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Hyundai Tucson Hybrid confirmed for Australia, arriving 2024

i30 Sedan Hybrid, IONIQ 7 also joining local lineup

Hyundai Australia will soon expand its hybrid lineup with the introduction of the Tucson HEV in the first quarter of 2024. It’ll be joined by the IONIQ 7 (concept pictured at the bottom of this story) fully electric SUV later in the year.

The latest Tucson was first unveiled with plug-in and hybrid options. However, the Australian market has missed out, mostly due to left-hand drive market demands and tighter emissions laws in big overseas markets like Europe.

Come 2024 though, the local arm will finally give buyers the opportunity to opt for the hybrid package. Local specs haven’t been confirmed as yet but overseas the HEV version pairs a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with an electric motor package.

Combined, the system develops 169kW and 350Nm, just like in the Aussie-spec Santa Fe Hybrid. With less weight, fuel economy is likely to be even lower than the 6.0L/100km average on the Santa Fe. A six-speed auto carries across as well.

Hyundai Tucson deliveries are on a healthy rise in Australia, with the year-to-date tally up 79 per cent, to 8082 units (according to May VFACTS). Some of this is thanks to production and delivery-related delays freeing up in recent months, compared with the tight bottlenecks experienced the previous year.

The Tucson is in fourth position, behind the RAV4 (10,665), Mazda CX-5 (9795), and Mitsubishi Outlander (9718).

In other areas of the showroom, Hyundai Australia is also launching a hybrid version of the i30 Sedan later this year. And there’s also the new Kona which will be available in hybrid and full electric form during the third quarter of this year.

Going forward, Hyundai is planning to launch nine all-new dedicated electric models through to 2030, including Genesis vehicles. They’ll be based on the group’s new Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) that replaces the E-GMP setup as featured on the IONIQ 5/6 and Kia EV6.

Maverick

I like to think that I'm a car fanatic, but more of a driving fanatic. There's nothing better than getting out onto the open road, almost regardless of the car, and enjoying dancing with the controls and gathering up the moving scenery. If I'm not driving I'm either at the gym or sinking a few beers with friends.

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