Next-gen Mazda CX-5 rival takes shape: 2026 Hyundai Tucson design comes together but when will this popular Toyota RAV4 competitor come to Australia?

One of Australia’s most popular SUVs is gearing up for a new-generation changeover in the next 12 months, and now we have an idea of what it might look like.

The Hyundai Tucson launched in current fourth-generation guise back in May 2021 and reports out of Korea point to the next-gen version - dubbed internally as NX5 - being revealed in the third quarter of 2026, so around a year from now.

Korean Car Blog has published a render based on spy pics of the next Tucson that were captured earlier in August.

The spy pics show a camouflaged car, but it is clear that the next Tucson will have a much more blocky, boxy look than the current version. It also looks like it will increase in size for its next iteration.

The current Tucson has a bold, busy design, particularly at the front end with its intricate LED headlight setup. It also features a number of creases and angles.

However, the bonnet and front are much more rounded than the next-gen version from the spy pics.

The render by GotchaCars builds on the spy pics with an upright, squared-off front-end, closed-off grille with an LED light bar and an open lower grille.

Further vertical LED lights flanking the grille give the Tucson a modern look. It is not a million miles away from Kia’s latest design language as seen on the EV3, EV5 and EV9.

Korean Car Blog says it was initially thought Hyundai would go down a retro path for the next Tucson, inspired by the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept that also inspired the likes of the Ioniq 5, but it appears the carmaker is opting for a modern look for its next design direction.

This render is also radically different to the one published by Korean Car Blog in April.

Inside the next Tucson is expected to debut Hyundai’s new Pleos operating system that will include a wide driver and multimedia display, smartphone-like menu and a fully connected experience via Pleos Playground, which is designed to encourage outside developers to produce apps that can be downloaded by owners and used in their vehicles.

Under the skin, Hyundai is expected to drop the diesel powertrain globally, a move Hyundai Australia has already made. The current model is now only available Down Under with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and the petrol-electric hybrid.

The next-gen will be a hybrid-only affair, according to Korean Car Blog, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The PHEV could have a driving range of around 100km, matching some rivals from China.

This contradicts some reports which suggest Hyundai will continue with internal combustion power for some time yet. There is even talk of a performance-focussed N version of the Tucson in its next generation.

Level 2.5 autonomous driving capability and AI-integrated assistant is also anticipated.

Australian timing for the next Tucson is unclear but that should become more clear next year.

The Hyundai is enjoying strong sales this year, with 12,186 units sold to the end of July. That’s 10 per cent ahead of the same period in 2024. It is just outselling its mechanical cousin, the Kia Sportage (12,022), but is well ahead of rivals like Nissan X-Trail, Subaru Forester and GWM Haval H6.

However, it's comfortably being outsold by the Toyota RAV4, as well as competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander.