Hyundai’s redesigned Tucson leapfrogged the model it replaced, with a smoother ride, sharper handling, and a quieter cabin. This boldly-styled compact SUV now outshines several segment mainstays, including the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4.
We appreciated the Tucson’s accurate, well-weighted steering and responsive, nimble handling. It’s also one of the better-riding compact SUVs, with a firm yet steady suspension that does a good job absorbing most bumps. In fact, it actually rides more comfortably than the larger Hyundai Santa Fe. The cabin is relatively quiet for the class, further contributing to the Tucson’s solid and substantial feel.
The base 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is the Tucson’s weak spot. Although not a problem during the majority of everyday driving situations, its 0-60 mph time of 9.6 seconds is slower than most of its competitors. Plus, even with its leisurely acceleration, the Tucson’s 26 mpg overall lags behind the Forester and CR-V. On the bright side, the Tucson's hybrid version is both more responsive and quieter. It is significantly quicker, quieter, and gets an excellent fuel economy of 35 mpg overall.
The cabin is particularly well done, and a noticeable step up over the last Tucson, with quality materials, stylish controls, plenty of padded areas, and a slick, upscale appearance for the class. The infotainment touch screen has large, simple-to-decipher icons and features standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Most versions of the Tucson come with a conventional, easy-to-operate gear selector; the hybrid and high-end trims get a less intuitive column-mounted twist knob setup.
The driving position delivers a commanding view out, along with plenty of headroom and well-placed armrests, but the plastic center console intrudes on the driver’s right knee space. The front seats are flat, firm, and supportive, and our tested mid-level SEL comes with heated seats, unlike some competitors. The generous rear seat rivals the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, with lots of head- and knee room, and plenty of foot space under the front seats. The cargo area is ample, too, despite the SUV’s swoopy new styling.
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning with reverse emergency braking became standard with July 2021 production, so be sure your vehicle is equipped with these important active safety features.