Hyundai is announcing a mild update for the 2024 Tucson range, bringing in updated styling inside and out, and a hybrid option for the first time in Australia.
The facelifted design sees some minor changes, with only the most serious fans likely to spot the new-look front grille featuring thin lines and the ‘parametric jewel hidden lights’ sequence. The skid plate area now extends the full width of the bumper bars, front and back, and there are some revisions to the rear end.
Inside, Hyundai has installed its latest dash design incorporating twin wide-screen displays blended into one housing, like in the IONIQ 6 and new Sonata. The gear shifter is replaced by a column-mounted stalk, freeing up console space, and the steering wheel is swapped for a more aesthetically pleasing three-spoke item.
Lower down on the dash fascia is a new climate control panel featuring physical knobs for the temperature settings, and touch controls for other settings. This is overseen by an audio panel strip that contains physical knobs for volume and track/zoom. This is for upper-spec variants anyway. Images of the base model haven’t been released.
As for the powertrains, Hyundai Australia hasn’t confirmed the full lineup yet. Right now local customers are offered a 2.0-litre petrol producing 115kW/192Nm, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol developing 132kW/265Nm, and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel generating 137kW/416Nm.
A hybrid and plug-in hybrid have been offered overseas for a few years now, both featuring the 1.6-litre turbo paired up with an electric motor assist system. The regular hybrid produces 169kW and the plug-in hybrid develops 195kW. Hyundai Australia confirms a “hybrid powertrain” variant, which likely means the non-PHEV.
So far this year (through October), Hyundai Australia has sold (delivered) 17,935 examples of the Tucson according to VFACTS figures. That makes it the fourth best-selling medium SUV in its class, behind the Toyota RAV4 (24,986), Mitsubishi Outlander (20,000), and Mazda CX-5 (19,404). Sales are up 23.7 per cent year-to-date.
More details on the new model for Australia will be announced closer to its arrival, planned for mid-2024.
