The Tucson’s interior was always admirably designed and striking as the exterior, but some key changes were introduced in 2024.
It gains a new dashboard, which is much tidier and more practical than the previous setup. There’s a new, passenger-side storage compartment above the glovebox.
Other changes include a new centre console design with integrated wireless phone charging and USB-C connections. Hyundai has also thankfully brought back some physical switches for ventilation controls, and buttons to quickly access key features including the sat-nav, media and vehicle settings.
There are two digital displays, connected to create the illusion of one, full-length screen. The fresh-looking set-up consists of a 12.3in digital instrument cluster and a 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system.
There is several buttons beneath the touchscreen, and thankfully, separate controls for the climate control and then, lower still, even more clearly marked buttons for the likes of heated seats and steering wheel and parking sensors.
Hyundai’s changes include reducing the number of features controlled by touchpads, removing the ‘touchscreeny’ feel we felt before. It appears real, physical buttons, which are evidently the easiest way to find and operate something, are slowly making their way back into cars.
The front seats are broad and comfortable, with faux-leather material and attractively stitched. Rear passengers do just as well, with decent head and leg room and, although the width of the centre passenger’s perch is restricted in any car, there’s a broad armrest when there are just two aboard, or the entire centre section can fold.
The seat doesn’t just split and fold 40/20/40, but it also has various stages of recline, handy if your youngsters want to doze off.
Behind all of that is a competitively sized, 616-litre boot with a broad opening and largely plastic, durable-looking sides, although a few extra hooks and catches wouldn’t hurt.
As a result of the changes, the Tucson is a much more pleasant place to sit in terms of usability and general convenience – both significantly improved over the previous version.
Hyundai Tucson infotainment and sat-nav
As so many manufacturers have, Hyundai has put its infotainment system within a touchscreen but it isn’t too troubling to use by global standards.
The system is pretty straightforward to navigate, the graphics are clear and easy to navigate, after some practice. It’s frustrating having to dive into several menus to turn off some of the more annoying assistance systems, though.
If it’s all a bit much, there’s wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay included as standard so you can fall back on phone mirroring. Front and rear occupants get USB-C sockets, wireless charging and satellite navigation as standard.
