2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Review: Proof That A Rugged Promise Can Go A Long Way

No, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT is not an off-road vehicle. And it’s not the only one to be this way. Nissan recently released the Rogue Rock Creek, Subaru has the Forester Wilderness, Toyota sells the RAV4 Woodland and GMC has an AT4 version for the Terrain. This idea of giving a mainstream compact crossover a rugged, adventure-ready look may be a little silly considering that these things spend most of their time on Earth living in Costco parking lots, but it does seem lucrative for automakers.

More than that is how small visual changes can have a big impact on the driver’s willingness to take these crossovers to places they normally wouldn’t dare to go with them. At least, that’s what happened to me when I had the XRT in my possession. I knew I would never follow a Jeep Wrangler along the Rubicon trail, but I liked the idea that I could bring the Tucson into uncharted territory. This had me flogging it around on my favorite gravel roads, something I normally wouldn’t have thought of doing with a regular Tucson.

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT First Impressions

It Still Looks Weird, But The XRT Has Purpose

Hyundai first introduced the XRT trim on the current-generation Santa Fe, and due to strong demand for that trim level, it decided to extend it to other popular models in its lineup, like the Tucson. There’s also an XRT version of the Santa Cruz pickup truck and, even, the Ioniq 5 electric crossover.

In the Tucson’s case, the XRT is more of a styling package which gives it a generally meaner and more rugged look. The side cladding is all black, and there are some neat, model-specific design elements that were baked right into it. The front fascia gets a slightly sportier and darker treatment, as well as blacked-out trim elements such as the roof rails. There’s a set of model-specific 18-inch wheels which look rather cool. The only enhancements in terms of off-road capability are an improved approach angle due to the new bumper design, as well as a set of all-terrain tires.

That’s enough to make the Tucson at least look more rugged than its more car-like siblings. I particularly like my tester’s Rockwood Green paint, since I’m a sucker for green cars. I’m not a fan of the current Tucson’s love-it-or-hate-it design, but in XRT trim, it at least looks distinguished enough to stand out from the otherwise mundane segment it lives in.

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Exterior Dimensions

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT

Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

Since the XRT is a trim level within the Tucson lineup, both markets effectively sell the vehicle in a similar manner. There’s only one XRT to choose from, but the U.S. models do get two additional paint colors: Ultimate Red and Hampton Gray. Another interesting distinction is that Hyundai USA offers the XRT in a front-wheel-drive configuration, which is a little odd considering the model’s off-road intentions. You’ll need to add $1,500 USD for all-wheel-drive. In Canada, all Tucson XRTs come standard with all-wheel-drive, which makes a lot more sense.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold below)

Driving Impressions And Performance

Refined And Technologically Advanced, Lackluster Performance

What always shines through when driving the current Hyundai Tucson is how refined and well-mannered it is, even on very beaten roads. Versus a Toyota RAV4 and a , the Tucson actually feels like the more European one of the trio. Its chassis always feels rock solid and there’s a mechanical fluidity to the way the Tucson drives that makes it feel more expensive than it actually is.

There’s neat technology on board as well, like the climate control system’s ability to temporarily shut down the fans when you’re splashing windshield washer, preventing the liquid’s smell from entering the cabin. The Tucson will also automatically adjust its traction control systems to mitigate hard crosswinds at high speeds, improving the vehicle’s overall stability in the process. I witnessed this myself, and it actually works! These small details all add up to creating a comfortable, non-dramatic driving experience.

Unfortunately, the XRT only comes with the Tucson’s entry-level powertrain option, which is both rudimentary and not particularly efficient. And that’s a shame, because the regular Tucson can be had with two excellent hybrid and plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) options. Rather, the XRT makes do with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a 2,000-pound max .

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Technical Specifications

This means that the XRT isn’t exactly quick, and not even peppy. Let’s just say the drivetrain gets the job done, providing enough output for overtakes or quick urban acceleration, and that’s about it. In order to extract what this engine has in stock, you’ll need to work the transmission manually so it hangs on to revs, at which point the engine sounds thrashy and not particularly inspiring. Let the transmission do its thing, and it’ll annoyingly upshift prematurely in an attempt to optimize fuel economy.

It’s too bad that this engine and transmission combination wasn’t optimized for flogging the Tucson around loose surfaces. I tried that with the XRT, and while I was pleased by how the dirt tires gave me the necessary grip I needed to move along a freshly thawed country road covered with mud, I was disappointed by how the powertrain didn’t want to play along. Furthermore, the XRT’s all-wheel-drive system isn’t any different from a regular Tucson’s, meaning it’s the same front-biased, understeering reactive system as the rest of the lineup.

Of course, I’m well aware that most Tucson XRT drivers won’t take part in gravel-road drifting, but I would assume that these same buyers will be a bit more rough with their crossover than your average parent of two. A simple tune of the transmission’s behavior could have gone a long way to add a bit more playfulness to the XRT’s driving dynamics.

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Fuel Consumption

What’s great about the XRT is that it effectively gets the same EPA-rated fuel economy as the standard all-wheel-drive model. That’s good news considering that most buyers will spend most of their time driving these things on the road anyway. The EPA rates it at 26 combined MPG, even with the dirt tires, which is decent, but not as great as some of the hybrid options out there. After a full week of hanging out with the XRT, I was able to hang in the 25 MPG realm.

EPA And As-Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort

Well Put Together, Spacious And Comfortable

Except for subtle XRT badges on the seats, there isn’t much inside that distinguishes the Tucson’s adventure-ready model from the rest of the lineup. And that’s a shame, because there would have been an opportunity here to dig a little deeper into the all-terrain theme through unique color and material combinations.

That all being said, what all Tucsons have in common is an impeccable fit and finish and build quality that would make the Japanese automakers blush. All materials feel soft to the touch, and even the lower sections of the cabin have a solid, quality look and feel.

The Tucson is also spacious inside, both front and rear, where a generous amount of leg and headroom grant enough passenger room for even the tallest people. A rear-facing car seat can also be easily put in place without compromising the front passenger’s available legroom. Furthermore, witty storage solutions were engineered in the door cards and around the center console, allowing for a wide range of places to stow your gear. But that also came at the expense of repositioning the gear selector to the steering column. I’m personally not a fan of it since I instinctively mistake it for the wiper stalk. I guess you probably get used to it over time.

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Hyundai’s Usual Ergonomics, With Buttons!

For the 2025 model year, the Tucson inherited Hyundai’s latest infotainment interface, which has recently spread its way into other vehicles as well. It’s all very familiar at this point, offering over-the-air (OTA) update capability, as well as wireless Android Auto and connectivity. The interface also now positions the main screen’s icons in a tile manner, with a quicker response time than the older layout. It all works rather well.

But what Hyundai does better than most is its integration of physical keys to rapidly access main features, like navigation, audio, or general vehicle settings. It definitely helps make this otherwise loaded system feel lighter and easier to operate.

Cargo And Storage Space

Among The Leaders In Its Class

The Tucson sits in one of the fiercest segments in the industry, where it faces solid contenders from Japanese, American, German, and even its own corporate South Korean twin, the Kia Sportage. Luckily, it holds its own in the cargo space department, besting both the Honda CR-V (76.5 cu-ft) and the 2025 Toyota RAV4 (69.8 cu-ft) in total cargo space.

2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT Cargo Space

The Tucson XRT Hasn’t Forgotten Its Friendliness

I would have liked a bit more personality from the Hyundai Tucson’s first-ever XRT version, but when you stop to think about it, maybe we don’t want our friendly to be too wild. After all, these things are the bread and butter of the automotive world: a Swiss army knife for middle-class families that needs to be practical, reliable, fuel-efficient, and not all that expensive to run.

The XRT loses none of these key attributes and preserves the regular Tucson’s solid value proposition intact. Its drivetrain isn’t the most refined, nor the most efficient, but there’s a lot to like in the overall XRT package, and even more so if you happen to live in an area where dirt roads are the only route available. For the rugged looks and dirt tires alone, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson XRT will at least make you feel like you’re going to places you’ve never been before in your Tucson. Sometimes, that can be just enough to add a bit of action to your daily grind.