Toyota Will Hate Hyundai’s Tucson N Hybrid Plans originally appeared on Autoblog.
An N version of the most popular Hyundai sounds like a winner to us
Hyundai’s high-performance N division has established quite a reputation for itself, especially when you consider that its first product in North America—the Veloster N—only arrived here in 2019. Since then, the division has shown that whether it’s a small crossover like the Kona N or an electric model like the Ioniq 5 N, everything it produces is imbued with a distinct, fun-to-drive character.
Now that we know Hyundai N isn’t done with gas power, the next rumored model from the performance arm could be one of its most popular yet: A high-performance Tucson N. The Tucson is already the brand’s most popular model in the USA, so can a high-performance version possibly fail?
Related: 641-HP Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Debuts To Rival Tesla Model 3 Performance
300 HP From A Hybrid Powertrain
According to Auto Express, an upcoming N variant of the Tucson will feature a 300-horsepower hybrid powertrain, likely pairing a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor driving the rear axle. That would put it in direct contention with the upcoming Toyota RAV4, especially in GR Sport specification; the Toyota features a 320-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain, sportier looks, and unique tuning for the steering and suspension. Although the rumored 300-hp Tucson isn’t as powerful, a lighter non-plug-in hybrid system could give it the edge over the Toyota.
Currently, the most powerful Tucson you can buy is the plug-in hybrid derivative with 268 hp combined, but it’s not specifically engineered to be a sporty SUV, whereas the Tucson N can fully be expected to get a stiffer suspension and a quicker dual-clutch automatic, as found in the Elantra N. There is also a Tucson N Line (pictured immediately above), but it's not a proper performance model.
“One thing I can tell you is that if we have hybrid systems, the characteristics of our hybrid systems will be different,” said Joon Park, vice president of the N Management Group. “We have two different strategies for our hybrid systems: one for efficiency and one for neutral efficiency. If we have a hybrid system in our N cars, the strategy will be different; to have more power intensely.”
Tucson N Will Be One Of Several Lighter Hybrid N Cars
Park said that Hyundai N will continue investing in gas-powered cars, not only EVs like the new Ioniq 6 N sedan. Prioritizing lightness and agility will be key, even for these hybrids. Similar powertrains could find their way into N variants of the Kona, i20, and i30.
The i20 and i30 aren’t sold in the United States, but an all-new Kona arrived for the 2024 model year, so we wouldn’t rule out a new Kona N for this generation at some stage.
If the Tucson N does get the green light, it should be one of the quickest compact crossovers in the non-luxury segment, as high-performance models aren’t common in this corner of the market. None of the big sellers—including the Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, and Honda CR-V—have a dedicated performance model, so a Tucson N would have things pretty much to itself.
Toyota Will Hate Hyundai’s Tucson N Hybrid Plans first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 12, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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