All-New Hyundai Tucson: How to Get Black Finish Prior to Tucson Black Launch

Hyundai has not announced a Black version of the all-new Tucson yet, but it is easy to imagine one, because the previous generation got its own Tucson Black trim in South Korea last year. For owners who would rather not wait, Korean accessory seller Nae9fam (내구팜) has released black paint protection film (PPF) for the fifth-generation Tucson (NX5). It goes straight over the front emblem, rear emblem, TUCSON lettering and D-pillars.

Nae9fam makes and sells this kit, and its new video shows the whole installation. So the claims below about ease and durability come from the seller, and we have not tested the product ourselves.

What Is In The Kit

The film comes in two separate sets:

• Emblems and lettering: front and rear Hyundai emblems plus the TUCSON letters. These are supplied as a 1+1 set, so there is a spare if a piece goes wrong. A small squeegee is included.

• D-pillars: pieces for the driver and passenger sides, with a larger squeegee.

Beyond that, you only need a spray bottle of water with one or two pumps of dish soap, plus a clean towel.

How To Install It

The process is the same for every piece, although Nae9fam starts with the D-pillars:

1. Clean the surface: spray it with the soapy water, wipe it, and remove the water with the squeegee. Trapped dust will show up as a bump under the film.

2. Check the position: place the film on the surface before peeling it, so you know where it goes.

3. Wet everything: spray the surface, peel off the backing, and spray the film as well. This lets you slide it into place.

4. Center the film: hold it by the ends and lay it down. Emblems and letters should sit about 1 mm inside the edge of the original part.

5. Wait before pressing: leave emblems and letters for about five minutes, or until they no longer move when touched. The time depends on the temperature.

6. Squeegee in two passes: spray a little soapy water for lubrication, press lightly the first time, then press harder over several passes to push out the water and air.

7. Finish the edges: on the D-pillars, press the edges again after about 10 minutes while wiping away any water.

Two details are worth knowing. The D-pillar film does not wrap around the edges, because Nae9fam says that is too difficult even for professionals, so a small gap around the border is normal. Small bubbles should also disappear as the film cures, while large ones may need to be removed with something like a syringe, so the first squeegee pass matters most.

Nae9fam says anyone can do the whole job in under 30 minutes.

Will It Survive A Car Wash?

This is the question the seller says it hears most. Nae9fam's answer is yes, as long as the film does not stick out past the edge of the part, because a raised edge could be caught by the brushes. It says it has used automatic car washes for about two years without problems, though it does not specify on which product.

Film Or Fully Black Parts?

Nae9fam points out that fully black replacement parts also exist. Those give a complete black finish, but you have to remove the original emblems and letters to fit them. The film is the simpler option because the original parts stay in place.

Our Take

If Hyundai follows what it did with the previous Tucson, a factory Black trim could arrive later, although nothing is confirmed and we do not know what it would include. Until then, this film seems an easy way to get a darker look without removing parts. The black details contrast nicely with the white car in the video, and Nae9fam thinks they look best on white and black cars. However, the durability claims come only from the seller, so it is too early to say how the film will hold up over time.

If you want to know more about the car itself, read our Korean-spec Tucson photos and specs. You can watch the full installation below.

Photos and video: Nae9fam (내구팜).