The all-new Hyundai Tucson has landed in Australia, and the Korean brand expects one in two buyers of its Toyota RAV4 rival will select the new N Line option pack.
A total of three trim levels and three drivetrains will be available after a staggered launch, with a sporty N Line option pack to be made available across the entire range from the third quarter of 2021.
“The N Line styling pack is unique in the segment, and we expected it to be very popular with a high customer uptake – around 50 per cent of all local Tucson sales,” said a Hyundai Australia spokesperson.
We’d beg to differ about the package’s uniqueness as an overall offering – given there’s a Ford Escape ST-Line, Skoda Karoq Sportline and Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line – though it’s the only model in the segment to offer such a styling and equipment package across the range in Australia.
The N Line specification differs in price depending on the variant it’s equipped to, given the equipment it adds changes accordingly.
For the base Tucson, it’ll cost an additional $3500, while it’s priced at $2000 for the Elite and $1000 for the Highlander.
For the Tucson and Elite variants, key changes other than the obvious N Line body kit and interior trim enhancements include the addition of the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as well as LED head- and tail lights – all usually reserved for the flagship Highlander in standard specification.
Further to the high anticipated take-up for the N Line pack, Hyundai Australia reckons the bulk of sales will come from the lower end of the range, including a 60 per cent share of sales to be the base 2.0-litre petrol with front-wheel drive.
The 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (both with all-wheel drive) are expected to account for 20 per cent of overall sales each, while the trim level sales forecast is 40:30:30 for the base Tucson, Elite and Highlander respectively.
Pricing starts at $34,500 for the entry-level Tucson 2.0 FWD, climbing to $39,000 for the Elite 2.0 FWD and $46,000 for the Highlander 2.0 FWD.
The 1.6-litre turbo petrol AWD commands a $4000 premium over the base petrol, with the diesel another $2000 again.
Unfortunately Australia won’t get the added option of hybrid or plug-in hybrid power, at least for the time being, despite the Tucson offering both electrified options overseas.
According to the local arm, the Korean factory the Australian market gets the Tucson from doesn’t build hybrids in right-hand drive.
Globally, the only right-hand drive Tucson Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid come from the Czech factory in Europe, which produces the short-wheelbase electrified Tucson for the UK.
Australia gets the long-wheelbase Tucson that’s also offered in Korea and North America.
With that said, the Australian appetite for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as well as upcoming hybrids from Ford, Mitsubishi and Nissan might give Hyundai Australia a case with its global parent to get RHD hybrids from the Korean factory. Time will tell.
Read our Australian launch review of the all-new 2021 Hyundai Tucson here.
MORE: 2021 Hyundai Tucson price and specs
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