Record Pre-Orders for the Renewed Tucson

Turkish Automotive Sector News
Author: Mustafa Odabaşı
Creation: 26 October 2026

On launch day in Korea alone, the new Tucson received 15,045 pre-orders, breaking the strongest first-day record in the model's history.

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How many orders can an SUV rack up on its launch day? Hyundai's fifth-generation Tucson made headlines with the answer it received in Korea: as soon as the order books opened, more than fifteen thousand pre-orders accumulated in a single day. Will this picture create the same excitement in Türkiye, where prices are soaring in a shrinking market, or will the campaigns for the current Tucson continue to be the talk of the town until the new model arrives?

15,045 pre-orders on day one: how was the record broken?

The 15,045 pre-orders taken on the first day of the fifth-generation Tucson's launch in South Korea is the highest day-one figure in the model's own history. To properly weigh what this means, we need to go back six years: when the fourth-generation Tucson was introduced in 2020, it gathered 10,842 orders on day one. Exactly six years later, the new model cleared that threshold by roughly four thousand units.

Buyer preferences are just as meaningful as the figure itself. 44 percent of those placing pre-orders chose the highest trim level; 33 percent opted for the entry-level versions. In other words, the Tucson buyer now wants either the most fully equipped version or the most reasonable price; the mid-level trims receive comparatively less attention. This can be seen as an indication that the manufacturer got its trim strategy right and packed the upper packages with content that genuinely justifies them.

Then there is the state of the current model. Within 2026 so far, the fourth-generation Tucson has sold more than 181 thousand units, showing 10 percent growth compared to the previous year. Amid all the fanfare of the new generation's launch, the outgoing model still selling at this pace shows how broad an audience the segment has reached. So what makes the new model so appealing?

Highlights

The fifth-generation Tucson received 15,045 pre-orders on its first day in Korea; the 2020 record was 10,842.
44 percent of buyers chose the top trim.
The current model reached 181,000+ sales in 2026, growing 10 percent.
Engine options: 1.6 turbo petrol, 233 PS hybrid, 288 PS plug-in hybrid.
In Türkiye, the current model is priced between 2,771,000 - 3,770,000 TL; the arrival date of the new model has not yet been announced.

The larger-bodied model: what does the Art of Steel design bring?

The new Tucson takes its look from Hyundai's design language called Art of Steel; sharp, angular lines have replaced the soft curves of the previous generation. Beyond being an aesthetic choice, this reflects the general direction of the class: compact SUVs are creeping closer to the dimensions of the segment below with each passing day, and the Tucson is one of the typical examples of this trend.

The numbers point the same way. Compared to the previous generation, the body is about 58 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller. Length has grown to 4,700 mm and the wheelbase to 2,785 mm; this difference in dimensions is the kind of growth that will be felt in the rear seats and cargo area. The eight-speed automatic transmission is now standard across all versions - considering we used to see manual or simpler gearboxes on base engines, this is a hardware upgrade in its own right.

Inside the cabin: a 17-inch screen and Pleos: where is the technology evolving to?

Hyundai Tucson'da yapay zekâ destekli sesli asistan artık standartken, en isabetli hamle gösteriş değil, klima için korunan fiziksel tuşlar oluyor.

The most talked-about element in the cabin is the central infotainment screen: available in 12.9 or 17 inches depending on the trim, this screen runs on the Android Automotive OS-based Pleos Connect system. The digital gauge cluster in front of the driver is a slim 9.9-inch unit. The system also features the AI-powered Gleo AI voice assistant; getting things done by talking to your car is no longer exclusive to the luxury segment.

Still, Hyundai's smartest move here, in my opinion, is not the flashy stuff but preserving the familiar: physical buttons remain in place for frequently used functions like climate and media controls. Those who have been in this business for years know that a climate setting buried deep within the menus creates a usability debt that no technological innovation can compensate for when it takes the driver's eyes off the road. The dual message from the cabin - both modern and practical - may partly explain the Korean buyer's strong preference for top-spec equipment.

New Tucson engine options: what does each version offer?

The new body's engine lineup is built around three main options, and the notable point is that all of them have a 1.6-liter displacement. Given Türkiye's tax system, which is calculated by engine displacement, this choice is a detail that touches the buyer's pocket for an SUV climbing above the entry segment. The performance figures based on NTV data are as follows:

Version	Power	0-100 km/h	Note
1.6 turbo gasoline	184 HP	9.5 seconds	Entry engine
Full hybrid	233 HP	8.5 seconds	Electric motor assisted
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)	288 HP	7.9 seconds	Approximately 80 km of electric range

One addition must be made to this table: depending on the engine in the European market where the model was launched, mild hybrid and transmission configurations can differ; the way power is measured and market-specific calibrations can lead to different horsepower figures being quoted for the same engine. The basic picture, however, is clear: the gasoline version promises reasonable performance, the full hybrid offers fuel savings in daily use, and the plug-in hybrid promises nearly all-electric driving over short distances for those with charging access. The approximately 80 km of electric range makes the plug-in hybrid version a genuine alternative in this segment.

What is the status of current Tucson prices in Türkiye?

October 2026 price list and campaigns

While the new body breaks records in Korea, buyers in Türkiye are still dealing with the current fourth generation. As of October 2026, the price range of the Tucson in Türkiye extends from 2,771,000 TL to 3,770,000 TL. At the bottom of the list sits the 1.6 T-GDI 180 PS 4x2 Prime DCT version; with its campaign price dropping to as low as 2,679,000 TL. The mid-tier Elite 4x2 DCT, on the other hand, sits in the 3,470,000 TL range at list price.

There is also a campaign awaiting buyers in this range: In Hyundai Türkiye's official offer valid October 1-31, there is a discount of up to 130,000 TL on the 2026 model Tucson; the discounted price covers the 1.6 T-GDI Elite 4x2 DCT version. For 2025 model year vehicles, support of up to 90,000 TL is foreseen. On the second-hand side, 2026 model Tucson listings appearing in the 2.2 million TL range show that the gap between new and used is still wide.

Buy with the campaign, or wait for the new body?

The honest answer to this question depends on the buyer's needs. The Türkiye price of the new generation has not yet been announced; with years of experience, we can say that the first months of a body change usually bring a period with no campaigns, or even waiting lists. For someone whose budget is settled and who wants to get their vehicle quickly, the current body sold with a discount of up to 130,000 TL remains, as it is today, the most concrete option on the market. For someone who does not want to miss the new trim levels, the 17-inch screen, and the plug-in hybrid range, waiting makes sense; but the time it costs and the likely price difference must also be taken into account.

When will the new Tucson come to Türkiye?

This is the question buyers ask most and which still has no official answer. It is stated that the fifth generation is first being offered for sale in South Korea, and will then be gradually exported to Europe and the US within the 2027 model year scope. European production takes place at facilities in Czechia, and the European launch has already been carried out; however, the Türkiye sales date has not been clarified by any official announcement. The global launch is planned to be completed by the end of 2026 or in the first months of 2027, and Türkiye pricing is expected to be announced close to the vehicle's arrival date.

In the market, there are expectations circulating that the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions will reach Türkiye in the first quarter of 2027; some even cite later dates. None of these is an official calendar, so to put it in news language, they should all remain at the expectation level. The Tucson is not produced in Türkiye; considering that the facility in Izmit continues its i10 and i20 production by exporting to more than 30 European countries, it is a foreseeable picture that the European market will have priority in the supply of the new Tucson.

What does the record mean in a shrinking market?

To put the pre-order excitement in Korea into a Türkiye perspective, one needs to look at a snapshot of the market. In the January-September period of 2026, the Türkiye automobile and light commercial vehicle market shrank by 13.39 percent, falling back to 803,465 units. In August, the annual contraction had risen to as much as 20.28 percent, with sales dropping to 81,031 units. The production side is moving in the same direction: According to OSD data, total production in the first half of the year decreased by 6 percent, and automobile production by 16 percent. In such an environment, the upward movement of prices is prolonging the buyer's decision-making process.

Within this picture, Tucson's global sales performance of 181 thousand in Türkiye and the October campaigns are the means for Hyundai to maintain market share; the 15,045 pre-orders in Korea, meanwhile, serve as a rehearsal demonstrating the depth of demand for the new model. The two pictures complement each other: while the current model carries the load in the market with its discounted price, the new generation raises the bar for technology and hybrid in the segment. For the buyer in Türkiye, the part about the article will become clear when the official launch date and price list are announced; until that day, the current model's campaign prices remain on the table as the most concrete reference point in this segment.