Upcoming Hyundai Cars

Hyundai is the most successful foreign car brand in India, and for a long time, has remained the second-best-selling carmaker in India. However, in the past few months, with Tata and Mahindra rapidly gaining ground, Hyundai is facing formidable challenges and has even dropped from its long-held second position in the market. At the same time, Hyundai’s game plan for the coming years shows the carmaker is gearing up for a powerful comeback.

Recently, Hyundai Motor India MD & CEO Unsoo Kim announced, “We are excited to announce that we will be launching 26 products by FY2030, including a mix of new models, full model changes, and product enhancements, comprising 20 ICE vehicles and 6 EVs. Additionally, we shall be introducing new eco-friendly powertrains like hybrids. These aggressive and strategic launch plans demonstrate our strong commitment to innovation, the Indian market, and delivering sustained value to our customers.”

This is Hyundai’s most ambitious expansion strategy since it entered India in 1998. Here is a look at the most anticipated upcoming Hyundai cars.

Hyundai Palisade

The most interesting of the upcoming Hyundai cars is the brand’s upscale 7- & 8-seater Hyundai Palisade. To be launched in 2028, the Hyundai Palisade will be the first Hyundai car to be equipped with Hyundai’s next-generation hybrid powertrain, which is claimed to deliver a 45 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and enhance performance. This hybrid system will be offered with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options. 

For this hybrid setup, Hyundai has developed some EV-specific tech, and a special one is the ‘Stay Mode’, which allows the air-conditioning and infotainment functions for up to one hour even with the engine off, given the battery has 70-80 percent charge. Other EV-specific features onboard are vehicle-to-load (V2L) and regenerative braking capabilities. The Palisade will have a long list of premium features such as a 14-speaker BOSE sound system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated and heated front and middle-row seats, and more. If Hyundai manages to localise the production of the Palisade, it will be priced at nearly Rs 50 lakh, which will make it rival the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, and Jeep Meridian. 

Hyundai Bayon

Hyundai plans to launch the Hyundai Bayon compact SUV in 2026. In overseas markets, the Bayon is Hyundai’s smallest SUV and rivals the Ford EcoSport and Volkswagen T-Cross. In India, the Bayon will rival the Maruti Suzuki Fronx and Tata Punch. The Bayon will be Hyundai’s first car to come with an all-new locally developed 1.2L TGDi petrol engine that is compatible with hybridisation. 

For the transmission options, the Hyundai Bayon is expected to come with either a 7-speed DCT automatic or e-CVT, depending on the use case. In terms of looks, the Bayon’s front profile looks much like that of the Verna with a full-width LED DRL strip and split headlamp setup, while the rear features boomerang-shaped tail lamps connected by an LED strip. In typical Hyundai fashion, the Bayon will come with a host of upmarket features, and a key one will be the segment-first ADAS suite.

New Generation Hyundai Venue

Later this year, Hyundai will launch the next generation of the Hyundai Venue. The new Venue will get a completely revamped design, while the powertrain options are expected to be the same as currently offered. This means it will offer a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The new Venue is expected to add many premium features to its already attractive feature list, and perks like a panoramic sunroof, larger displays for infotainment and instrument cluster, and a Level-2 ADAS safety suite could be parts of the package. In terms of the exterior design, the new Venue will be boxier and more upright than the current model.

New-Generation Hyundai Creta

While the Hyundai Creta facelift was launched in January 2024, Hyundai plans to launch the next-gen Creta in 2027. The new Creta is codenamed SX3 and is likely to continue with the currently offered engine options: a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine. Hyundai is also expected to equip the new Creta with a strong-hybrid powertrain to capitalise on the popularity of strong-hybrid cars like the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. However, the strong hybrid Creta is likely to hit the market after the arrival of the Hyundai Ni1i (codename) SUV.  In the same year, the Hyundai Creta Electric will receive a mid-cycle facelift.

Hyundai Ni1i SUV

Hyundai is readying an all-new SUV codenamed Ni1i, which will be positioned between the Hyundai Alcazar and Hyundai Tucson in the brand’s portfolio. This new Korean SUV will be the first Hyundai model to offer a strong hybrid powertrain that will likely be the combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. To compete with the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari, the Ni1i SUV will come with a 3-row layout and is expected to be slightly longer than the 4.6-metre-long Tucson. Sources suggest the Hyundai Ni1i could be based on the Hyundai Tucson LWB sold in China.

Hyundai Verna Facelift

The latest-generation Hyundai Verna was launched in 2023 and is expected to get a mid-cycle facelift in 2026. Among the updates will be slight design changes, especially to the front profile, which has received a polarised opinion from buyers. On the inside, there will not be many changes, but there will be some additions to features and safety kits. The new Verna is likely to keep the current powertrain offerings, a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, with the transmission options consisting of a 6-speed manual gearbox, 7-speed DCT automatic, and a CVT automatic.

Hyundai Exter Facelift

The Hyundai Exter, which was launched in 2023, is likely to receive a mid-cycle facelift in 2026. While not much information is available on what is going to be new with the Exter, more features, new upholstery, and some additions to the safety kit are expected. As far as engine options are concerned, the Exter is likely to continue with the current 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Facelift

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has received a facelift in foreign markets, and the new model is expected to be launched in India in the coming years. The new Ioniq 5 will be powered by a larger 84 kWh battery pack, while the current model is offered with a 72.6 kWh battery pack that delivers a range of up to 631 km. With the larger battery pack, the Ioniq will deliver a longer driving range. Moreover, Hyundai claims to have improved the dampers to reduce vibrations felt in the steering wheel, doubled the reinforcements at the rear and under the car to lower noise, and increased sound insulation for a quieter cabin. The new Ioniq 5 will be 20 mm longer and 50 mm wider than the current model and will see some cosmetic updates. On the inside, the new Ioniq gets more physical buttons for better practicality, and the Korean carmaker will lengthen the feature list of the electric SUV.

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