2025 Hyundai Crater concept is ready to hunt Toyota’s reskinned Prado
It might not be guaranteed for production, but Hyundai’s new concept will strike fear into the LandCruiser FJThe News
Hyundai is making serious moves in the off-road world, debuting an all-new 4x4 concept car at AutoMobility LA.
The Key Details
- 2026 Hyundai Crater concept previews hardcore future for XRT models
- Described as a monocoque “compact off-road SUV”
- Follows usual XRT recipe: big tyres and more clearance
- Not based on any current model
The Finer Details
More a statement of intent than a production-bound promise, the Crater concept showcases Hyundai’s vision of automotive freedom and signals the future direction of its XRT portfolio.
The brand has already confirmed a ladder-frame ute is in the works and will be with us in the next few years.
This meaning it’s already committed to the off-road market beyond the current Santa Fe, Tucson, Santa Cruz, and IONIQ 5 XRTs as well as the Palisade XRT Pro – all models that start out as road-biased machines.
There are no concrete specifications for the Crater yet, but Carsales can confirm all the hardcore 4x4 hallmarks are present: good approach, ramp over and departure angles, plenty of ground clearance, 33-inch tyres, heavy-duty underbody protection, and heaps of auxiliary lighting.
Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a roll cage, four-point harnesses, easy-to-clean interior, Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, and XRT drive modes, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, removable Bluetooth centre console speaker, downhill brake control, trailer brake control, inbuilt compass, and an altimeter.
The Road Ahead
Hyundai hasn’t explicitly confirmed the Crater as a future production model – yet – but that doesn’t mean this is some sort of empty promise.
The Korean brand has a decent track record of turning concept into production models or using them to inspire future designs. It wouldn’t be surprising if a dedicated off-road SUV is already in the works – possibly even based on the upcoming ute.
For now, the Palisade XRT Pro will serve as the most off-road-capable model ahead of the Santa Fe and Santa Cruz XRTs.
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Related: Hyundai dual-cab ute here by 2029
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