While Hyundai has no immediate replacement lined up for the Tucson, the company, at its investor day held in Mumbai last month, outlined its plans of bringing a full-size off-roader SUV and an MPV in the market in the coming years.Hyundai Motor India has discontinued the Tucson SUV and removed it from its official website, marking the end of the model’s latest lifecycle and bringing a pause to the company’s presence in the premium internal combustion SUV segment.
The fourth-generation Tucson was introduced in India in 2022. Industry data indicates that sales peaked in 2023 before declining, reflecting a broader slowdown in demand for SUVs priced between ₹30 lakh and ₹40 lakh. Other models in this bracket, including the Jeep Compass and Citroën C5 Aircross, have also recorded reduced traction.
Hyundai’s decision comes roughly three years after launch, as the model struggled to maintain momentum in a narrow segment placed between mass-market and entry-luxury SUVs.
The Tucson has historically carried higher price points due to its CKD assembly, making it less competitive against entry-luxury rivals such as the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan. Meanwhile, Hyundai’s own Creta and Alcazar offered many comparable features at lower prices, affecting the Tucson’s appeal.
Tucson in India: Three generations
The Tucson was introduced in India across three generations:
First generation (2005): Launched as a CBU import, equipped with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and all-wheel drive (AWD).
Third generation (2016): Offered with 2.0-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol engines. The diesel engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the petrol received a 6-speed automatic. Both front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD options were available.
Fourth generation (2022): Continued with 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines, paired with 6-speed and 8-speed automatic transmissions respectively. An AWD option was again part of the line-up.
While Hyundai has no immediate replacement lined up for the Tucson, the company, at its investor day held in Mumbai last month, outlined its plans of bringing a full-size off-roader SUV and an MPV in the market in the coming years.
