Game-changing new family SUV spotted testing: Next-gen hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo SUV set for Australia as an alternative to the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV5 battery electric cars

The next instalment of Hyundai’s long-awaited hydrogen SUV has been spotted testing under heavy disguise ahead of its global debut next year.

Spy shots obtained by Carscoops show a completely redesigned body shape, which replaces the outgoing Nexo’s curves for a more contemporary boxy design, akin to the current Hyundai Santa Fe.

Its rear end appears slightly less angular than the Santa Fe’s squared-off design, though apart from the thin LED headlight signatures and four-square tail light design, not much else is decipherable about the car.

The images show the Nexo towing a tandem trailer, which aligns with Hyundai’s vision of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offering capable performance for the commercial sector.

Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager of Future Mobility and Government Relations, Scott Nargar, told CarsGuide in August the brand believes, at least in the long-term, that “EVs will replace petrol and hydrogen will replace diesel.”

As such, the next generation Nexo is expected to offer considerably more power – and towing capacity – from the current model’s 120kW/395Nm.

Range is also expected to get a healthy boost, with The Korean Car Blog expecting the Nexo’s range to hover around 800km, up from the current model’s 666km, as claimed by Hyundai.

It’s unclear at this stage exactly when the next-generation Nexo will go on sale, although it has already been confirmed for the Australian market by Hyundai Australia’s COO, John Kett.

2025 Hyundai Nexo (Image: Carscoops)

He said to CarsGuide back in June, “we’ll have a chance to see the next-generation Nexo and it looks incredible. We’ll definitely be getting that and we’ll talk about that more when we’re ready to talk about it.”

The current Nexo SUV was introduced to the Australian market in 2021 under specialised leasing arrangements through Hyundai.

Alongside the Toyota Mirai, which is also available under similar arrangements in Australia, it is only one of two hydrogen passenger cars available on the market.

There are plans for BMW to introduce a hydrogen-powered vehicle to the mainstream market by 2028 through a partnership with Toyota, while Hyundai has signed similar partnerships with GM, and more recently, Skoda Group.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology remains a touchy subject as the automotive industry transitions to net zero given it requires energy intensive processes, primarily from fossil fuels, to produce it.

2021 Hyundai Nexo (Image: Tom White)

So called Green Hydrogen is made from renewable sources, but it is rare at the moment.

Electric vehicles, alternatively, extract power straight from the grid or roof top solar.

Just 12 hydrogen refuelling stations have been approved in Australia – compared to 86 in Germany – with many more earmarked for development in the near future.

Hyundai plans to open its brand new ‘green’ hydrogen production and refuelling facility – which sources power from the grid via renewable sources – at its headquarters in Sydney before the end of this year.