Key highlights:
- 2027 Hyundai Tucson will be hybrid-only in Australia
- Hybrid output rises to 180kW and 380Nm
- XRT off-road styling arrives in Australia for the first time
Hyundai Australia has confirmed that its next-generation Tucson will be hybrid-only in Australia when it arrives in mid-2027, just like the hybrid-only Toyota RAV4 SUV lineup here.
The new 2027 Hyundai Tucson will ditch the current 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine and use an updated 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid system across the Australian range. Hyundai expects the revised system to further reduce fuel use compared with today’s model.
Australia will also gain the Tucson XRT off-road styling package for the first time, although several overseas features and variants won’t make the trip.
Hybrid power becomes standard
Like the Toyota RAV4, which has been hybrid-only in Australia since mid-2024, the new Tucson will offer just one powertrain locally. Its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system now produces:
| Specification | 2027 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol |
| Combined output | 180kW / 380Nm |
| Battery | 1.49kWh |
| Transmission | 6-speed torque-converter AT |
That’s an increase from the current system’s 172kW and 367Nm, but the 1.49kWh battery remains unchanged, as does the six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine currently used in base Australian Tucson grades will be dropped locally, although it will continue in overseas markets, including the US.
Hyundai will also offer an updated plug-in hybrid overseas, featuring a larger 17.1kWh battery and an 81km WLTP electric-only range. However, there is no confirmation yet that it will come to Australia.
The Tucson also gains a feature borrowed from the larger Palisade hybrid SUV. A new stay mode can use energy from the Tucson’s high-voltage battery for around 45 minutes after the petrol engine has been switched off.
Tucson gets XRT treatment
Australian buyers will be able to choose Hyundai’s XRT off-road styling package for the first time, and the package will join the more hardcore Palisade XRT Pro in Hyundai’s Australian line-up.
However, Australia will miss out on the Tucson XRT Pro coming to the US, which goes further than the standard XRT with:
- All-terrain tyres
- Front recovery hooks
- Increased ground clearance
- Off-road cruise control
- Smart Terrain Assist
- Auto, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock drive modes
Smart Terrain Assist can analyse traction and wheel-slip conditions automatically; it then gives the driver visual “stuck score” guidance using green, orange or red indicators. The system can also intelligently switch between its off-road driving modes.
Also read: Hyundai shelves Ioniq 3 Aussie launch due to import costs
What happens to the Tucson N Line?
The future of the popular Hyundai Tucson N Line is less certain in Australia. The new-generation N Line is currently expected only for the short-wheelbase Tucson sold in Europe, rather than the long-wheelbase model used in Australia, Korea, the US and other markets.
That could be significant for Australian buyers, as almost 30% of all current-generation Tucsons sold in Australia so far in 2026 are N Line grades.
The new Tucson N Line is expected to debut at the 2026 Paris motor show next week, ahead of a rumoured Tucson N performance model with hybrid power. Australian-market Tucsons will continue to come from Korea, while the shorter European version is built in Czechia.
Australia misses some overseas features
While Australia gets the hybrid-only powertrain and standard XRT availability, several overseas features won’t make it to the local long-wheelbase model, which includes the European short-wheelbase Tucson’s 40:20:40 second-row seat arrangement and the trailer reversing assist system.
Australia will also miss out on the more extreme Tucson XRT Pro offered in the US. For now, Hyundai has confirmed the new Tucson will arrive in Australian showrooms around the middle of 2027, and local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to its Australian arrival.
Looking for a reliable, older Hyundai car? See these used Hyundai cars offered with a 30-day return policy across Australia.
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