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New generations of the Hyundai Tucson SUV and i30 Sedan are due to be revealed in the next 12 months, but they are further away from Australia.
Hyundai is expected to reveal new generations of two of its most popular models, the Tucson SUV and i30 Sedan small car, in the next 12 months.
In the meantime, the current Tucson and i30 Sedan – in showrooms since 2021 and 2020, respectively – are in a holding pattern, with no more updates anticipated ahead of the new models' arrivals.
The current Tucson, recently revised for the 2026 model year with a heavier focus on hybrid power and a consolidated variant list, will remain the brand’s primary mid-size SUV offering into 2027, according to Hyundai sources.
The next-generation version of Hyundai's top seller, known internally as the NX5, is expected to be officially unveiled globally in the fourth quarter of 2026, so it may not reach local showrooms until the second half of 2027.
Camouflaged prototypes spotted testing overseas show all-new bodywork with a boxier shape, a restyled front end with a largely closed-off grille, and distinctive vertical daytime-running lights.
Reports suggest it may be powered by a next-generation version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid used in today's Tucson, which currently produces 172kW and 367Nm combined.
The i30 Sedan follows a similar trajectory, most recently updated in 2024 with hybrid technology and an upgraded i30 Sedan N performance flagship.
The current model is nearing the end of its life cycle, but Drive understands it will remain on sale over the next 12 months.
The new-generation i30 Sedan is slated for a mid-to-late-2026 reveal, sharing a platform with the latest Hyundai Kona small SUV and Kia K4 hatch and sedan, though Australian buyers are unlikely to see the finished product until mid-2027 or later.
It has been also spotted in camouflage while testing, the images revealing new bodywork, a sharper front end adopting split headlights, and a more angular profile.
Despite the looming replacements, Hyundai Australia has indicated it will maintain strong supply of its current Tucson and i30 Sedan.
Samantha has been obsessed with cars and combustion engines for most of her life, and has spent the past 25 years deep in the automotive and motorsport industries. An automotive awards judge, rally driver and motorsport tragic, she spends weekdays writing about cars and weekends off-road, off-grid or running amok at the track.
