Hyundai Tucson review

Quick Verdict: 

The latest Hyundai Tucson means business. Its striking looks, intuitive on-board tech and premium-feeling cabin help it stand out in the overcrowded mid-size SUV class, but the Tucson is a car that appeals to the head as well as to the heart. Efficiency-boosting hybrid technology and high levels of standard equipment can be found throughout the range, while the interior is one of the roomiest in the class and the boot is large enough to rival those of estate cars.

Yes, you’ll find the Tucson a little more expensive to buy now, but we think Hyundai has managed to create a family car that’s as desirable as it is sensible. That’s why we named it our Mid-size SUV of the Year in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Hyundai Tucson: price, specs and rivals

Let’s cut straight to the chase – the previous Tucson was a car that primarily sold itself on practicality, modest pricing and family usability, while decent levels of kit went some way towards making up for its distinct lack of flair. 

However, this fourth generation of Hyundai’s mid-size SUV is a different proposition, and keen to establish itself as a premium offering for families that value style and refinement, as well as the more prosaic qualities of overall load space and day-to-day functionality.

Used - available now

2015 Hyundai

Tucson

47,029 milesManualDiesel1.7L

Cash £11,200

View Tucson

2020 Hyundai

Tucson

18,000 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £17,800

View Tucson

2015 Hyundai

Tucson

55,526 milesAutomaticDiesel1.7L

Cash £13,300

View Tucson

2023 Hyundai

Tucson

46,081 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £21,350

View Tucson

Competition is fierce in this sector of the market, and many of the Tucson’s rivals have established USPs that help them stand out from the pack. The Volkswagen Tiguan has an unmistakable air of quality and a solid reputation, while the Ford Kuga is highly rated and brings a sense of driving fun to family SUV life. The Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca offer different blends of the tried and trusted Volkswagen Group formula, with Peugeot’s 3008 delivering a classy cabin and typical Gallic charm.

Also worth a mention among the myriad choices are the Japanese trio of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota RAV4, followed by yet further options in the form of the evergreen Nissan Qashqai, Renault Austral, Vauxhall Grandland and the Tucson’s own sister car, the Kia Sportage.

We’ve pitted the Tucson against multiple contenders over the years, with the Hyundai walking away with the winner’s medal each time. We have no doubt that Hyundai is clearly focused on not only taking on the best of the mainstream, but also nipping at the heels of the more upmarket brands like Audi and BMW.

With prices starting from around £32,000, the Tucson range undercuts the Kuga and Tiguan. However, Hyundai doesn’t really offer a typical entry-level trim, so you’ll be well catered for in terms of equipment even with the ‘base’ car.

The trim structure is pretty straightforward, starting with Advance before building up to Premium, followed by the sportier-looking N Line and N Line S, before topping out at Ultimate. The standard kit on every model includes dual-zone air-con, cruise control, a rear camera, and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

The N Line models feature sporty tweaks inside and outside, and this trim is Hyundai’s riposte to cars like the VW Tiguan R-Line. You get 19-inch alloys, more aggressive bumpers, twin tailpipes, a tailgate spoiler, and sports front seats. Top-spec cars feature luxuries such as adaptive cruise control, an electric tailgate, a panoramic glass sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats and wireless mobile phone charging.

Power options centre around a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine in various states of tune and with varying degrees of hybrid assistance. You can have a 158bhp petrol-only model with a regular six-speed manual gearbox, or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with 48-volt mild-hybrid tech.

A full-hybrid model is also available, using a 1.49kWh battery and a 59bhp electric motor that works with the petrol engine to produce a total output of 212bhp. The engine options are rounded off with a 249bhp plug-in hybrid version with a pure-electric driving range of 38 miles.

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Hyundai’s experience with petrol-hybrid powertrains pays off with the Tucson

The fourth-gen Hyundai Tucson uses an all-new platform and advanced hybrid technology – highlighting the manufacturer’s serious aspirations for its latest mid-size SUV.

The hybrid powertrain works well, both at motorway speeds and around town. We noticed that the six-speed automatic transmission is keen to shift up early, but as the engine becomes slightly thrashy when worked hard, that’s not such a bad trait.

You’ll probably want to keep the Tucson in its Eco drive mode most of the time. Choosing the Sport function modifies the throttle response and improves assistance from the electric motor, but it means the car hangs onto lower gears for longer and revs higher, which, ultimately, doesn’t sit well with the Tucson’s focus on comfort.

The hybrid model’s ability to cut engine power when you lift off the throttle at speed not only benefits refinement, but helps boost efficiency, too. It manages this in a particularly smooth and effortless manner, to the extent that you might not even feel the system working at all.

Hyundai has really succeeded in giving the Tucson decent agility through corners while keeping it controlled and composed over the typical broken tarmac of UK roads. You wouldn’t necessarily use the Tucson for a fun Sunday morning blast through country lanes, but it does provide relaxing, refined, point-to-point company.

The plug-in hybrid Tucson weighs around 200kg more than its conventional petrol or hybrid alternatives, but it’s also the most powerful model in the range. We didn’t find the extra weight had that much of an impact on the way it performs, and the Tucson PHEV does a good job of ironing out bumps, with lumps in the road being heard more than they’re felt. It’s hushed and refined at motorway speeds, and the Tucson’s light steering makes the Hyundai easy to manoeuvre in town.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

The 158bhp 1.6 TGDi petrol-only model delivers a reasonable 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds, while upgrading to the mild-hybrid version with a dual-clutch automatic cut that time down to 9.4 seconds for the two-wheel drive model, or 9.8 seconds for the four-wheel drive. The top speed for all is 119mph.

Full-hybrid tech cranks up the power output to 212bhp and trims the 0-62mph time to 8.2 seconds, although this version has a slightly lower top speed of 116mph. During our testing, we were surprised by how raucous the four-cylinder engine is, and it sounds coarse at high revs. 

The plug-in hybrid gets even more power – 249bhp and 304Nm – but it’s much heavier, so 0-62mph is dispatched in 8.2 seconds for the two-wheel drive or 8.5 seconds for the four-wheel drive version, while the top speed stands at 116mph. While the Tucson PHEV won’t win a game of Top Trumps, its electric motor can fill in for the 1.6-litre petrol engine under the bonnet when needed, with all its torque available as soon as you hit the accelerator. As a result, the car surges forward with a willingness unlike any other Tucson.

Efficient hybrid technology dominates the Hyundai Tucson line-up, while low insurance costs and strong residuals are a real bonus

No matter how well the Hyundai Tucson drives, how comfortable it is to sit in, or how much equipment is crammed on-board, if it costs too much to run, then it won’t make it onto customer shortlists. Thankfully, the Tucson has a full range of petrol, mild-hybrid, full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains to suit all budgets and needs – basically everything short of an EV.

The cheapest version to buy is the 158bhp 1.6 TGDi petrol-only model in Advance trim. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and manages a respectable 41.5mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are 154g/km.

If you opt for this engine with an automatic transmission, the fuel efficiency improves to 44.8mpg, and emissions drop to 142g/km (40.4mpg and 158g/km for the four-wheel drive version). The improvement over the manual comes because the automatic uses mild-hybrid technology, which gives you a tiny electric motor to provide a little assistance when accelerating and lessen the load on the engine. A similarly equipped Volkswagen Tiguan is slightly more efficient, but not significantly so.

The 227bhp full-hybrid model improves on these figures further, with up to 49.6mpg and emitting 129g/km of CO2. We covered over 8,000 miles in our Tucson Hybrid long-term test car, and averaged 46.5mpg during our time with it. We were pretty pleased with that result. 

Of course, the most efficient (and most expensive) variant is the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid. According to Hyundai, the Tucson PHEV can return up to 201.8mpg and emits 29g/km of CO2 emissions; and while you might not get close to that (remember to charge the battery as frequently as possible to minimise your running costs) it should be an affordable family SUV to run. Even more so if you’re a company car driver, because it falls into the 12 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax band, compared with the 35 or 30 per cent bands the petrol and full-hybrid versions sit in, respectively.

Electric range, battery and charging

The Tucson PHEV model is the only hybrid model you need to charge yourself because the rest rely on energy recuperation from braking or the engine to charge their batteries. The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid uses a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery to offer a pure-electric driving range of up to 38 miles. Although the figure we saw during our own testing was a little lower, you should have no problem covering more than 30 miles without using a drop of petrol if the car is fully charged. That’s good, but the latest Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid can go up to 77 miles on a change thanks to its much larger 25.7kWh (19.7kWh useable) battery. 

Unlike the Tiguan eHybrid, the Tucson doesn’t have rapid charging capability, but its 7.2kW on-board charger means you can fully recharge the relatively chunky battery in under two hours if you use a suitably fast home wallbox or public charging point.

Insurance

Insurance premiums start from group 18 for the entry-level 158bhp Tucson version in Advance trim, which is the same as the base Volkswagen Tiguan.

The 158bhp mild-hybrid variant sits in group 20, while the 212bhp full-hybrid is in group 21. The top-of-the-range 249bhp Tucson Plug-in is a couple of positions higher in group 23, which is lower than the equivalent Tiguan eHybrid, so premiums for the Tucson won’t break the bank.

Depreciation

Our expert data suggests that the fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson range will retain between 47 to 51 per cent of its list price after three years and 36,000 miles of ownership. That’s on par with the Nissan Qashqai, but slightly behind the Kia Sportage which is expected to retain between 47 to 56 per cent of its showroom price over the same period.

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Cabin quality for the Tucson is a huge step forward and a match for some premium SUVs

When this generation of Hyundai Tucson arrived, it certainly marked a departure from its more conservative forbear to stand out in the highly competitive medium SUV class. 

The designers of the revised Tucson have wisely chosen not to tone down its attention-grabbing exterior. The only changes of note are a new grille at the front and a more prominent lower portion of the bumper that includes a faux skid plate to bolster the car’s chunky SUV look. At the back, the Hyundai badge is now behind the glass of the back window, which looks much tidier.

Manufacturers across the board are raising their game when it comes to interior design and levels of onboard tech, and the Tucson is no exception. We were impressed by the premium feel of the interior before, but the design has been dramatically altered with the facelift to give it a look more in keeping with the cabins of the smaller Hyundai Kona and electric Hyundai Ioniq 5. The digital driver’s instrument cluster and central infotainment screen now flow into one another across the dashboard, while underneath the central screen are a series of physical shortcut buttons that are much easier to get on with compared with the touch-sensitive controls of the pre-facelift car.

Below them are the climate controls which feature a pair of sizable dials that control the temperature for each front zone, which are much easier to find while driving than the touch-sensitive controls of the outgoing Tucson. The virtual buttons on a screen between the two dials are still touch-sensitive, although you shouldn’t need to interact with them often. The only major downside is that you’ll need to stretch more in order to reach the far corner of the central screen since it’s positioned further away.

The solid feel of the previous Tucson carries through to the revised model, although our previous note of a sombre colour palette for most trim levels remains, despite the odd strip of fabric across the dash to break up the expanse of soft-touch plastic. 

Once you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, you’re faced with a smart 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a clean, simple layout with only a few physical buttons and switches. Cars with a manual gearbox have a different centre console design, while automatic models follow the aforementioned Kona and Ioniq 5 in using a gear selector mounted just behind the steering wheel on the right, freeing up more storage space. 

Standard equipment is generous, with the entry-level Advance trim including 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, heated and folding door mirrors and the usual Bluetooth, wireless smartphone connectivity with a wireless charging pad, and DAB audio set-up.

Upgrading to Premium adds an electric tailgate, an upgraded Krell audio system, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, along with extra active safety features such as an autonomous emergency braking system that prevents you from turning into the path of oncoming traffic at a junction, and adaptive cruise control to automatic and hybrid models

N Line and N Line S models introduce a few sporty touches to the fourth-generation Tucson, both inside and out. The standard N Line mirrors much of what you get with Advance, but adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a reprofiled front bumper with larger intakes and a more aggressive rear diffuser with twin-exit exhausts. Buyers also get a tailgate spoiler and a fresh radiator grille, plus an N-branded steering wheel, black headlining, aluminium pedals and a pair of sports seats trimmed in black suede and leather for the cabin.

N Line S trim gets the same styling tweaks, but extends the kit list to include three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, an electric panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera system, LED matrix head lights, as well as a Blind Spot Collision Warning system. 

Those who don't want a sporty-looking Tucson but want the gadgets fitted to N Line S will need to go for the top Ultimate trim, which adds driver’s seat memory settings and the availability of alternative seat colours.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Tucson has a very impressive infotainment system that’s intuitive and straightforward to operate. Every model features a pair of 10.25-inch screens that offer fast loading times and clear graphics, plus built-in sat-nav (which works well), along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you would prefer to link up your smartphone.

The central touchscreen might not match the display sharpness or loading times of the Renault Austral’s Google-powered set-up, nor is it as big as the one in the Kia Sportage, but it’s still clear and easy to read. The main menu displays all of the key features in two rows of shortcut icons, and most of the sub-menus are fairly well thought out.

Hyundai has improved navigation to the driver-assistance menu, which is a blessing considering that the car can seem like it’s beeping at you incessantly as you’re driving along. You used to have to delve into various menus within the touchscreen, but now there’s a shortcut button on the steering wheel that sends you straight to the correct menu. There’s also a secret shortcut to deactivate the speed limit warning (a system that beeps when it detects you’re exceeding the speed limit) where you simply press the mute button for a few seconds to silence the system. 

A second 10.25-inch display sits ahead of the driver. The stats are easy to select via steering wheel-mounted buttons, and the colours and graphics adjust based on the chosen driving mode.

If you enjoy listening to music in your car, the upgraded Krell stereo available with Premium, N Line S, and Ultimate trims is worth considering.

A decent boot, plenty of passenger room, and useful practical touches mean the Hyundai Tucson fits seamlessly into family life

Passengers won’t be disappointed with the amount of interior space offered in the Hyundai Tucson. The driver’s seat and steering wheel have plenty of adjustment for rake and reach.

Hyundai has added a lot of features, even to entry-level cars, to make the Tucson a truly versatile family SUV. The rear seats fold in a 40:20:40 configuration, while there are front and rear armrests with cupholders and extra storage for assorted oddments. You’ll also find useful USB ports front and back, along with standard parking sensors and a rearview camera.

If you want to pay for it, higher trim levels have luxuries such as an electrically operated tailgate, three-zone climate control and heated and ventilated seats to make longer journeys that bit more comfortable.

Dimensions and size

The Hyundai Tucson measures 4,500mm in length, 1,865mm wide (excluding door mirrors), and 1,653mm tall. As a comparison, the Volkswagen Tiguan is longer at 4,539mm, although the Tucson is 23mm wider.

Seats, leg room, head room & passenger space

The latest Tucson’s wheelbase is only marginally longer than the previous model’s, but Hyundai has been clever with the car’s packaging to ensure that the cabin can easily accommodate four six-footers, with plenty of knee, leg and headroom. There is space for a third rear passenger, but the raised central floor prevents them from finding a truly comfortable position. The seats themselves are supportive, and there’s plenty of space under the front seats for rear passengers’ feet.

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Boot Space

The Hyundai Tucson offers 620-litres boot space in petrol manual form with the seats up, expanding to 1,799-litres with the seats down, which makes it family-friendly. That's around 30 litres more than you get in a Kia Sportage and a whopping 116-litres more than the Nissan Qashqai can manage. 

However, it’s worth noting that both hybrid and plug-in hybrid Tucson models have a reduced boot capacity of 577-litres with the seats up, and 1,651-litres with the seats folded, although that’s still much better than a plug-in eHybrid Volkswagen Tiguan, which only has 490 and 1,486 litres of capacity respectively.

We think a few more hooks and individual storage compartments would be helpful, but overall, the space and flat floor should be fine for most day-to-day needs. The Tucson also has a modest amount of under-floor boot storage, which is always handy.

Towing

Both the manual and automatic petrol Hyundai Tucson models have a maximum braked towing weight of 1,510kg, while the hybrid drops down to 1,360kg. The plug-in hybrid is the least capable tow vehicle, and can only manage 1,210kg.

If you need to tow more, then the facelifted Ford Kuga has a much more impressive 1,600kg towing figure for the front-wheel drive hybrid, 1,730kg for the entry-level petrol manual, and a whopping 2,100kg for the plug-in hybrid and four-wheel drive hybrid cars.

With an impressive safety kit list and five years of warranty cover, the Hyundai Tucson is a great family choice

The electrified powertrains used in the Hyundai Tucson are widely used in other Hyundai models, so the Tucson should prove to be a reliable family SUV. The fourth-generation model didn’t make it onto our list of the best cars to own in the 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. However, its sister car, the Mk5 Kia Sportage, came in a highly impressive 11th out of 50 cars. 

The Hyundai brand managed to finish 17th out of 32 in the 2023 best car manufacturer rankings – down from 11th in 2022.

The Tucson's standard safety kit is good, although to benefit from the full suite of active systems, you’ll need to upgrade to N-Line S or Ultimate trim. Both of these include a Blind Spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance, which help you avoid any potential hazards as you reverse out of a driveway or parking spot.

Crash safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the fourth-generation Tucson a full five-star rating when it tested the family SUV in 2022. It received an 86 per cent score for adult occupant protection and 87 per cent for child occupants, although protection of the driver's chest was assessed as being only marginal.

Warranty

Hyundai offers a reassuring five-year, unlimited mileage warranty for the Tucson. Also included is 12 months roadside assistance and free annual health checks (visual inspections) of your vehicle.

Servicing

Service intervals for the Tucson are annually or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hyundai also offers tailored servicing plans, with flexible payment options available to make it easier to manage the cost of scheduled maintenance.

Should you buy a Hyundai Tucson?

If ever there was a mid-size SUV that you should put at the top of your shopping list, the Hyundai Tucson is it. We’ve voted it best in class for the last four years, and the facelifted version only improves what was already a winning formula.

The Tucson is the sort of car that will appeal to those looking for good value thanks to its strong equipment list and keen pricing, while its range of petrol and hybrid engines mean it’ll suit those with an eye on running costs, too. It also has a versatile interior with all the space a growing family would need, plus it has the level of refinement expected of a car that’ll be required to tackle the odd long trip in the summer holidays.

Sure, it isn’t as fun to drive as a Ford Kuga, but the Tucson will be more than good enough for most buyers, with safe and secure handling. The plug-in hybrid powertrain doesn’t have the electric range of the Volkswagen Tiguan’s, which may deter some company car drivers, but at least the Tucson doesn’t cost quite as much as that car in the first place.

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate hybrid: long-term test

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In 2021, our former editor Steve Fowler and his family ran a top-of-the-range Ultimate trim Hyundai Tucson for 8,000 miles. They (including their goldendoodle) were all won over by its extensive equipment list, lots of interior space, and - of course - its styling.

The family took the Tucson far and wide across the country on their summer holiday, managing mid-40s fuel economy and making full use of its Highway Driving Assist system.

You can read the full hyundai tucson long-term test here…