Hyundai NEXO available to Aussies soon

Local specifications and delivery timing for Australia’s first hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) have been revealed.

The long-awaited Hyundai NEXO was launched to the media this week – just days before Toyota Australia, which has committed to releasing the new Toyota Mirai to local business and government fleets in early 2021, opens the Toyota Hydrogen Centre at its Altona HQ in Melbourne on Monday (March 29).

While Toyota will next week commission Victoria’s first permanent commercial-grade hydrogen production and refueling station, today’s Hyundai NEXO launch co-incides with the handover of the first 20 examples for government use and the opening of a similar H2 refueler in Canberra.

A total of 20 cars have arrived in the nation’s capital to be used across eight departments of the ACT government. A further five are expected to dock this week on their way to the Queensland state government.

While Hyundai has a hydrogen refueler at its Sydney HQ, Toyota employed a mobile refueler for local trials of its original Mirai and a third public refueler is planned for Perth, a lack of hydrogen infrastructure is the major hurdle for FCEVs in Australia.

But Hyundai Australia today told carsales the NEXO – a mid-size SUV that can travel for 666km before refueling, which takes less than five minutes – will become available to private individuals on a subscription basis from the second half of this year.

“We are targeting the second half of 2021 for NEXO loans to private buyers,” said Hyundai Australia spokesman Guido Schenken, who cautioned that supplies will be limited.

“NEXOs are built when an order is placed. We will not be holding stock in Australia. This this may change in the future,” he said. The current lead time is about three months from order to delivery.

Schenken clarified that, because Hyundai Australia is not a lease company, NEXOs will be loaned to both government, business and private buyers as part of an “all-inclusive loan package/program”.

As for pricing for the loan package for private customers, Schenken would say only that the monthly cost will be “roughly equivalent to a large SUV lease”.

The loan package will include servicing, roadside assist, insurance and, for private customers, free H2 fuel for a year in Canberra.

For now, there is just one Hyundai dealer – Lennock Motors in Philip, ACT – that is certified to service the NEXO, although a Brisbane dealer will be appointed soon to cater for the Queensland government fleet.

Hyundai said the reason for the delay in availability for private buyers is due to the need to establish fuel supply/demand trends at the first public hydrogen station in Canberra.

While the hydrogen station is now up and running in Fyshwick, ACT, Hyundai wants to ensure there’s ample hydrogen fuel supply to cater for the ACT government fleet requirements before accepting private orders.

Queensland’s first public H2 refueller will be opened by mid-year, bringing the total number in Australia to four.

The 2021 Hyundai NEXO is available in Australia in just one high-end grade, which includes features such as a leather interior trim, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable and heated/ventilated front seats, tilt/slide sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, heated/power-fold side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, LED front and rear lights, 19-inch alloy wheels and a puncture repair kit.

The Hyundai NEXO also has an automated reverse parallel/perpendicular parking function that can also be employed for forward/backward parking remotely via the keyfob.

The NEXO achieved a five-star ANCAP crash rating and its safety equipment includes six airbags, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Lane Oncoming Functionality (FCA-LO), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go, High Beam Assist (HBA), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA-R), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Surround View Monitor (SVM), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) and Driver Attention Warning (DAW).

Infotainment is well covered off too, with a fully digitised 12.3-inch instrument panel covering off speed and charging information as well as climate control, navigation and infotainment details.

Offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the NEXO also comes with wireless charging for Qi-enabled smartphones, USB multimedia input, Bluetooth audio streaming and DAB+ digital radio. The audio system is by Krell, with eight speakers and an external amplifier.

The front-wheel drive Hyundai NEXO powertrain combines a 95kW hydrogen fuel-cell and floor-mounted 40kWh battery pack to power an 120kW/395Nm electric motor. Hyundai claims that the 156.5-litre hydrogen gas storage tank can be filled from empty in less than five minutes and the NEXO has a WLTP-rated range of 666km.

Offering a 461-litre boot that extends to 1466L with the rear seats folded, the NEXO is covered by Hyundai’s new-vehicle warranty for the duration of the load and available in four metallic paint colours matched with interior trims.

White Cream Mica and Dusk Blue Metallic exterior hues are offered with a Stone Grey two-tone interior, while Cacoon Silver and Copper are paired with a dark blue interior.

“The arrival of NEXO on Australian roads as an ADR-approved production vehicle is a landmark in Hyundai’s ongoing commitment to green mobility and to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle technology,” said Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jun Heo.

“The hydrogen NEXO SUV is a cornerstone in the Hyundai portfolio, complementing our hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles the IONIQ and Kona Electric.”

Watch this space for our first Australian review at 12:30pm tomorrow (March 26).