Hyundai Tucson News

The car landscape has dramatically changed in the past 10 years, with new brands entering the fray and dynamic market conditions shifting buyer wants.Data from 2016 shows how different the cars were captivating the attention of Aussies only a decade ago.The Toyota HiLux led the way, and the Ford Ranger was not far behind, but there was a theme of hatchbacks dominating the other top places. The Toyota Corolla took out second place, while the Hyundai i30 was in third and the Mazda3 sat in fifth. Toyota continued to feature down the list with the Camry sedan, followed by the Australian built Holden Commodore. Further down list, the SUV revolution can be seen to take shape in Australia, starting with the Mazda CX-5. After the Mitsubishi Triton ute in ninth place, there were three SUVs in the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-3.The best-selling brands in 2016 has changed a lot compared to today. Toyota is still parked up at the top of the charts, but several big names have now been replaced by Chinese carmakers.Mazda and Hyundai occupied second and third, while Holden secured fourth. The Japanese duo of Mitsubishi and Nissan followed next, with Volkswagen being the only European brand in the top 10 after that. Subaru came ninth in the standings, with Kia finishing in 10th, highlighting the brand’s rapid development in Australia. Top selling cars 2016 Top selling brands 2016 In 2021, there were clear changes to the market, but also some consistent themes.The HiLux and Ranger duopoly was in full swing at the top of the standings, with Toyota’s ute still edging Ford’s.Third position showed SUVs were taking over as the RAV4 picked up a huge chunk of sales.There were still examples of a past market, with the i30 and the Toyota Corolla hatches sandwiching the D-Max ute.Further down, SUVs increase their presence further, with the Mazda CX-5, Toyota Prado and MG ZS all making up the top 10, along with the Triton ute. Pure internal combustion power remained a dominant player, with best-sellers such as the RAV4 and Corolla still yet to make its full hybrid transition. Top selling cars 2021 Toyota was still on top as a brand in Australia, while Mazda and Hyundai continued their holding in the top three. Ford was hot on the heels of Hyundai, followed by Kia which had surged up the sales charts in five years to claim a spot in the top five. Mitsubishi and Nissan still occupied high places in the standings as did Volkswagen. The big shift was the appearance of the only Chinese brand in the top 10, in MG. This foreshadowed what we see today where BYD is fast approaching a potential top-two finish in Australia.Subaru picked up a 10th place finish. Top selling brands 2021 Fast forward to 2026, and only three top 10 sellers from 2016 remain. The Ranger and HiLux continue their battle at the top of the standings, but they are in decline.Some unfamiliar names a few years ago are emerging as top choices for Aussie motorists.The Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV has emerged as the best-selling SUV in 2026 to date.Hyundai's Kona is next on the list followed by the D-Max Ute.Mitsubishi's Outlander large SUV is sitting sixth, while the long-awaited launch of the new Toyota RAV4 has resulted in a burst of sales for the popular family car.The Mazda CX-5 remains a regular feature at the top of the sales charts, with GWM's Haval Jolion sitting in ninth currently.Rounding out the top 10 is Ford Everest.This data only represents the first four months of the year, but it does show the general trends of where the market is headed.Top selling cars 2026 (up to April)Top selling brands 2026 (up to April)There are no surprises in the top four best-selling brands so far, with Toyota out in front, followed by Mazda, Kia and Ford.A monster month from BYD has pushed the Chinese giant brand into fifth, overtaking Hyundai. This is despite the brand not having a single car in the top 10 best sellers.The final four highlight the success of Chinese brands in Australia as GWM, Chery and MG are all present, along with Mitsubishi.Former mainstays Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen are gone, and Holden has closed up shop completely.

Hyundai has recalled thousands of examples of its Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade and Ioniq 9 SUVs, as well as the Sonata sedan.It affects 3445 units for the 2025 model year in relation to a software issue with the digital driver display, according to a notice from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications Sports and the Arts. “Due to a software issue, the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail to illuminate the visual vehicle speed, fuel level and other critical safety information,” the notice reads.“A loss of safety system warnings whilst driving, could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders.”A spokesperson for Hyundai Australia said there have been no reported instances of the issue in Australia.The brand will contact owners of affected vehicles to arrange an appointment to rectify the issue via a software update. If the vehicle is Bluelink enabled, the update will be delivered automatically over-the-air (OTA).Hyundai has had a solid start to 2026, with models such as the Kona and Tucson some of the most popular SUVs in Australia currently. The brand recently recalled nearly 5000 examples of its Ioniq and Kona EVs earlier this month. 

Australia is the most competitive new-car market in the world, with more than 60 brands fighting for just over a million sales with hundreds of models. So surely we have enough choice, right? Right?We may already have a plethora of new cars to choose from, but more choice is always better than less. And with that in mind we have scoured the world looking for the cars we’re missing out on.But unlike so many of these lists that are typically driven by a motoring journalists’ desire for dynamic cars from exotic brands (or just wagons, because we all love wagons), this list is made up entirely of practical choices.All of the entrants on the list below are already available in right-hand drive and most are already on sale in the UK market, meaning there are less barriers for local sale (unlike left-hand-drive-only models that are focused on the North American and European markets).Ford ExplorerFord has a popularity problem. The Ranger is very popular and its Everest SUV spin-off is also a big hit - and both are powered by diesel engines. Which isn’t ideal at a time when the Federal Government is cracking down on emissions and incentivising electric vehicles.The Mustang Mach-E is struggling to find buyers thanks to its high asking price and confusing branding - is it a Mustang or is it an electric SUV? What Ford has great success with is big name models, with Ranger, Mustang and Transit at the heart of its Australian line-up. Which is why it would make sense to add the Explorer, which is both a well-known nameplate but also a mid-size electric SUV that has better potential than the Mach-E.While a direct like-for-like comparison is difficult and more nuanced, in the UK the Mach-E is priced from £42k while the Explorer starts at £35k, which means it has potential to be a more affordable EV option for Ford Australia.This would make more sense than the similarly-priced but smaller Ford Capri or the smaller Puma-E, which Ford Australia had previously considered but ruled out when it ran the numbers.The continued lack of Explorer in Australian showrooms, coupled with the reports that Chinese-made Bronco Basecamp hybrid/EV is headed our way, suggests that the numbers simply don’t add up (probably due to its German production). Which is a shame for both the brand and local buyers looking for a family-friendly electric SUV from a proven brand. Hyundai Santa Fe PHEVHyundai has been one of the most proactive brands when it comes to electrification, jumping in early into the hybrid and all-electric markets with a variety of models. But the obvious missing piece is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.Thankfully, Hyundai UK already has the Santa Fe PHEV available, with a claimed fuel economy rating of just 1.6L/100km and up to 55km of electric-only range. While that’s off-the-pace of its Chinese rivals, which offer more EV range, the addition of a PHEV powertrain to the Santa Fe seems like an obvious choice given the shifting market dynamics.There’s only one other model that arguably makes more sense to be a PHEV in Hyundai’s line-up, which you can read about below… Hyundai Tucson PHEV The Tucson PHEV has been available in the UK for a few years now, back at a time when the technology was proving unpopular in Australia. But since then times have changed dramatically, but Hyundai Australia hasn’t taken advantage of the situation.Toyota won’t introduce a RAV4 PHEV until later in the year and Mazda is still coy on when the CX-5 will join the PHEV party, so there was a golden opportunity for the Tucson to steal sales in the interim.On paper the 67km claimed EV range is behind the nearly-triple-digits offered by some Chinese competitors, but the 1.1L/100km fuel consumption rating would no doubt attract attention from local buyers looking to cut their fuel bill but not ready to make the electric switch.Toyota Prius PrimeOne of the most talked about Toyotas in years is the new Prius.Surprisingly, after years of polarising opinions, the new-generation model launched in 2022 was an immediate hit with not only those looking to save on their fuel bills but genuine car fans. It wasn’t hard to see why, with its sleek and stylish looks.But as I said at the time, it was hard to justify bringing it to Australia as a ‘hybrid hero’ when Toyota was already selling thousands and thousands of hybrid Camrys, RAV4s, Corollas, etc.However, as Toyota prepares to unleash the RAV4 PHEV, the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime would make sense as a technology showcase just like the original Prius did. In the same way the Prius made hybrid approachable and understandable, leading to its expansion across the range, so too can the Prius Prime.And at a time when PHEVs are becoming more common, it wouldn’t hurt Toyota to flex its muscle and remind everyone who was the pioneer in this space more than two decades ago.Jetour TravellerWhile some might argue we already have enough car brands, Chery’s off-road spin-off, Jetour, makes a strong case for Australia with its Traveller SUV. This Santa Fe-sized SUV has a genuinely rugged off-roader look to it that would have appeal to Australian buyers.Officially, Chery Australia hasn’t confirmed Jetour will arrive in Australia, which isn’t a big surprise as it’s already busy establishing the Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo brands.The good news is, the Traveller (or T2 as it’s known in some markets) is already available in right-hand drive, so that obstacle is overcome. And it comes with both petrol and PHEV powertrains, so it would be well-suited to the current market demands.If and when Chery decides to bring it, this super-sized Suzuki Jimny lookalike would likely find an audience in Australia.

The mainstream mid-size SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian market, as the prevailing family car of choice for so many.We’re truly spoilt for choice, with options available at many price points, and with the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric, as well as from both old favourite brands and new challengers.While this has generally been a boon for buyers, it has also made this congested segment more difficult to shop in than ever before, so as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve distilled a top-10 shortlist of our highest-rated Medium SUVs starting under $60K.Our top three and winner will be announced on February 6, but you can see the alphabetically ordered shortlist below.The Cupra Terramar serves as the Spanish brand’s take on the Volkswagen Tiguan formula - a true mid-size SUV, although it offers a truly sporty take over the Tiguan’s more wide appeal.Priced from $53,990, it’s a surprising value player considering its sporty look and feel, although if you want the full performance on offer, you’ll have to spend north of the $70K mark to get the spicy VZ version.Still Cupra continues to impress us with its edgy designs and impressive driving dynamics compared to its other Volkswagen Group relations.Perhaps a candidate for the most improved model on sale in Australia, the new GWM Haval H6 moves up in the world from simply a value player to a more impressive mainstream offering.Packed with standard kit and tweaked across the board when it comes to drivability and tuning, this Chinese rival takes more direct aim at the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 than ever before.Available as a 2.0-litre turbo as well as a 1.5-litre hybrid in plugless or plug-in form, it also covers the gamut of powertrain options Aussie buyers are looking for.While the sharply-priced Lux is impressive value, the plugless hybrids are the pick of the range with their trim fuel efficiency and smooth electrified transmission.One of the original nameplates which kicked-off the mid-size SUV segment altogether, the CR-V continues to this day to be a stellar offering in the segment, with Honda as always doing an impressive job of moving with the times.The CR-V is also one of the better value options in Honda’s current range, priced much closer to its rivals than the HR-V or ZR-V which sit below it.Again, the pick of the range is the e:HEV hybrid, although you’ll have to fork out for the pleasure with the hybrid powertrain still only sitting atop the mid-sizer’s range, priced at $59,900 drive-away.While it exudes quality like other Honda models, it also isn’t as efficient as some of its rivals, and doesn’t offer a plug-in or all-wheel drive in its hybrid form.Another impressive car from Honda, the ZR-V is a right-sized SUV to fill the increasingly large gap between the ever-growing CR-V and the still diminutive HR-V below.Again sporting the same Honda characteristics of great build quality, sharp driving dynamics and a practical interior space, with a smaller overall footprint than some of its rivals the ZR-V should be on any buyers shortlist.However, while it is marginally more affordable than its CR-V sibling, the ZR-V suffers from the same problem of only offering the sleek and efficient hybrid system on only its top-spec LX variant, eliminating savings from its fuel sipping powertrain via a much higher starting price ($54,900 before on-roads).Hyundai’s current-generation Tucson now has a few years behind it, but continues to be a strong seller thanks to gradual updates and price tweaks which keeps it high on the consideration list alongside its Kia Sportage sister vehicle and the segment-leading Toyota RAV4.Now strongest-selling as a fuel-sipping hybrid, the Tucson continues to be offered in a range of variants at many different price-points, with both front- and all-wheel drive options.The latest major updates synced the mid-sizer up with the rest of Hyundai’s range in offering a new interior design approach with fresh software, and even an array of buttons and dials for climate and volume controls we always like to see.Nissan has been embattled by rivals in recent years, but its ever-improving X-Trail continues to deserve a look-in as possibly the brand’s most competitive current offering.Spacious, modern, offered with up to seven seats, and with an innovative electric-first e-Power hybrid option, the X-Trail has a lot to offer buyers as a rival specifically to the RAV4 or Honda CR-V.Plus, it gets ergonomic fundamentals right, as well as a good level of refinement and a solid array of well-calibrated safety kit to keep newcomers at bay.Czech brand Skoda, as always, flies under the radar, and the Elroq is certainly worth your consideration thanks to a myriad of factors, not least of which is its surprisingly sharp starting price of (now) $49,990 drive-away. Did we mention it’s fully electric?On top of that, the Elroq is right-sized, with a modest but well-utilised footprint, which is laden with the brand’s clever touches like plenty of storage areas, an umbrella hidden in the door, and plenty of storage organisation options in the boot.The Elroq rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and is offered with either a long-range 85kWh battery, and now a standard-range 60kWh option. All versions are rear-wheel drive, keeping them efficient, with the longer-range one said to travel up to 529km on the WLTP cycle.The Enyaq is the Elroq’s larger sibling in Skoda’s two-pronged mid-size electric SUV range, offering a sportier look and feel.Recently updated to wear the brand’s latest and more futuristic design language, the Enyaq also inherits a lot of the same brilliant packaging as its smaller sibling. It also offers the same battery variants, which are still relatively long range considering their capacities, with the smaller version travelling 410km on the WLTP cycle, and the larger one travelling up to 548km.Not as affordable as the Elroq, but still good value in the segment, the Enyaq has a lot of the right ingredients to tempt buyers away from other popular offerings in this electric space like the Tesla Model Y or Kia EV5.To be clear here, the RAV4 being considered for our Car of the Year is the current generation, as the next-gen model hadn’t arrived in time for consideration.As dated as this top-seller may be though, it’s remained a top-seller for a reason, namely that it’s well laid out, comfortable, versatile and backed by Toyota’s ever-sturdy reputation.Its quality finish and ever smooth hybrid drive are still some of the best on the market, emulated by many to varying degrees of success.The RAV4 still bests them all in the sales charts though, and some may even argue the styling of this outgoing car is more appealing than the new one, which will also bring with it a long-awaited plug-in hybrid.Zeekr’s long-awaited third model has proven to be its most hyped. The Zeekr 7X is a fully electric premium SUV at the price of a high-end mainstream combustion or hybrid one.Despite its keen price-tag, this is still an impressively specified vehicle, with plenty of high-end features, a big battery with long driving range, and dynamics on par with much more expensive rivals.It also impresses on the design front, with Zeekr’s studio in Sweden next door to those of Polestar and Volvo making the Chinese newcomer feel like much more than a first attempt.

This family SUV will have a game-changing new feature.The updated Tucson SUV will receive a 17-inch central touchscreen display and 9.9-inch digital driver display as part of upgrades to the new model, according to reports.The same screen will feature in the coming Ioniq 3 EV, according to new spy pics published by Korean Car Blog.The 17-inch display is the biggest Hyundai has ever put into one of its cars, and bigger than the multimedia screens found in new versions of its main rivals, the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.Along with the new screen there will be a suite of new technology and software, such as over-the-air updates.There is likely to also be Level 2.5 autonomous driving capabilities and an AI-integrated assistant. There are limited official details on the Tucson.There have also been some rumours on the specifications for the new Tucson.It is expected the new Tucson will only feature plug-less and plug-in hybrid power set-ups, dropping petrol-only variants from its lineup all together. The current Tucson comes with a conventional hybrid set-up, which uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and a motor to produce 172kW and 367Nm.Hyundai offers a plug-in hybrid version overseas already.It uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 185kW and 367Nm.This is paired with a circa 13kWh battery that delivers a pure electric driving range of about 50km.Expect the battery size to grow in the new versions to fend of Chinese rivals that deliver EV driving ranges of 100km or more.Digital renders by GotchaCars have popped up online, which gives us and indication of what the car is likely to look like .The render shows an upright, squared-off front-end, closed-off grille with an LED light bar and an open lower grille.There are blacked out elements on the grille, roof, mirrors and wheel arches, along with a sloping roofline to give the SUV a sleek presence.

Australia’s cheapest car just got more expensive.

Hyundai's upcoming Tucson N imagined - here's what we know about the performance SUV.

One of Australia’s most popular SUVs is gearing up for a new-generation changeover in the next 12 months, and now we have an idea of what it might look like.

Details for the upcoming model year 2026 (MY26) Hyundai Tucson line-up have arisen online ahead of deliveries commencing in September.Pricing for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson line-up is down by as much as $2500 for carryover variants.It now starts at $38,100 before on-roads for the base Tucson petrol automatic, and extends to $59,600 before on-roads for the Premium Hybrid N Line all-wheel drive. A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.A highlight of this MY26 update is the discontinuation of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. This follows the smaller Hyundai Kona ditching the same engine also for MY26.According to sales figures provided by Hyundai Australia, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine was the slowest-selling Tucson engine option. From June 2024 to July 2025 it only accounted for 17 per cent of Tucson sales.For context, the 1.6-litre hybrid engine accounted for 51 per cent of sales and the 2.0-litre petrol engine accounted for the remaining 32 per cent of sales over the same period.Beyond the axing of the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, Hyundai has also discontinued the N Line package for the base Tucson and Tucson Hybrid. This package is now only offered on Elite Hybrid and Premium Hybrid trims.As a result of these changes, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson is only being offered in nine variants. This is down from 17 variants for MY25.The 1.6-litre hybrid engine now also accounts for almost 80 per cent of the variants on offer locally. It’s still offered in front- and all-wheel drive guises, depending on the trim level.Another change for MY26 includes Digital Key 2 functionality now coming as standard across the line-up. This allows you to use your smartphone as a key for the car.The entry-level Tucson variants now also receive 17-inch alloy wheels, instead of the 18-inch units that are currently fitted. Hyundai hasn’t published any imagery for this new wheel option yet.There’s a new Ecotronic Grey Pearl exterior paint colour option available across the line-up, as well as a new Ecotronic Grey Matte finish that’s exclusive to the N Line variants. These paint finishes cost an additional $750 and $1000, respectively. 

Hyundai isn’t set to go EV-only with its N performance division and a new strategy to keep internal-combustion engines could see them gain a hybrid boost.