The New Hyundai Tucson Cup Holder Has a Clever Coin Detail

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Oct 9, 2026
Front cabin and center console of the 2027 Hyundai Tucson
The new Tucson’s center console puts cup holders, wireless charging, and storage within easy reach. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)
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Have you ever tried to pick up a coin lying flat at the bottom of a cup holder? It can be surprisingly difficult, especially when there’s very little room to get a finger underneath it.

Hyundai’s design team brought up a solution during our conversation about the new Tucson interior. A small change to the bottom of the cup holder could make that familiar task easier.

It was one of my favorite details from the interview because I immediately understood the problem someone had taken the time to solve. I first shared it in my story on the new Tucson’s redesign and interior.

How the Coin-Removal Design Works

Driver seat and dashboard of the 2027 Hyundai Tucson
Buyers should review the final privacy notice for connected services before enabling them. (Photo by Hyundai)

The cup holder described by Hyundai’s designers includes a small step below its normal floor.

Pressing one edge of a coin into that lower area lets the opposite edge tip upward, giving you a way to grasp it. The shape does the work that your fingernail otherwise has to do.

We haven’t tested the detail in the production Tucson, but the design explanation itself is easy to appreciate.

Part of a More Useful Center Console

Dashboard and center console of the 2027 Hyundai Tucson
Moving the shifter to the steering column frees space for cup holders positioned one behind the other. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The cup holder is one detail within a broader console layout.

Hyundai’s team described moving the shifter to the steering column to create more room in the center of the cabin. Cup holders positioned one behind the other share that area with storage and wireless charging.

The interview also covered an extended armrest designed around how an occupant reaches toward the screen. Together, those decisions show the attention being paid to routine interactions with the Tucson interior. For more on the family side of the cabin, read my look at the new Tucson’s family features.

Why Something This Small Matters

2027 Hyundai Tucson in a studio
A cup holder won’t decide which SUV you buy, but it shows the attention Hyundai paid to everyday use. (Photo by Hyundai)

A cup holder alone won’t decide which SUV I buy. Comfortable seating and the way the vehicle drives will need their own evaluation.

Still, a feature like this gives me a reason to look closely at the cabin. It suggests that someone considered a little annoyance owners might encounter over and over.

When we get the chance to evaluate the new Tucson, I’ll be bringing a coin along.