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Sometimes, the simplest choice may be the right one.
It’s probably fair to say that the mid-size SUV segment is ‘in saturation at this stage, and while more competition is overall better for buyers than it is about buying alternatives, whittling down that option can be hard.
Here we’re reviewing the 2026 Hyundai Tucson HEV FWD, which means it’s the entry-level front-wheel drive hybrid variant in the range, priced from less than $43,000 before on-road costs.
The Australian market is a long-established player, Hyundai has been an established player in the Australian industry since the early 1990s with . The Tucson is one of the country’s best-selling cars, and has become a popular destination for local buyers in that period.
Until recently, we’ve seen new Chinese models entering the segment almost monthlyly – Hyundai is fighting back, dropping prices across the Tucson lineup.
This is a $2500-lower than it was in 2025 for the front-drive Tucson hybrid — just $4500 more than the entry-level variant, which uses ‘2″ power. 0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with 0 litre Non- TurbO 4 cylinder engines.
If you spend the extra, and a 1 is your choice. A hybrid 4-cylinder 6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with a 50 per cent power boost over the 2 is more than 6 litres of 2-litre, which has been shown as an example. claimed figures, and 91 per cent more torque (from the ‘s 0-litre unit) – all while using nearly 35 percent less fuel.
It’s also worth mentioning there is a new Tucson on the road – with boxier styling – and it will be in 2027, possibly one of the last times we see the current fourth-generation model which was first launched at Australia in 192021 and then facelifted in June 2024.
In a market where Chinese automakers are taking over the value end of the spectrum, is the Korean brand’s Tucson hybrid still if competitive? Let’s know.
How much does the Hyundai Tucson cost?
A total of nine variants are currently included in the 2026 Hyundai Tucson range, including this front-wheel drive (FWD) hybrid (HEV) one rung off the bottom.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson 2.0L FWD | $40,100 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid FWD | $42,850 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Elite 2.0L FWD | $45,100 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Elite FWD | $48,350 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Elite AWD | $50,850 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Elite N Line FWD | $50,850 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Elite N Line AWD | $53,350 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Premium AWD | $58,350 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Premium N Line AWD | $59,850 |
, prices start at $40,100 for the above 2 before on-road costs. While this hybrid variant costs $42,850 before on-road costs, 0-litre Tucson FWD (along with its original version) is priced at $0–liter.
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If you want all-wheel drive, the minimum amount required to play is $50,850 plus on-roads (which gets you the Tucson Hybrid Elite AWD), while a flagship Arizona Hybred Premium N Line Aw sits at top of the mountain with $59,950 before on road trips.
Prices are up across the range compared to August 2025. It appears both 2.0-litre variants have jumped up by $2000, while Hyundai has added $250 to each hybrid Tucson grade.
Aside from the related Kia Sportage, the Tucson’s main competitor is the Toyota RAV4 – consistently the best-selling SUV in Australia.
Toyota has just released a new RAV4, but it was priced at nearly $4000 for the entry-level GX – starting at $45,990 plus on-road costs.
A rivals include the Nissan X-Trail (advanced by Mitsubishi Outlander), Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5; GWM Haval H6 and Chery Tiggo 7.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What is the Hyundai Tucson like on the inside?
The first Tucson was released five years ago, a big deal for the current Tucson’s popularity and “recent” introduction to ring in era with an ambitious design language from Hyundai that is boldly inspired by its latest technology and material quality.
The Mk4 Tucson was revealed back in September of 2020, a few months ago as it feels like that all is similar to the one we know. The last generation lasted just five years; the second generation was in production for six years.
As previously reported by childcareman.xyz, the fifth-generation Tucson isn’t far away, with the company already testing heavily camouflaged prototypes. Expect a boxier style, more akin to the Santa Fe.
Why am I mentioning all of this? Because the Tucson still feels fresh.
This is followed by a new insider, which does not at all suffer from age-related problems. But there’s no hint of staleness in the air, as for .
Double-wide A double-width screen is twin 12 and runs most of the way across the dash. The infotainment and driver’s instruments are displayed in 3-inch screens for the info.
It is a good infotainment system itself, with high resolution and relatively fast answers – including for the wireless Apple CarPlay – but it did not load on one occasion during our test. After pulling over to turn the car off and on again, everything booted up as it should.
However, for example, if you’ve driven many Hyundais (or Kias) the shift selector may need a second thought to be used as one of the stubby stalk behind steering wheel at the four o’clock position.
Luckily this one isn’t going to be an indicator, though it doesn’s not feel intuitive immediately at all. , twitch the end forward for drive, backwards for reverse? And so that’s what makes sense now, as it is – because you’re vaguely moving the selector in the direction you are going to be doing. But that’s what it feels like if it is flying in the face of about 80 years of standard PRND selector convention.
Why do I mention this is because I nearly reversed into a wall in. car park as I was leaving, and almost drove forward into my neighbour’s driveway when backing into My own ‘own’ drive.
Maybe I’m just getting old, maybe you won’t be that problem but over 30 years of using a PRND shifter seems to be in my subconscious.
Besides, there’s much to like about this interior – especially the buttons and knobs. But perhaps a part of the fourth-generation Tucson’s golden years as its predecessor to screen-based controls and haptic button panels is that it was before the big industry transition towards screen control and “screen-operating” screens.
want the temperature change? There’s a dial for that. Do you turn the music up? There’s a rocker switch at your left thumb.
Moreover, every time the buttons, dials, switches and knobs are tight and tactile, which ensures that the driver is attained to a high level of design and build quality during each interaction. It matters, this is the stuff that matters and it’s where so many car manufacturers get wrong.
In a statement, having said that in general, the Tucson’s cabin doesn’t feel as solid as the RAV4’. It doesn’t mean anything inherently bad about the fit and finish of the Hyundai, but you feel like Toyota might use thicker materials, more bracing, a higher level of sound deadening material – that kind of thing.
The first and second rows were a comfortable place for adults to be comfortably, with the seat and steering wheel adjustment so I could easily find my preferred seating position.
The Tucson’s size is really in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ – with plenty of room for families and their luggage, but not too big when it comes to driving or parking.
What I found most interesting was how impressed my passengers were with the Tucson’s . My friends said that nice was the car even though it was base grade on two separate occasions. Despite my surprise that I have friends, it was not until I digressed into thinking of myself as an odd .
The giant egg-shaped key fob is also surprising. The sheer size of the thing was always noticeable in my pocket, and it’s not like I wear skinny jeans. Having said that, the Tucson now has the option of Digital Key 2, which means your Apple or Android/Google smartphone can be used in lieu of the oversized fob.
It’s a good boot space, and it’ll be supported by lights, bag hooks or – plus – if you have refrigerating your fridge or air compressor. Hyundai gives Tucson space-saver spare wheel in the hybrid, which is becoming rarer in new models today and especially in electrified cars – not that you need an air compressor.
Hyundai claims 582 litres of cargo space in the hybrid with rear seatbacks up, and 1903L folded. The seats up in the RAV4 are 705L, Toyota says, but that’s compared to the roof.
| Dimensions | Petrol | Hybrid |
| — | — | — |
| Length | 4640mm | 4640mm (4650mm in N Line) |
| Width | 1865mm | 1865mm |
| Height | 1665mm | 1665mm |
| Wheelbase | 2755mm | 2755mm |
| Cargo capacity | 539L (rear seats up) 1860L (rear seats folded) | 582L (rear seats up) 1903L (rear seats folded) |
What’s under the bonnet?
Tucson’s two four-cylinder petrol powertrains are available for buyers to choose from a 2 in the Tucson range an option that is also offered by buyer. We have a 1–1kW of power and 2Nm torque engine, or the one that we are here with. Hybrid 6-litre turbocharged unit, 172kW and 367Nm combined.
| Specifications | Petrol | Hybrid |
| — | — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L naturally aspirated 4cyl | 1.6L turbo 4cyl hybrid |
| Engine power | 115kW | 132kW |
| Engine torque | 192Nm | 264Nm |
| Electric motor outputs | – | 47.7kW |
| Total system power | – | 172kW |
| Total system torque | – | 367Nm |
| Battery capacity | – | 1.49kWh |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front- or all-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1495-1616kg | 1626-1806kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 8.1L/100km | 5.3L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 54L | 52L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 184g/km | 121g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 | Euro 5 |
| Braked towing capacity | 1650kg | 1900kg |
In Whereas the hybrid is available with front-wheel drive or all- wheel drive, the 2. Only front-wheel drive is used to offer 0-litre, which is only offered with . Standard six-speed automatic transmission is used in all configurations.
The 2.0-litre has a combined fuel economy claim of 8.1L/100km, with the hybrid powertrain listed as using a combined 5.3L/100km.
But our time with the car – split evenly between peak-hour city traffic, heavy freeway and suburban driving – was only 5 fuels for us. 0L/100km, . At this point, I am probably an enemy of the state. But in fact it is not my drive to save petrol (which has a very impressive fuel economy) and so onwards we have such great savings for our money.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How does the Hyundai Tucson drive?
When your life needs an upgrade to an SUV but you’re used to smaller hatchbacks and a Tucson is the best choice for that person, ?
On the road, the Tucson comes across like a bigger Hyundai i30 to drive, and doesn’t suffer from feeling overly big or heavy. Your in-laws won’t feel overwhelmed behind the wheel if you have to throw them the keys in a rush.
A good ride is – it’s not bad, but doesn’t really do anything better or worse than the average competitor in the mid-size SUV segment.
But choosing the value front-drive hybrid version of the Tucson means there are some minor compromises on the road.
While in some driving modes, the powertrain isn’t very smooth at first and fuel economy figures we found were unexpected; it didn’s not really feel like there was much help from the hybrid system. And that’s good, though The battery and electric motor were clearly doing what they did (and not being obvious about it).
The vehicle will typically start and roll off from a stop in electric mode, before the engine hums into life.
Our man James Wong went into detail about the hybrid system in his review, found here.
A bit of a throttle-slack and the Tucson’s aggressively (just ) more aggressiveness was actually used to smooth things out, such as the car preferred some zestier driving over just pottering around town.
However, a little bit of push off the line was unexpectedly due to lack of all-wheel drive grip that led to torque steer (the steering wheel pulls down one side as the turbocharger and electric motor try their best at getting it up to speed).
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It may be a bit of sane, but it’s not surprising that there’s 172kW and 367Nm fed to the front wheels–or about as power as if someone had been driving ten years ago with.
This is a nice change from the six-speed automatic, which has been used in many Toyota hybrids such as the RAV4 and, like the ride — it’s about middle-of–the road for refinement.
But the Tucson was a better overall place to work for me after I got used to it, not the other way round. And, if you’re trying to keep the engine happy, there’s a balance that doesn’t mean torque steer.
The response of it all was positive overall, with gentle acceleration off the line, constant feeding in some more throttle when getting to the limit and keeping a bit of load on the engine and gearbox.
Noise suppression in cabin is good (not great) noise, not a bad thing. The Tucson appears to dampen some frequencies well, but tyre noise on certain surfaces and on rougher roads was more evident.
And I have a big complaint about the Tucson’s ADAS, Advanced Driver Assist System (which is designed to alert you of dangers and keep the car driving straight and true) that can also apply braking if it senses an imminent accident.
Clearly, it may be my age but the ‘bings’ and ‘beongs’ were off the scale again; they did not help once.
The lane and steering helps in the default setting of the car I was driving just didn’t work well for my . The car was often adamant to fight against you and go straight straight, even when it says take slip lanes or make. like the physical image of your passenger claiming “you must be turning right when you actually have to leave me.”
Driver aids also try to help steer the car around bends in the road. But besides it, seems to be unable to do the job properly. When I was at a bend near my home – If the word let it – it would cut the corner, dropping wheels into the next lane over.
In my own lane, I drove the car to keep it in my vehicle when there was traffic around me. And yet the car fought me every inch, trying to pull the vehicle across – where it wasn’t meant and where that could have caused a crash.
But those of the same passengers who had praised the car first started to ask, “What’s the problem now?” when an alert would go off.
Considering how long Hyundai has been working on these systems, this was not really the worst example of ADAS I’ve ever experienced and certainly left a sour taste in my mouth.
That means some blessed relief when turning those systems off; however, the next time you enter a car with several of the features will automatically turn back on. Thankfully, holding the lane-keep button for a few seconds will disable that particular frustration without having to go into the infotainment menus.
The good news is the Tucson isn’t boring to drive, as can sometimes be the case in this segment.
I don’t think we’re talking about high levels of driver engagement, but that big-i30 character shimmers just under the surface and was certainly one of my favorite things about the car. But in this respect, it certainly has the edge on many of its Chinese counterparts’ -related works.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What do you get?
Buyers have a choice of the base Tucson equipment grade, the mid-range Elite, or the range-topping Premium.
2026 Hyundai Tucson standard equipment highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Digital Key functionality
- Keyless entry with push-button start
- Full-size spare wheel (non-hybrid only, hybrids have a space-saver)
- Dark chrome front grille
- Roof rails
- LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- LED side indicators
- LED tail-lights
- Heated and auto-folding side mirrors
- Cloth interior upholstery
- 4.0-inch digital instrument cluster display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Over-the-air multimedia software updates
- 6.6-inch climate control panel
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Four USB-C outlets
- Six-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- Electric parking brake
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather-wrapped gear shifter
- Premium cloth-trimmed dashboard and door centres
- Black cloth upholstery
- Power driver’s seat lumbar
- Bluelink connected services
- Remote control of climate and vehicle functions
- Vehicle settings management
Elite variants gain:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Dark chrome grille
- Rear privacy glass
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Solar control windshield glass
- Black leather-appointed seats
- Heated front seats
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Satellite navigation
- Additional Bluelink functionality
- Live traffic updates
- Navigation send to car
- Voice recognition for POI lookup, vehicle controls
- Dual-zone climate control
- Remote start
- Shift-by-wire gear selector and paddle shifters (turbocharged models only)
- Luggage net
Tucson Premium grades add:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Glossy dark chrome front grille
- Silver skid plate
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Power tailgate
- Head-up display
- Bose premium sound system
- LED interior ambient lighting
- Heated steering wheel
- Black, brown, or grey leather upholstery
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated rear outboard seats
Options
The N Line package adds:
- 19-inch N Line alloy wheels
- Automatic high-beam
- N Line exterior body kit
- N Line front and rear bumpers
- N Line rear spoiler
- Projector LED headlights
- Body-coloured cladding
- N Line front grille
- N Line daytime running lights
- N Line skid plate
- N Line shifter (FWD models only)
- Metal pedals
- Leather and suede upholstery
A two-tone interior for an additional $295 can also be ordered with premium variants, although this is not available with the N Line package.
Colours
The following exterior paint finishes are available:
- Ecotronic Grey Pearl
- Ecotronic Grey Matte (N Line only)
- Ultimate Red (N Line only)
- Amazon Grey
- Cashmere Bronze
- Deep Sea
- Phantom Black
- Shimmering Silver
- Titan Grey
- Pine Green Matte
- White Cream
All colours except the base White Cream cost an additional $750, while the Pine Green Matte finish costs $1000.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Is the Hyundai Tucson safe?
The Tucson was awarded a five-star safety rating in 2021 by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) with that score expiring on December 2027.
| Category | Hyundai Tucson |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 86 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 87 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 66 per cent |
| Safety assist | 70 per cent |
The Hyundai Tucson comes standard with the following safety features:
- Seven airbags
- Front, front-side, and curtain airbags plus a front-centre airbag
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Junction assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Blind-spot assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Intelligent speed limit assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane-centring
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Leading vehicle departure alert
- Second row pretensioner seat belts
- Safe exit warning
- Rear occupant alert
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Hyundai Bluelink connectivity:
- Automatic collision notification
- Emergency call (SOS) function
- Alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts
Mid-range Elite and Premium variants have advanced rear occupant alert, navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (and Highway Driving Assist), the latter of which combine the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems.
Premium grades also get a blind-spot view monitor, rear AEB and a surround-view camera.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How much does the Hyundai Tucson cost to run?
The Tucson has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as with all Hyundai models and can be extended for another two years if the car is serviced on time through Hyundai’s dealer network.
| Servicing and Warranty | Hyundai Tucson Hybrid |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres (conditional) |
| Roadside assistance | Lifetime (conditional) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 21 years or 210,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3505 (7 years) |
While 2.0-litre vehicles are on a 12-month/15,000km service schedule, 1.6-litre hybrids require servicing every 12 months or 10,000km.
Hyundai offers fixed-price services for up to 21 years (or 210,000km) but, as far as we’ve quoted the table above, a seven-year/70,000km trip is the most expensive and at $7688, the cost of that was the seven year/70km visit.
To see how the Hyundai Tucson lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid FWD has a lot of sweet spots – not least that it feels like an older, larger grown-up i30.
The Tucson isn’t complicated or standout in any one area, but that simplicity is part of its charm.
But objectively, there are a lot of positives – especially when you consider the price, engine and features – but I didn’t really get my Tucson to be quite gel. Those cars are personal, and I can certainly understand why people would do it.
Despite this being no direct comparison, the Tucson isn’t quite as solid as the RAV4 – both in terms of interior fit and finish, but also driving experience. That’s a bit more expensive than the Toyota and I’m sure most people would be happy to go with the Hyundai and pocket the change.
It is the ADAS, which was more distracting and annoying than actually helping me to keep myself safe on our roads,” Then there’s that. But other drivers may feel differently and even find the system helpful, so it’s worth going to a dealership and taking an test drive to form your own thoughts.
With good ingress and egress, lots of intuitive buttons and an intelligent and comfortable interior, the Tucson is one of those cars that fit into your life pretty well — except for those complaints.
The driving experience is also well-rounded for the money, and Hyundai’s warranty is a big plus.
But just add to that, a smart hybrid powertrain, generous cabin space, new technology and lots of other big-tick items are all the things many buyers will no doubt think Tucson is the right car for them.
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