Hyundai revamped more than half of its lineup in 2024, but 2025 welcomes Hyundai’s biggest vehicle launch in years with the new Ioniq 9 three-row electric SUV. Most of its vehicles come with more driver-assist technology this year, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto finally trickle down through some of the lineup.
It would be hard for Hyundai to replicate its winning ways. The new Santa Fe Hybrid won The Car Connection Best Car To Buy 2025 award over dozens of other new and redesigned models for its combination of style, efficiency (36 mpg combined), smart packaging, and overall value. At the other end of the practicality spectrum, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N won Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2025 award from our sister site for its blistering yet accessible performance. The 641-hp hot hatch rockets to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, and its electric power means it’s a straight shot with no transmission shifts, unless you opt to switch on the artificial ones. The 88.4-kwh battery pack helps keep it planted, and its $67,500 tag helps make it accessible to the masses.
Whether powered by electric motors or combustion engines or, increasingly a combination of the two, Hyundai drapes its wide appeal in distinct styling and packs a value in most models, underscored by a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. Like any product portfolio, there are some quirks, and some of Hyundai’s older powertrains have some long-term reliability issues to overcome. Still, there’s good reason why Hyundai had record sales in the U.S. in 2024, and along with sister brand Kia and luxury brand Genesis made up the fourth largest automaker in sales in the U.S. in 2024.
After a big year in 2024 with redesigns of the Santa Fe, Sonata sedan, Elantra compact sedan, and Kona small crossover, Hyundai plays it cool as it preps its largest vehicles for market. Here’s a look at what’s coming in 2025.
The three-row electric crossover goes on sale in the spring of 2025 as a 2026 model. Sharing a platform with the winning Kia EV9, but with a softer take than Kia’s boxy EV and a bit more length for its vertical rear end. It’s sold mostly in dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations with a 110.3-kwh battery pack that’s larger than Kia’s 99.8-kwh pack. Hyundai estimates a max range of 335 miles for the Long Range AWD model, while the 422-hp Performance AWD model uses two large motors to hustle the big SUV to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Built on an 800-volt architecture and with a standard NACS port, it should be one of the quicker EVs to charge. Standard features and pricing haven’t been announced, but options range from second-row captain’s chairs to seat six instead of seven in the standard configuration, as well as massaging front seats and other luxury touches. Expect prices from $60,000 to $80,000, and Hyundai expects it to qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit.
2026 Hyundai Palisade (Korea spec)
The other large three-row SUV in Hyundai’s growing lineup gets redesigned for 2026, but it’s unclear how much of the model revealed for the Asian market will carry over to North America, especially in the nine-seat configuration. Launched new in the U.S. in 2020, the second-generation family hauler embraces the boxy profile of the new Santa Fe, but it’s larger and roomier. It’s rumored that the hybrid powertrain in the Santa Fe will replace the current Palisade’s V-6. Expect the U.S. model to debut in mid-2025.
The performance variant of the electric hatchback carved inroads into our enthusiast’s soul with its unique blend of performance, practicality, fun, and an approachable $67,500 price. With dual motors tuned to make 641-hp and 545 lb-ft of torque and unlock a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, the 5 N eschews its 4,861-pound curb weight and chews through tires with fun features such as a power boost, a Drift mode, fake engine noises, and eight artificial shift points. Those features are admittedly silly on an EV, yet they’re tempting at any speed. It’s visceral, engaging, and a blast, and it doubles as a reasonable though stiff daily driver.
Three rows of seats, available all-wheel drive with 34 mpg combined, and an upcharge of only $1,000 over a similarly equipped SEL gas-only model, the Santa Fe Hybrid accelerates the change for efficient yet stylish family haulers. The Hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a 47.7-kw electric motor and a 1.5-kwh battery pack. It generates 231 hp and 271 lb-ft, and the 6-speed automatic transmission has paddle shifters on the steering wheel that hasten the shifts in Sport mode or turn into regenerative braking settings in Eco or Smart mode. The base SEL starts at $39,675 including destination.