{"id":145647,"date":"2026-09-07T07:23:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/145647\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T07:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:23:13","slug":"hyundais-xrt-off-road-sub-brand-set-to-align-multiple-all-terrain-models-alongside-n-performance-offerings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/145647\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyundai\u2019s XRT off-road sub-brand set to align multiple all-terrain models alongside N-performance offerings"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Korean XRT and XRT Pro models go hunting for the likes Toyota TRD and Nissan Warrior, globally and locally<\/p>\n

Hyundai Australia has revealed to Chasing Cars it\u2019s set to push its global XRT sub-brand hard locally, with a product strategy set to offer a number of yet undisclosed all-terrain style XRT variants and XRT Pro models aligned with its current N-Line and N performance products.<\/p>\n

The reveal strategy positioned XRT all-terrain variants of existing models on tier parallel to current N-Line versions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"2027 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT \u2013 OS Model<\/p>\n

Unlike the existing dealer accessory ($6990-$10,990) XRT Peak and XRT Adventure off-road enhancement packs offered for Santa Fe<\/a>, XRT branding will adorn range variants offering \u201crugged design\u201d elements such as bespoke exterior and interior styling paired with \u201cdark colour finishes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, XRT Pro branding, as recently debuted locally in the Palisade<\/a> lineup, are reserved for \u201ccapability and performance\u201d boosted range variants, with deeper enhancement more aligned with Hyundai<\/a>\u2019s harder-core N product portfolio.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Specifically, XRT Pro versions build on dedicated all-wheel-drive model variants, adding AWD terrain mode expansion, increased ground clearance, all-terrain tyres, and maximised towing capabilities beyond bespoke design enhancement.<\/p>\n

\"\"2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro \u2013 Local Model<\/p>\n

In the case of the just-launched 2026 Palisade XRT Pro, the treatment extends to a bespoke powertrain spec \u2013 a more intensive makeover than demonstrated thus far in Nissan\u2019s Warrior<\/a>, Volkswagen\u2019s Walkinshaw<\/a>-enhanced \u2018W\u2019 versions or Mitsubishi\u2019s Raider<\/a> applications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Indeed, while the Australian-spec Palisade XRT Pro fits a 2.5-litre turbo petrol four powertrain unique amongst the local hybrid-heavy range, the US market equivalent \u2013 sharing much of the all-terrain enhancement set \u2013 features a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 petrol engine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Future Australian XRT\/XRT Pro models<\/p>\n

While much of the XRT\/XRT Pro ethos is global, it\u2019s largely spearheaded by the US market, where Hyundai USA appears to be gunning for and mirroring Toyota<\/a>\u2019s TRD product strategy, specifically.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"2027 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT \u2013 OS Model<\/p>\n

Indeed, Hyundai\u2019s \u201cglobal XRT off-road strategy\u201d is, according to the carmaker, \u201cnow [being] developed within the Hyundai California Design Studio, home to the \u2018Sandbox\u2019 design hub tasked with future XRT model development. It\u2019s here where \u201ca number of future XRT models heading into production in the coming years\u201d are currently gestating.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s clearly not a case of one model specification suits all markets for the XRT concept.<\/p>\n

The difference in market specification between US and AU Palisade XRT Pros suggests Hyundai Australia is afforded certain licence to cherrypick spec of future XRT Pro versions, right down to powertrain choice, albeit perhaps of limited selection from a global HMC menu.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT \u2013 OS Model<\/p>\n

While not confirming any actual nameplates or specific timelines, Hyundai\u2019s local arm has affirmed that any XRT Pro model in the foreseeable pipeline \u201cmust be all-wheel drive\u201d, with a specific focus on its SUV line-up for the Australian market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Large Santa Fe, medium Tucson<\/a>, medium electric Ioniq 5<\/a>, small Kona<\/a> and Santa Cruz ute are all currently offered in North America in a \u2018regular\u2019 XRT variant guise. Palisade<\/a> is the only nameplate to receive the XRT Pro treatment thus far.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s expected that a Santa Fe XRT Pro version will arrive \u2013 in the US at least \u2013 in conjunction with or just after its expected Palisade-like facelift in 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"2026 Hyundai Tucson XRT \u2013 OS Model<\/p>\n

The next-generation Tucson, slated to launch in Australia next year, will most certainly springboard an XRT version immediately and, its mooted, a harder-core XRT Pro version shortly thereafter in some markets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New Korean XRT and XRT Pro models go hunting for the likes Toyota TRD and Nissan Warrior, globally…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":145648,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[295,294,293],"class_list":["post-145647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hyundai","tag-hyundai","tag-hyundai-group","tag-hyundai-motor-group"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}