The Hyundai ix35 (LM chassis) debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 as the successor to the original Tucson across Europe, Russia, and China. Embodying Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design language, it showcased a hexagonal front grille and sweeping shoulder character creases. AWD versions offered a 50/50 lock mode.

Powertrains included 1.6-liter GDI, 2.0-liter Theta II/Nu, and 2.4-liter Theta II gasoline engines, along with 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CRDi turbodiesels outputting up to 184 hp. A 2013 facelift introduced LED headlight accents, refined instrument clusters, and upgraded suspension dampers.