Hyundai Tucson hybrid arrives, but priced higher than dominant rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is now on sale, upgraded with hybrid powertrains as the Korean brand embraces electrification to slash emissions.
The new line-up sees eight of 17 Tucson variants available in Australia coming with hybrid power, but no word on if we’ll received the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) available in other markets.
While the 2025 Tucson range now kicks off at $39,100 (plus on-road costs) – $3450 more than before – prices for the Tucson HEV FWD start at $45,100 and stretch to $61,100 for the Tucson HEV AWD N-Line (plus ORCs).
Key rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at a cheaper $42,260 for the entry-level SX with front-wheel-drive, and $45,260 for all-wheel-drive. Its flagship AWD Edge costs $58,360.
How much of a dent the new Tucson Hybrid makes in sales of the enduringly popular electrified RAV4 remains to be seen.
On sale now, this model year 2025 Tucson has ditched its old 2.0-litre turbo-diesel to be replaced with the new 1.6-litre hybrid. It produces a punchy 172kW and 416Nm of torque – combining a 1.6-litre turbo petrol, six-speed auto, e-motor and small lithium-ion battery that’s thought to have a capacity around 1.49kWh.
At the pumps, the electrified Hyundai Tucson Hybrid has an official 5.3L/100km figure – a significant improvement on the 8.1L/100km the outgoing base 2.0-litre consumes, and the 6.7-7.3L/100km (depending on configuration) the 1.6T averages.
Those figures can’t match the best-selling 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s superior 4.8L/100km, although the electrified Japanese rival can only muster 163kW – 9kW less than Tucson Hybrid.
Like the 1.6T, the new Tucson hybrid can be specified with all-wheel drive, depending on trim levels.
Thanks to its impressive power and torque figures the new Tucson Hybrid can tow up to 1900kg – an improvement over the 1650kg the other Hyundai SUVs can haul.
Taming its performance off the line, the Tucson Hybrid comes with a novel new Baby Mode that softens and limits acceleration for a more comfortable ride for your bundle of joy.
All models with four-wheel drive now bag a new Terrain Mode that uses AI to figure out what the conditions are beneath and then pre-arm the all-wheel drive to suit.
Externally, the 2024 Tucson gets a subtle update to its grille, revised daytime running lamps, fresh bumpers and new alloy wheels.
Within, there’s been more dramatic updates. Arriving is Hyundai’s panoramic curved display that combines twin-12.3-inch screens that are capable of receiving over-the-air-updates, Bluelink Connected Services and deliver wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Below it is a new air conditioning panel that includes a 6.6-inch touchscreen in the Elite and Premium (this grade replacing the old Highlander). Lower-spec models get physical dials.
By moving the gear selector up to the dash, Hyundai has freed up more space within the central console for improved storage space. There’s also a new three-spoke steering wheel.
The 2025 Tucson Hybrid is available in all three model grades – Base, Elite and Premium – with additional N Line pack. The only catch of the electrified variant is it trades its full-size spare wheel for a space-saver.
Standard kit on the Tucson includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, remote start, keyless go, adaptive cruise and tyre pressure monitoring.
The Elite adds navigation-based cruise control, Curved Panoramic display, electrically adjusted leather heated seats, live traffic updates and power tailgate.
The flagship Premium throws in ambient lighting, projector LED headlamps, power-adjust passenger seat, memory driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a 12-inch head-up display and eight-speaker Bose sound system.
The sporty N-Line Pack adds a dark grille, body kit, 19-inch wheels, suede and leather seats, a black headliner, alloy pedals, a different steering wheel and N-Line specific kick-plates.
Driver aids include forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high-beam assist, lane keep assist, speed-limit warning and a parking aid.
While the 2025 Tucson range now kicks off at $39,100 (plus on-road costs) – $3450 more than before – prices for the Tucson HEV FWD start at $45,100 and stretch to $61,100 for the Tucson HEV AWD N-Line (plus ORCs).
Key rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at a cheaper $42,260 for the entry-level SX with front-wheel-drive, and $45,260 for all-wheel-drive. Its flagship AWD Edge is $58,360.
used to be my go to aussie ev news source. why are you polluting it with hybrids running on petrol?