Hyundai promised the Tucson was in for big changes when it unveiled the standard model about a month ago. The Tucson featured a revamped look, and it was clear Hyundai was not pulling any punches when it came to updating its strong seller.

The lingering teaser was: what would the XRT version look like? Hyundai provided the answer with a first look at the all-new 2027 Tucson XRT.

More adventurous and trail-ready

The XRT lineup (especially in recent years) has always been known for being a rugged alternative to Hyundai’s standard models thanks to its distinct styling elements and capability. In the case of the Tucson, it gets a split rectangular front grille with a chunky sill plate being mounted underneath. The wheel arches get black trim, and the black wheels themselves swap out the Hyundai logos for XRT ones.

The cladding also gets a pattern that Hyundai says is inspired by forged carbon, with the rear of the Tucson also getting XRT badging and bold HTRAC lettering signifying its standard all-wheel drive system

The inside also gets upgrades

Slip inside, and you’ll see that the Tucson XRT also extends its suite of upgrades to the interior. A lot of them are to be expected, with Hyundai putting in rubberized floor mats and patterned cloth front seats. Dark trim rounds out the changes, and it’s clear Hyundai sees the Tucson as more of a light trail warrior versus being an all-out rock crawler.

The Tucson has always been known for its comfort and technology, and the last thing Hyundai wants is to stray too far from some of the core elements that have made the Tucson a strong sales hit for the Korean auto giant.

When can I buy one?

The 2027 Hyundai Tucson is slated to go on sale next month in Korea, with the company already confirming it will be offered with traditional and hybrid gasoline engines. After it has a chance to get rooted in Korea, the Tucson will begin branching out into other markets, with the U.S. possibly getting it in the first half of 2027.