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2021 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid detailed for Europe, no plans for Australia – for now

Hyundai's new mid-size SUV is available with the option of plug-in hybrid power in Europe, however it is yet to be confirmed for Australia.


Further details of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid (PHEV) have been revealed in Europe overnight, however plans for Australia are yet to be announced.

As with other plug-in hybrid vehicles, the PHEV version of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson is able to use only its electric motor for up to 50km in ideal conditions (and with a full charge) before the petrol engine takes over.

While initial specifications were announced at the new-generation Tucson's global unveiling in September, hybrid fans have had to wait until now to hear more about the plug-in version.

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a 67kW/304Nm electric motor for overall outputs of 195kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

Drive is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission – operated by 'shift by wire' push buttons inside the cabin – and a front-biased all-wheel-drive system.

Mounted "on the underbody" is a 13.8kWh lithium-polymer battery, enabling an estimated all-electric driving range on the WLTP test cycle of over 50 kilometres.

Above: the regular version of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

A 7.2kW onboard AC charger allows the battery pack to be recharged in under two hours.

A range of drive modes are on offer, the Tucson's standard mode driving the wheels via the electric motor alone at low speeds, with the combustion engine switching on at higher velocities or when rapid acceleration is required.

'HTRAC' all-wheel-drive models feature a Terrain Mode selector, allowing drivers to choose from Mud, Snow, Sand and other off-road modes which vary power distribution, stability control intervention and other parameters depending on the road surface.

Adaptive dampers – Electronically Controlled Suspension, in Hyundai parlance – can be had as an option, which automatically adjust damper firmness depending on the road conditions.

An 'Active Air Flap' is also on offer, which blocks off the front grille and/or lower intakes when significant engine cooling isn't needed, reducing air resistance and maximising fuel economy.

European models claim 558 litres of boot space – 62 litres less than the 620-litre capacity offered by petrol- and diesel-powered Tucson models.

Above: the standard, non-PHEV 2021 Hyundai Tucson's interior.

The PHEV's interior is all-but-identical to the standard, non-hybrid model, save for a handful of hybrid-specific displays for the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

The Hyundai BlueLink smartphone app also gains the ability to monitor the Tucson's lithium-polymer battery's state of charge, as well as manage charging settings.

In the safety department, exclusive to the plug-in Tucson is Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, a low-speed reverse autonomous emergency braking system that detects and notifies the driver of hazards behind the moving vehicle, and applies the brakes if necessary.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid will go on sale in Europe from the northern spring of 2021, however an Australian launch remains unconfirmed.

"We are interested in all electrified powertrains and will always study new products carefully, but at this time no decisions have been made to introduce Tucson PHEV [plug-in hybrid] or HEV [conventional hybrid] models," a Hyundai Australia spokesperson told CarAdvice.

"With no Australian government-regulate corporate/fleet emissions targets in place, we are not considered a priority market for electrified powertrains. This does not rule us out for any products, but it puts us lower down the list than we might otherwise be."


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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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