and open-source mounting points. The rear doors open wider than the previous generation to ease car-seat loading, a small detail that matters more than it sounds in a family SUV. Coefficient of drag comes in at 0.30 with active air flaps and optimized underbody management.
Technology centers on a new Pleos Connect infotainment platform built on Android Automotive OS, with either a 12.9-inch or available 17-inch display paired to a standard 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster. Gleo Assistant handles voice commands, and the system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside over-the-air updates. An available Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker audio system rounds out the premium equipment list.
The XRT PRO variant is hybrid-only and adds a suspension lift to 8.3 inches of ground clearance, 18-inch all-terrain tires, functional front recovery hooks, and Hyundai’s X-Trek+ off-road system with real-time terrain assessment and Target Speed Control. It’s the most capable factory Tucson Hyundai has offered, and the hybrid-only restriction keeps the AWD torque consistent across any terrain mode.
IONIQ 6 N
The IONIQ 6 N arrives in spring 2027 as Hyundai’s most track-focused production sedan. The dual-motor AWD setup produces 601 hp standard, climbing to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque with N Grin Boost engaged for 10-second bursts. Hyundai quotes 0-60 mph in approximately 3.2 seconds with N Launch Control active, and a 159-mph top speed. The 84.0-kWh battery provides up to 245 miles of range, and the 800V architecture supports DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 18 minutes on a compatible 350-kW charger. The IONIQ 6 N ships with a standard NACS port and includes a CCS adapter.
The N-specific performance suite includes N e-Shift, which simulates gear changes through the powertrain and dual-color ambient lighting, N Active Sound+ with selectable sound profiles, N Torque Distribution for adjustable front-to-rear torque split, N Drift Optimizer, and three battery modes (Drag, Sprint, Endurance) for different track scenarios. The N Pedal uses regenerative braking to sharpen turn-in response rather than merely slow the car. Outside, the IONIQ 6 N rides on 20-inch forged wheels wrapped in 275/35R20 Pirelli P ZERO summer tires, sits 60mm wider than the standard IONIQ 6 via N-specific fenders, and carries a large swan-neck rear wing plus a dedicated rear diffuser. Inside, N lightweight sport bucket seats with Alcantara inserts and H-Tex bolsters replace the standard chairs, and an N-exclusive head-up display joins a performance-focused digital cluster. Hyundai has not announced pricing for the IONIQ 6 N ahead of its spring launch.
Carryover Models: What Changed
The Palisade gains a new Calligraphy Black Ink trim and extends optional 8-passenger seating down to the Limited trim, where previously it stopped at SEL Premium. The leather steering wheel becomes leatherette on most trims (Limited and Calligraphy keep leather), the UV sterilizer is dropped from Calligraphy, and Typhoon Silver exits after December 2026 in favor of Quantum Silver. A new Ecotronic Gray with Brown Interior combination arrives, restricted to Calligraphy.
The Santa Cruz gets a more significant shakeup. Hyundai drops the SEL and Limited trims entirely, leaving a three-trim lineup of SE, SEL Activity, and XRT. The XRT picks up the Bose premium audio, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror, and rear armrest with cup holders that previously required the now-deleted Limited. H-Tex seating surfaces expand to all trims. The 20-inch wheel option is gone, and the sunroof moves from Limited to XRT. Rockwood Green and Canyon Red are dropped from the color palette.
The IONIQ 9 adds heated third-row seats on Calligraphy and the new Calligraphy Black Ink trim, introduces a Virtual Gear Shift on those same trims, and adds a tailgate emergency lamp to all trims. Fingerprint recognition, previously available on Limited and above, is dropped entirely. The Calligraphy Design trim is gone.
The IONIQ 5 expands roof rail availability from XRT and Limited down to SEL and above, while HomeLink pulls back from SEL to Limited only. Two exterior colors, Gravity Gold Matte and Sage Silver Matte, are discontinued. The IONIQ 5 N carries over with no changes. The Santa Fe, Kona, Venue, and Sonata see minor trim and equipment adjustments detailed in Hyundai’s specification tables but nothing that moves the needle on positioning or pricing.
Two all-new models, meaningful lineup surgery on the Santa Cruz, and a Palisade that finally gets 8-passenger seating into the Limited trim. The 2027 Hyundai lineup has more going on than a typical mid-cycle holding pattern, and the IONIQ 6 N gives the brand a performance sedan that the segment hasn’t seen from a Korean nameplate before.
Source: Hyundai. Images courtesy of Hyundai.
