2027 Hyundai Tucson: Australian timing firms for Toyota RAV4 rival

The fifth-generation Hyundai Tucson is due to arrive in Australian showrooms during the first half of 2027, with an updated hybrid powertrain likely to spearhead the new mid-size SUV’s local launch.

"That's first half next year," confirmed Hyundai Australia's general manager of product planning Jonathan Lam in an interview with CarExpert.

"It's available to us in multiple powertrains.

"I can't comment on what we're going to do at this point in time, but if you take a look at, say, how we've launched some of our more recent cars, Palisade and so forth, that will give you an idea of what we're thinking right now."

For context, the current Palisade was launched in Australia last year in hybrid guise only, suggesting Hyundai may take the same approach with its Toyota RAV4 rival.

Last week, Hyundai confirmed the upcoming Tucson Hybrid will use its next-generation hybrid system, codenamed ‘TMED-II FF’, combining a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a new dual-motor hybrid transmission.

The system produces combined outputs of 180kW of power and 380Nm of torque, up from the outgoing Tucson Hybrid’s 172kW and 367Nm.

It also gives the Tucson 37kW more power than the Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD Hybrid, which produces a combined 143kW. Toyota doesn't publish a combined system torque figure for the RAV4, preventing a direct torque comparison.

Hyundai claims the Tucson Hybrid can accelerate from 0–100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

Local fuel consumption data isn't yet available, though a presentation in South Korea attended by CarExpert listed a combined figure of 5.7L/100km for the new hybrid. 

Depending on the market, the new Tucson is also expected to offer updated versions of existing powertrains, which globally include naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Australia is currently without the turbo-petrol and PHEV versions of the Tucson, though it remains unclear which powertrains will be offered locally with the fifth-gen model.

The new Tucson has grown by 60mm to 4700mm long and is 40mm wider at 1905mm, while its 2785mm wheelbase is 30mm longer than before.

Inside, the next-gen Tucson has seen a major overhaul.

In addition to wide-ranging design changes, it's roomier, more accessible, and equipped with a larger centre touchscreen running the brand's new Pleos in-car software interface.

Arrival timing aside, Hyundai Australia hasn't confirmed any further local details for the new Tucson, which is currently its second-best-selling model behind the Kona small SUV.

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