After sharing the design sketches, Hyundai has officially revealed the Crater Concept at the AutoMobility LA 2025. The Crater Concept is a compact off-road SUV that looks ruggedly futuristic, and it is regarded as Hyundai’s preview of how its XRT line will look moving forward.
The XRT is Hyundai’s off-road design division that equips its vehicles with off-road kits, making them more capable. Some of the Hyundai production vehicles that come with the XRT treatment are the Ioniq 5 XRT, Santa Cruz XRT, and Palisade XRT Pro.
Hyundai said the Crater Concept demonstrates its commitment to adding even more versatility and emotion to future XRT models. The automaker’s compact off-road SUV is also meant to highlight how a vehicle can help an individual to keep on exploring and carving new terrain.
Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design SangYup Lee said that the Crater Concept “is a vision shaped by our unending drive to explore — to inspire our customers to explore deeper and embrace the impact of adventure.”
At first glance, one will agree that the Hyundai Crater Concept is a headturner due to its ruggedly futuristic design. The front end exudes an assertive, bold demeanor, giving the impression that it is a vehicle that will not be daunted by tough terrain. It has a muscular bumper that’s complemented by a wide skid plate, while it is also fitted with Hyundai’s Parametric Pixel lighting, which gives the Crater Concept a futuristic look.
The Crater Concept also features a pair of cables running from the front hood to the roof, providing added protection from low-hanging branches on narrow, overgrown trails. Turning to the side, Hyundai’s compact off-road SUV has a chiseled finish, which adds to its assertive stance even more. Not to mention, it also has prominent fender flares that make the Crater Concept appear to be flexing.
The side mirror comes with a camera, giving it a modern touch. What’s cool is that these side mirrors can be removed from the vehicle since they double as flashlights, a handy tool should the situation arise.
The rear is as striking as the front end, as the Hyundai Crater Concept is equipped with distinctive pixel taillights and a massive bumper. The concept car sits on a set of 33-inch off-road tires, while the exterior is finished in a green-gold matte paint inspired by California’s coastal terrain.
Hyundai said that the interior of the Crater Concept has been designed for tech-savvy adventure seekers who want a rugged, function-first design and flexibility. The cabin of the concept vehicle follows the same design treatment as the exterior, as it also features a ruggedly futuristic interior.
The interior looks like a glammed-up cabin of the cars you can imagine seeing as part of the Mad Max movie. The Korean automaker mentioned that the Crater Concept features soft yet durable materials, resulting in a stylish, natural integration that delivers comfort, support, and practicality in any environment.
It is equipped with a full-width head-up display that replaces the traditional vehicle instrument cluster. The Crater Concept also features an unconventional dashboard design, with a tube-like trim that resembles a heater due to its red-orange lighting.
The steering wheel also looks different from the usual design, while the seats come with three-dimensional padding that’s said to provide stability and comfort during rugged journeys. The vehicle also comes with a terrain mode selector: Snow, Sand, and Mud. And oh, Hyundai also placed a removable Bluetooth center console speaker.
Hyundai has yet to share the powertrain details of the Crater Concept.
