Hyundai’s 2026 lineup makes German luxury SUVs feel dated

Hyundai’s 2026 lineup makes German luxury SUVs feel dated in a way that’s strange to admit. The edges are cleaner, the cabins look fresher, but it isn’t just design. There’s something faintly restless about it, like the brand is tired of being careful. You can sense the old balance shifting, or maybe it’s only temporary. Hard to tell this late at night. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.

Hyundai Ioniq 7

Feels like it wants to impress but doesn’t always say how. Quiet in that heavy way where tech hums just under everything. Sit there and wonder if it’s too calm for its size. Still, holds something new that most don’t have yet, even when you can’t name it. I think it tries harder than it admits.

Hyundai Palisade

Feels familiar, but now somehow sharper. The kind of SUV that fills a driveway in a way that looks intentional. Some owners probably forget where it came from, which might be the point. The name blends in as the rest of the market catches up to what it already fixed years ago. Maybe not everyone noticed that yet.

Genesis GV80

Supposed to go head-to-head with the ones from Germany, and it sort of does. The cabin smells expensive in a newer kind of way. You notice the effort, then maybe pretend not to. Feels confident but still figuring out how to show it. Maybe that’s exactly what makes it interesting—too polished, yet still learning how to be proud.

Hyundai Tucson

Moves fast without meaning to. The design keeps asking for attention, lines everywhere, a lot of it feels deliberate, but not all. Feels lighter than it looks, which is confusing sometimes. End up liking it because it’s trying so visibly. Maybe too visibly. The same goes for a lot of Hyundai lately, kind of like they can’t sit still.

Genesis GV60

It hums instead of roars, and silence is harder to adjust to than expected. Controls feel foreign but familiar after a few tries. Kind of luxury that doesn’t care about showing off, or maybe it does but hides it better. People glance at it, not sure if they should care yet. Feels like someday they will, just not right now.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Boxier shape gives it presence, even parked a little crooked. Tries to look tough, though the materials whisper new money. Ready for something that hasn’t happened yet. Overprepared maybe, or just nervous. Could be both.

Genesis GV70

Sits right where comfort meets performance but never quite balances. Every surface feels thick and refined, maybe too refined. Some drivers love that it’s not European, others miss the accent. It’s good but unsure if being good is enough anymore. Sometimes it feels like it’s waiting for permission to brag and never quite does.

Hyundai Kona

Small, but acts bigger parked beside anything old. Colors make it look kind of playful, though it’s probably not meant to be. There’s an ease to using it that feels like confidence trying to grow. Sometimes still feels nervous, like it doesn’t quite believe the praise. I think a lot of small cars get that way.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Pushes back against quiet EV behavior, but so does everything Hyundai builds now. Feels alive in short bursts. You can sense how much they want to prove, and maybe they already did. Still, something about it feels like a statement waiting for validation. Makes you think they’re still chasing someone else’s approval.

Genesis Electrified GV70

Borrows calmness from the future, not all of it fits neatly. Smooth to the point of detachment, maybe too careful for its own good. Reminder that progress can be heavy too. Still feels closer to something real than what many rivals are selling. Maybe that’s enough, or maybe not.