Hyundai introduced the third-generation Tucson at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as a 2016 model. This new generation brought some much-needed change to the Tucson’s overall character with highlights including a new, hexagonal grille, reworked fascias that were both more aggressive and sportier in nature over the previous generation, restyled exterior lights, and it comes complete in a larger package, which ultimately meant more passenger space and cargo room. The interior was fancied up with new soft-touch materials and a more premium look and new technology. But, consumers are never really happy, so Hyundai found it necessary to use its booth at SEMA to introduce this new trim level for the Tucson range. Dubbed the “NIGHT,” this model follows suit with other manufacturers that have been capitalizing on consumers’ strange preoccupation with darker themes on cars – prompting the market to be flooded with various “black-edition” models from all over the globe.

For Hyundai’s part in creating a dark-themed vehicle, it actually kept things rather mild and added just the right modifications to help make the Tucson NIGHT stand out just a bit among its non-dark brethren. This new model will be available in just a handful of exterior colors and includes a few updates to spruce up the interior and exterior. No pricing has been announced yet, but given the nature of the upgrades, I wouldn’t expect too much of a premium over and of the other standard models. But, we’ll talk more about that a little later. For now, let’s dive on into the NIGHT, and talk about all of the salacious, but limited details.

Continue reading to learn more about the Hyundai Tucson Night.

What makes the Hyundai Tucson Night special

The Tucson NIGHT can be had in just four colors, but the good news here is that these colors are exclusive to this model, so you won’t find them on the color palette for other models in Hyundai’s stable. Out of the four possible colors, Hyundai has only exposed us to one: Caribbean Blue. There is also Coliseum Grey, Dazzling White, and Black Noir Pearl. It seems odd that a vehicle focused around a dark theme would be offered in “Dazzling White,” but hey, I’m sure somebody will like the option. I guess once you go black you can go back, huh?

Outside of the exterior color options, the NIGHT comes equipped with a nice set of RAYS 19-inch alloy wheels finished in black. Each wheel includes a branded center cap that has a metallic-looking red finish to go with a valve stem cap that is finished in the same red color. Rounding off each wheel are black lug nuts that have hopefully been powder coated and properly treated to prevent flaking with removal and installation. If not, those lug nuts are going to look quite ugly after a few tire rotations and 30,000 miles on the clock. The side mirror caps have been finished in gloss black while a panoramic sunroof with dark, black tinted glass rounds out the whole exterior package. Like I said, it’s not much, but it’s on par with similar offerings from other manufacturers and gives the Tucson a decent dark contrast that was unobtainable from the factory up until this point.

The cabin of the Tucson was reworked pretty well for the third-generation model, so Hyundai really kept the changes to a minimum here. The most notable thing – and it’s really not that notable – are the aluminum-alloy sport pedals that replace the standard black units. The leather steering wheel has been perforated to add a little bit of extra style and appeal to the driver. The only other modification inside is the maplights, which have now been fitted with LED bulbs instead of the standard incandescent bulbs. These will give off a brighter, whiter light that is easier on the eyes and also less taxing on the Tucson’s electrical system. We would love to show you what the interior of the Tucson Night looks like, but Hyundai has yet to release images.

As is the usual case with these dark-themed vehicles, Hyundai hasn’t done anything to the Tucson in the drivetrain department. While this isn’t a good thing for those with a hunger for extra power, it’s on par with other models in this darker niche, and you’re probably not considering a Tucson for its power output anyway. With that said, Hyundai hasn’t disclosed what trim level the NIGHT is based on, but there are four different models in its 2017 lineup: SE, Eco, Sport, and Limited. If it’s based on the SE, it will come equipped with the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder that delivers 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for this engine is rated at 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. If it is based on any of the other trim levels, it will be powered by a 1.6-liter, turbocharged, four-piston that delivers 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine reaps 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Power could be transferred to the wheels via a six-speed automatic if the Night is based on the SE model, but if it’s based on any other trim level, it will get the seven-cog, dual-clutch unit. FWD and AWD should be available, regardless of what trim level it is based on.

The Tucson NIGHT will go on sale before the turn of the year, but Hyundai has yet to release pricing as of the time of this writing. Given the nature of the Tucson’s pricing schedule, it could be priced anywhere between $25,000 and $34,000 depending on what trim level it is based on. For reference, we’ve included a chart of pricing for the Tucson’s current lineup for 2017 below.

So, there you have it. What do you think of the Tucson NIGHT? Would you choose it over any of the standard models? Let us know in the comments section below!