Hyundai has refreshed its Tucson lineup for the 2026 model year with significant price reductions and a simplified variant range.
The mid-size SUV, one of Hyundai’s top sellers after the Kona, is now up to $2,500 cheaper in some trims, but the non-hybrid 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine has been discontinued.
The updated Tucson lineup is already available in showrooms across Australia, starting from $38,100 before on-road costs, which is $1,000 less than before. The range has been reduced from 17 variants to just nine, with an average price drop of $1,722.
Hyundai confirmed that the decision to drop the 1.6L turbo-petrol engine and its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission aligns with its strategy to streamline offerings.
The same engine was recently removed from the Kona lineup and is now only offered in the i30 N Line sedan. According to Hyundai, the discontinued powertrain accounted for just 17% of Tucson sales since the model’s facelift in June 2024, averaging around 3,500 units annually.
While the Kia Sportage – built on the same platform – continues to offer this engine with a conventional automatic, Hyundai’s decision reflects a broader shift away from the DCT due to previous reliability concerns in other models, such as the Santa Fe in the U.S.
New Features and Colours
For 2026, equipment levels largely remain the same. The base variant now includes a digital key as standard and smaller 17-inch alloy wheels. Customers can also opt for a new Ecotronic Grey exterior paint for $750, while the matte finish version, priced at $1,000, is exclusive to N Line trims.
Hybrid Popularity and Sales Performance
The biggest discount goes to the entry-level Tucson Hybrid, now priced at $42,600 before on-road costs – a $2,500 reduction. Hybrid models have proven highly popular, accounting for over half of all Tucson sales in Australia over the past year, with more than 10,000 units sold.
From January to July 2025, Tucson sales have risen 9.9%, reaching 12,186 deliveries. This growth comes despite stiff competition from the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and Mitsubishi Outlander in the mid-size SUV market.
2026 Hyundai Tucson Pricing (Before On-Road Costs):
Tucson 2.0L FWD – $38,100 (-$1,000)
Tucson Hybrid FWD – $42,600 (-$2,500)
Tucson Elite 2.0L FWD – $43,100 (-$1,000)
Tucson Hybrid Elite FWD – $48,100 (-$2,000)
Tucson Hybrid Elite AWD – $50,600 (-$2,000)
Tucson Hybrid Elite N Line FWD – $50,600 (-$2,000)
Tucson Hybrid Elite N Line AWD – $53,100 (-$2,000)
Tucson Hybrid Premium AWD – $58,100 (-$1,500)
Tucson Hybrid Premium N Line AWD – $59,600 (-$1,500)