CROSSOVER IMPROVES MANY FEATURES, BUT POWER LAGS
Few can oscillate between serving mainstream and niche audiences as well as Hyundai. Caught between these worlds is the Tucson and its many variations. You can get a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or a gas-powered model, and each one blends eye-catching (and sometimes polarizing) exterior style and practical interior. For many, that will be enough, but for those who aren't convinced, Hyundai tries to make its Tucson quirky and interesting in several ways.
It's hard to ignore the visual punch of the Tucson: the way the headlights blend into the grille, the aggressive rear with fang-like lights, and plenty of distracting style lines on the side profile.
Inside, many may be wowed by the large 10.25-inch infotainment system, and the digital gauge cluster, but the rest of the cabin is surprisingly tame. The materials inside aren't impressive. The leather seats don't feel buttery or soft, and the plastic panels around the cabin feel hollow and cheap.
Furthermore, easy actions like adjusting audio volume, or tuning the presets are clunky because you must use touch-sensitive buttons, which are not intuitive to use while in motion.
When using Android Auto, the application only takes up a portion of the Tucson's large screen, leaving about a third for an information display that isn't always useful. While the screen has solid response time and good graphics, these usability concerns could frustrate owners.
This is a shame because the Tucson is surprisingly practical for a compact crossover. The 1,097 litres of space in the cargo area expands to an incredible 2,108 L when you fold the rear seats down. The vehicle is pretty accommodating for passengers as well, with an acceptable level of head and legroom.
Rear-seat passengers are treated to heated seats and have access to a pair of USB charging ports. Up front there are given a few more luxuries, including heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, and power-adjustable seats. The Tucson Hybrid also features dual-zone climate control, a power liftgate, ambient lighting controls, and a wireless phone charger.
It's worth pointing out that the hybrid powertrain is only offered on the two most well equipped trim levels. As a result, there are a lot of safety features and driver aids here too. The Tucson Hybrid features a forward-collision warning with the ability to detect pedestrians and cyclists, as well as automatic emergency braking. It has a stop-and-go adaptive cruise control system and lane-keeping and blind-spot monitoring with a video feed of what's happening beside the vehicle. There's even high-beam assistance to prevent you from blinding oncoming motorists on poorly lit routes.
Parking is easy with the sensors and cameras to inform you of everything around the vehicle, and there's even a remote parking feature to move the car straight in and out of a tight spot.
Hyundai uses a 1.6-L turbocharged four-cylinder engine in combination with an electric motor to get the Tucson going as efficiently as possible. The total output of this powertrain is rated at 227 horsepower and 258 poundfeet of torque, which sounds more impressive than it feels.
Rivals in this class, such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, use a dual electric motor setup, and a continuously variable transmission, while Hyundai sticks to a six-speed automatic, leaving it feeling a bit less responsive. Occasionally you can feel the powertrain hesitate as it fires up the combustion engine and selects the right gear.
A Sport mode helps make the vehicle feel more lively, but it comes at a price — increased fuel consumption. Rated at 6.4 L/100 km in combined driving, the fuel economy fluctuates if you're not being careful. Speed, air conditioning and abrupt throttle or brakes can significantly impact the fuel economy.
It helps that the Tucson is so easy to drive. A firm ride with limited body roll and wobble means the compact crossover never feels like a chore or a bore on the road. The steering is well weighted, and the suspension and chassis communicate the right amount of road feel. The hybrid model is heavier than the gas-powered versions and you don't feel that extra heft while on the go, but you do feel a bit of it when braking. Don't blame it on the regenerative braking system though, which feels pretty natural.
While I'm not convinced it's the best hybrid in its segment, it is a surprisingly capable vehicle overall and offers many options for trims and powertrains. Refining the hybrid powertrain and improving the interior design could help perfect the Hyundai Tucson.
The Tucson Hybrid Luxury is $40,624, including the $1,825 delivery and destination fee, and the fully loaded Ultimate costs $43,324.