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Hyundai plans to challenge Toyota’s hybrid car dominance with petrol-electric versions of the Tucson mid-size family SUV and new Santa Fe seven-seater.
Hyundai Australia is predicting at least one in four of its new-car sales this year use petrol-electric hybrid power, despite only offering the fuel-saving technology on a handful of models.
At present, Hyundai only offers hybrid technology in the new-generation Kona small SUV, i30 Sedan, and Santa Fe seven-seater – rivalling the Toyota Corolla Cross, Corolla sedan, and Kluger respectively.
But more will come by year’s end.
The popular Tucson mid-size SUV will score a hybrid option mid-year, while the next-generation Santa Fe is also set for launch with a petrol-electric setup in the coming months.
The Staria people mover and Staria Load commercial van could also be offered with a hybrid system by year’s end as orders have just opened for the fuel-sipping version in Hyundai’s South Korean home market.
MORE: Fuel-saving Hyundai Staria Hybrid people-mover revealed in Korea, Australian plans unclear
And with only four confirmed hybrid models, Hyundai Australia director of product Andrew Tuitahi expects hybrids could make up nearly a third of the company’s overall sales.
“[In terms of] the mix by the time we close out this year, we’ll probably sit somewhere between 25 to 35 per cent in hybrid,” he said.
“Certainly, the prospect of an emissions standard in Australia means manufacturers are going to have to really consider what that mix looks like.
“We’re lucky in that we tick the box in every possible alternative powertrain available. We’re confident that we can scale and shift and move around when we need to, but it’s definitely going to be a challenge [meeting the emissions targets].”
Hyundai’s hybrids pair a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, ranging in outputs from 104kW/265Nm in the i30 Sedan and Kona – without turbocharging – and topping out at 169kW/350Nm in the turbo Santa Fe.
MORE: Australia’s best-selling hybrids and plug-in hybrids of 2023
The upcoming Tucson and overseas Staria also use a version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid system.
Despite the higher costs associated with a more complicated powertrain, Mr Tuitahi said Australians are ready to adopt hybrids.
“Hybrids are more expensive than an equivalent petrol-powered vehicle, but there are also advantages in terms of total cost of ownership from the hybrid. In terms of a hybrid revolution, it’s been bubbling away for quite a while.”
Last year, 98,439 new hybrid vehicles were reported as sold – not counting plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) – which amounts to 8.1 per cent of all new cars sold in 2023.
Toyota and Lexus accounted for eight of the 10 top-selling hybrids last year, with hybrid versions of models such as the RAV4, Corolla, NX and Yaris available.
The post Hyundai Australia forecasts surge in hybrid sales with new models appeared first on Drive.
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