Hyundai’s outgoing Tucson posted a sharp sales increase in September, even as the six-year-old compact SUV prepares to make way for a boxier MY27 replacement unveiled in August.

U.S. Tucson deliveries rose from 17,569 units in September 2025 to 23,164 during the same month this year, representing a 32 percent increase. The result came without major changes for the 2026 model year.

The Tucson’s performance was part of a broader improvement for Hyundai. Sales have increased 10 percent across the year, while the SUV remains the automaker’s best-selling model in the United States, accounting for nearly 30 percent of Hyundai’s total sales.

Hyundai sales reach a record

Hyundai reported total sales of 77,439 vehicles, a 9 percent increase and a company record. Hybrid demand appears to have played an important role in the result, with sales of Hyundai hybrids rising 39 percent in September.

Hybrids represented 28 percent of the brand’s sales during the month. Their momentum contrasted with the performance of Hyundai’s electric vehicles, as sales of the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 each fell 65 percent in September after U.S. EV tax credits were withdrawn at the end of September 2025.

The source also links increased interest in hybrids to higher gas prices associated with the Iran conflict. Hyundai offers hybrid powertrains across more of its lineup, giving the brand additional models positioned to benefit from that demand.

Palisade and other models also gain

The Palisade recorded Hyundai’s largest percentage increase among the models highlighted. Its 10,327 September sales were 52 percent higher than the 6,790 units sold a year earlier. The increase came as the Palisade entered the 2026 model year, while hybrid versions became available later in 2025.

Sonata sales climbed 39 percent to 5,156 units. The Santa Fe also posted a gain, with deliveries increasing 21 percent to 12,227. For 2026, the Santa Fe received a more affordable hybrid trim.

With the Tucson’s replacement approaching and demand for Hyundai hybrids remaining strong, the outgoing SUV’s September performance gives the current model a notable sales surge late in its lifecycle.