2021 Hyundai Tucson N Line detailed: Sporty new Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 rival has one big surprise in store

The Tucson N Line is finally here.

Hyundai has revealed the second-generation Hyundai Tucson N Line, and unlike its predecessor, the sporty new mid-size SUV will be sold in Australia.

Due in local showrooms before July, the N Line will sit at the pointy end of the fourth-generation Tucson range, and given its exterior design was heavily teased last November, the big mystery has been what’s under its bonnet.

Well, in a bit of shock, the Tucson N Line is available with regular, 48V mild hybrid (MHEV), series-parallel hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as well as a diesel unit that’s 48V MHEV only.

All-new Hyundai Tucson 2021: High-tech hybrid revealed to rattle the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5

Yep, the Tucson N Line isn’t available with the 213kW/422Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) it was expected to share with the front-wheel-drive Sonata N Line mid-size sedan.

As such, the Tucson N Line won’t be a direct rival for the 235kW/420Nm Volkswagen Tiguan R, especially given CarsGuide understands Australian examples will be exclusively powered by the regular 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

2021 Hyundai Tucson N Line teased! New Volkswagen Tiguan R rival to take the performance family SUV mainstream

2021 Hyundai Tucson N Line

Local outputs for this unit are not yet known, but it’d be logical to assume the Tucson N Line would share the Kona N Line small SUV’s 145kW tune. While the latter’s peak power has been confirmed, its maximum torque has not, but it should be around the 265Nm mark.

Either way, the Tucson N Line is expected to be mated to a seven-speed DCT and an all-wheel-drive system.

You’ll be able to pick the N Line out of the Tucson crowd thanks to its taller and wider grille, darkened headlights, more aggressive bumpers, silver skid plates, body-colour side mouldings, unique 19-inch alloy wheels, Phantom Black trim, ‘N Line’ badging, extended roof spoiler and dual exhaust tailpipes.

Would you buy a new Hyundai Tucson N 2021 if it looked like this?

Inside, the Tucson N Line steps up with, a sports steering wheel, front sports seats, black suede/leather upholstery with red stitching, a black headliner and metal pedals and scuff plates.

The Tucson N Line also gets sportier steering and suspension tunes, with the latter available from the factory with adaptive dampers in order to take full advantage of the Normal and Sport drive modes.