The Hyundai Tucson is a compact SUV built from 2005 to 2026 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in South Korea — 88.4% of those on record. Between 2005 and 2026 it grew 30 cm longer and gained 103 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, V6, Fuel cell. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Tucson is
The Hyundai Tucson is a compact SUV that Hyundai built from 2005 to 2026 — 22 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 2022. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, V6, Fuel cell power. Its closest siblings in the Hyundai range: Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, Ioniq 5.
Where the Tucson is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 6,016 Tucsons on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | KM8, KMH, KMB | 2005-2026 | |
| the United States | 5NM | 2022-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Hyundai VIN decide which of these 4 lines your Tucson belongs to. What every character in a Tucson VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Hyundai Tucson adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Tucson generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Tucson's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Tucson that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2009 | 433 cm | 263 cm | 1529 kg | - | - |
| 2010-2015 | 440 cm | 264 cm | 1484 kg | +7 cm | -45 kg |
| 2016-2021 | 448 cm | 267 cm | 1634 kg | +8 cm | +150 kg |
| 2022-2026 | 463 cm | 276 cm | 1632 kg | +15 cm | -2 kg |
Between 2005 and 2026 the Tucson gained 30 cm in length (+6.9%) and 103 kg in weight (+6.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Tucson that is 103 kg against 30 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Hyundai Tucson tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Tucson owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Hyundai Tucson have? Power & range
The Hyundai Tucson is offered with 5 powertrains — 2.7L 6-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid, Fuel cell, 1.6L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 5 for the Hyundai Tucson, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 2.7L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | FWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | AWD | Regular |
| Fuel cell | Electric motor | Single-speed | FWD | Hydrogen |
| Plug-in hybrid | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | AWD | Regular Gas and Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Hyundai Tucson tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Hyundai Tucson is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Tucson's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Tucson by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Hyundai Tucson. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Tucson | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 89 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 6,168 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,263/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 1,602 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Hyundai Tucson?
The Tucson is a compact SUV, built from 2005 to 2026 across 4 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, V6, Fuel cell.
Where is the Hyundai Tucson made?
Across 6,016 cars in our records the split is: South Korea (88.4%), the United States (11.2%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Tucson have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2022. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Tucson grew 30 cm longer and gained 103 kg.
What is the Hyundai Tucson warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Tucson reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Tucson?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Hyundai
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 2001–2026 | 109 | 36 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Hyundai Palisade | 2020–2026 | 33 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 1992–2026 | 116 | 54 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 1989–2026 | 152 | 52 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Hyundai Kona | 2018–2026 | 29 | 120 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Hyundai Accent | 1995–2026 | 65 | 36 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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