Sunroof-less 2023 Hyundai Tucson opened to new buyers with reduced wait time

UPDATE: 2023 Hyundai Tucson Highlander ‘steel roof’ option now available to purchase

Hyundai Australia has made the panoramic sunroof in the Tucson Highlander an optional extra for new buyers to reduce wait times for its flagship variant.

It follows the brand allowing existing customers to switch their order to the ‘steel roof’ version earlier this year.

A Hyundai Australia spokesperson said the move is not permanent, with a view to removing the sunroof-less option – which costs $1500 less – when production volume for the panoramic sunroof returns to a normal level.

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The spokesperson said non-sunroof Tucson models – including the base and Elite variants – have a wait time of three months or less for a new order, while “sunroof production restrictions exist, which may result in longer lead times for Highlander variants with sunroof”.

Our earlier story, below, continues unchanged.

April 14: 2023 Hyundai Tucson Highlander order holders offered de-specced car to reduce wait times

The flagship 2023 Hyundai Tucson Highlander will be offered without a sunroof to reduce delivery times.

A dealer bulletin seen by Wheels states the ‘steel roof option’ package for the Tucson Highlander medium SUV will reduce the vehicle’s recommended retail price by $1500, with the deletion of the panoramic sunroof "and other minor associated items."

Hyundai Australia told its dealership network the option will provide its customers with an “even greater choice, and the option to experience their new Tucson sooner."

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Existing buyers wishing to keep the panoramic sunroof in their Tucson Highlander can continue to wait for their vehicle to arrive without the missing features.

This is in contrast to several other brands, which have either deleted features for all vehicles to reduce wait times, or elected not to delete features constrained by the semiconductor chip shortage, potentially leading to a longer wait for all buyers.

While the option won’t be available to new orders, it is a similar move to Volkswagen Group Australia, which deleted blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, and an electric tailgate, from select vehicles, including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Karoq medium SUVs, in recent months.

Volkswagen and Skoda buyers could keep these features at full price – but with a longer expected wait.

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The ‘steel roof option’ pack will be offered on a “temporary basis and will only be available to customers with an existing Tucson Highlander order.”

The removal of the panoramic sunroof sees the Highlander’s LED cabin lighting replaced by incandescent bulb-type lights, with a rear centre light in place of the rear outboard position – in line with the base and Elite variants.

Non-N Line Highlanders with a steel roof also receive matte black roof rails, rather than a gloss black style, which remains for vehicles with the N Line Option Pack, and all Highlanders with a panoramic sunroof.

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A spokesperson for Hyundai Australia could not confirm how many customers have been offered the option to remove the sunroof for their Tucson, but said there were ‘no plans’ to delete a sunroof from other range-topping models, such as the Santa Fe Highlander.

All other specifications remain identical to the latest Tucson Highlander, which recently gained Hyundai’s Bluelink connected-car technology in its model-year 2023 update. For everything you need to know, click below: