Even better, the fifth-generation Tucson will also get Hyundai's most advanced in-car technology called Pleos Connect, which was revealed earlier this year.
The information came from an exclusive report by ET News, which stipulates that the latest software will arrive with the Tucson (coded NX5) in the third quarter of 2026. It will reportedly arrive after the Elantra, which will also get a next-generation update, along with Pleos Connect, in the second quarter of 2026. The exact details for both cars are still sparse at this point, except for the software inside them.
Hyundai's Jump-Off Point To Software-Defined Vehicles
Pleos Connect is part of the high-tech Pleos software - Hyundai’s end-to-end mobility software platform. The software comes with three components: vehicle operating system; Pleos Connect, which will be the infotainment system; and Pleos Playground, which is an open development platform with an "App Market" for third-party app integration. Obviously, Pleos is Hyundai's jump-off point to Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) - a trend among automakers these days.
The report, however, only talks about Pleos Connect, so it's unclear whether the other Pleos features will also appear in the next Tucson and Elantra. The Android Automotive OS (AAOS)-based infotainment system boasts some of the coolest features, such as a smartphone-like UI with multi-window functionality, generative AI, and Pleos ID, which is a cloud-based user profile syncing across compatible vehicles.
Minimize Physical Buttons? We Don't Think So
As for the hardware, the report claims that the next Tucson will have a huge central touch screen that integrates major controls, minimizing physical buttons. However, we're a little skeptical about this, given Hyundai's pledge earlier this year that its next-generation interiors will bring back tactile buttons. Volkswagen has learned its lesson in this regard, so we lean on believing that Hyundai will, too.
Besides, Hyundai won't likely botch its highly popular model by murdering out its cabin in the name of tech frenzy. Of note, the Tucson remains the automaker's best-selling nameplate in America, with recent sales figures showing 113,310 units sold from January to June 2025, an increase of 23% compared to last year. The Elantra came in second at 74,768 units sold.
If the timeline in the report holds true, we expect the next-generation Tucson to reach the US late in 2026, just in time for the 2027 model year.
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