Hyundai Tucson Review & Prices

The Hyundai Tucson is an eye-catching SUV with petrol or hybrid engines and a posh interior. It’s not the most comfortable over bumps, but it looks great and will be a trouble-free ownership experience.

With its standout styling covering a super-sensible cabin, the Tucson is a bit like a Prada tote bag - it’s handsome enough you won’t mind showing it off to people, but it can still carry all the detritus of modern life with room to spare.

As a family SUV, there are more alternatives to the Hyundai Tucson than you’ll know what to do with. The Citroen C5 Aircross, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq, and MG HS are just a few of the offerings, but the Tucson has such a wide range - from basic petrol, manual models at the bottom to fully-loaded plug-in hybrids at the top - that you might also consider it as an alternative to vehicles in the class above or below.

The Tucson is one of the more standout models in terms of styling, though. It has a huge and intricate front grille which incorporates triple-stacked LED daytime running lights - the actual headlights are situated lower down. The sides feature wild angles and plastic cladding around the wheelarches, while at the rear there’s a full-width lightbar, hidden rear wiper and chrome details on the rear pillars.

Group Test: Honda HR-V v Hyundai Tucson v Kia Sportage v Nissan Qashqai

The interior is more conventional, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad - far from it. The two large screens on top of the dash are fitted into a single, curved panel, and they sit above a full set of climate controls - a nice touch and one that makes the cabin much easier to use.

Better yet, despite the Hyundai’s more budget leanings, everything inside feels really great. Materials used are uniformly high-quality, and it’s screwed together fantastically well. The Tucson is a car that feels as though it’ll be up to the rigours of family life.

Space for your passengers and luggage is good too. The rear seats have enough space for bulky car seats or lanky teens, with plenty of leg and head-room - and at 620 litres, the boot is pretty much the largest among SUVs of this size, even beating the cavernous Volkswagen Tiguan.

There are three engine options - petrol, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid. All have their plus points but you wouldn’t call even the beefy 252hp PHEV a sporty drive. None are especially efficient, either - a Toyota C-HR hybrid uses much less fuel than the Tucson Hybrid, and the VW Tiguan absolutely mullers the Tucson PHEV for electric range.

And while the Tucson’s controls are light, visibility is good and most models have automatic gearboxes for even more effortless driving, the firm suspension and rather noisy tyres mean it’s not the most relaxing thing to take on a long journey.

A Citroen C5 Aircross is the more comfortable option, and the SEAT Ateca is much more fun in the corners.

The Tucson does tick most of the boxes that make a car a great family SUV - but it’s a shame that its wild and crazy styling doesn’t translate into a car that’s particularly exciting to own. But with a five-year warranty and high ratings for customer satisfaction, maybe excitement isn’t what’s important - consistency is.

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The Tucson range kicks off at just over £33,000 for a petrol model in Advance trim. That leaps to more than £36,000 if you want the self-charging hybrid, or just a smidge under £40,000 for the plug-in hybrid.

That’s a few thousand more than an entry-level Qashqai, Karoq, Sportage or C5 Aircross, but quite a bit cheaper than the closest Volkswagen Tiguan.

There are five trim levels - Advance, Premium, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate, and equipment is generous on all of them. Even the base car gets 17-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch screens, ambient lighting, cruise control, all-round parking sensors and a wireless phone charger. Premium adds a powered tailgate, posh sound system and keyless start, while N Line models have a sportier look both inside and out. Ultimate range-toppers come with just about everything.

The Hyundai Tucson covers all of the bases for comfort and refinement, but it’s not quite as much fun to drive as a Ford Kuga

In town

First things first, the Tucson provides that all-important raised driving position that so many people love about SUVs. It gives a good all-round view, though there is a small blind spot where the front windscreen pillar meets the mirror. You might have to move your head a little when pulling out of junctions, but the large mirrors give a clear picture of what’s behind.

In every Tucson, there are rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, so it’s a doddle to back into even narrow spaces in a multi-storey bay. You’ll also find the steering is light and the turning circle just tight enough to negotiate mini roundabouts without running out of road on the outside.

The only Tucson with a manual gearbox is the entry-point 1.6-litre turbo petrol motor with 160hp. It has a light action and feels fine to use for gadding about town - but the smooth automatic version is better. Or there’s the more traditional type of automatic ’box in the 215hp hybrid and 252hp plug-in hybrid models that’s seamless.

With the plug-in hybrid version, you can travel for around 40 miles on battery power before the petrol engine is required. That’s ideal for most urban commutes and journeys, and charging up is as simple as with any other electric car.

The only demerit for the Tucson when driving around the city is the suspension feels a little on the firm side. It’s not crashy or noisy or uncomfortable, it just picks up on ridges and ruts that a Skoda Karoq brushes over.

On the motorway

If the ride of the Hyundai Tucson feels too firm in town, it quickly smooths out on faster roads to give the car excellent composure. When you meet big dips or ridges, the Hyundai is unfazed and it gets on with the job of taking you where you want to go with minimal fuss.

The steering is less impressive as it’s too light on the open road. Where it’s great around town, you will find it doesn’t give you quite the connected feel of a Seat Ateca.

Nor is the Tucson quite as quiet at higher speeds as a Volvo XC40, though it’s still more than refined enough to carry on a conversation with passengers in a normal voice.

The engines are happy on the motorway, pulling smoothly to get you up to the national limit. At a cruise, they’re quiet and decently efficient. There’s also cruise control and a speed limiter to avoid the risk of wandering above the maximum allowed.

On a twisty road

Just like on the motorway, the Hyundai Tucson’s steering is the fly in the ointment when it comes to driving on country roads. You just don’t have the same high level of confidence turning into corners that you get in a Ford Kuga.

The Tucson much prefers a laid-back approach, which suits the car’s overall demeanour anyway. However, the suspension does a good job of preventing too much body roll and loses that firmness you get in town to become quite supple.

The all-wheel drive fitted to the some hybrid versions of the Tucson will give added traction in bad weather, but don’t expect to go off-roading. Every Tucson’s engine is willing on country roads, but the 252hp hybrid is the best bet if you like your cars with strong acceleration.

Everyone will find a comfortable driving position in the Hyundai Tucson’s well-made cabin, but three abreast in the back is a tight fit

Finding the ideal driving position in the Hyundai Tucson is straightforward as all models have height adjustment for the driver’s seat. In the Ultimate model, this is done electrically, and all but the base Advance come with heated seats for those in the front. However, even the SE Connect has electrically operated lumbar support for your lower back.

Moving the steering wheel to suit your preferred seating position is easy and the wheel moves up and down, and in and out. In all but the base trim, you also enjoy a heated steering wheel for those chilly winter mornings.

You’ll also find two large cupholders in the centre console to keep your morning coffee safely upright. In front of this, or next to it in automatic cars, there’s a big tray where you can keep your phone, and all models get a wireless charging pad in this spot. However, there are also two USB ports and a 12-volt charging point.

Behind the gear selector, there’s a very storage bin with a lid that doubles as an armrest, and there’s some added pockets down the side of the transmission tunnel.

There’s also a big glovebox in the Tucson, and the door pockets are broad enough to hold the usual size of water bottle.

Space in the back seats

Access to the back seats of the Hyundai Tucson is good, so no problems lifting kids into their seats here. However, the ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer seats are stuffed between the upper and lower cushions, so you end up prodding and hoping when trying to secure a child seat in place.

Room for kids and adults is very good in the Tucson, though three grown-ups will find shoulder room more than a little snug. The centre seat has a slightly raised base, but there’s still ample headroom and plenty of space for feet.

The outer two seats, which are heated in the top level Ultimate model, have a mildly scooped out base, which can see the front of the base dig into your thighs. However, it’s pretty comfy in here and vision out is fine, too.

Netted pockets and adequate door bins cover off storage, and cupholders in the fold-down armrest. There’s a pair of USB ports to charge up the kids’ devices.

Boot space

The size of the Hyundai Tucson’s boot depends on which engine you choose. With the 160hp 1.6-litre motor, you get a whopping 620 litres of space. However, in the full hybrid model it dips to 577 litres and the 252hp plug-in version has 558 litres because of the need to package those big batteries. This is still very generous, but if you need the maximum load capacity, the base engine is the one to have.

It's the same story with the 40-20-40 split and tip rear seats folded down. There’s as much as 1,799 litres in the 160hp model, dropping to 1,737 litres for the plug-in Tucson.

Compared to alternatives, the Tucson comes out on top more often than not. The Kia Sportage offers up to 591 litres, Seat's Ateca is far off at 510 litres and the Peugeot 3008 is in a similar place at 520 litres. Only the Volkswagen Tiguan is on a different level at 977 litres, while Volvo's XC40 is on a similar level at 586 litres.

Folding the seats is very easy thanks to levers in the boot’s side walls and the floor is almost flat with the rear chairs lowered.

Another neat Hyundai solution is a handy space under the boot floor to store the load cover, so it’s not left rattling around the boot when removed.

Lots of high quality materials mix with a slick modern style to make the Tucson feel very classy inside, it’s just a shame that connecting Android Auto or Apple CarPlay cuts the screen size

The Hyundai Tucson might well be a family sized SUV, but when you take a first look at its interior you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a much posher car. The mix of materials and the way they are put together is top notch and gives the Tucson the look and sense of a car that costs a lot more.

Hyundai doesn’t waste this initial good impression either, as every model comes with a 12.3-inch ‘Supervision Cluster’. Or what you and I call the main dash screen. This digital display shows the usual speedo plus a second round dial to tell you how much power is being used or fed back into the battery by brake regeneration.

The display is clear and easy to read, even in bright sunlight, and it can also be configured using the steering wheel controls to show all of the driving info you want or need.

In the centre of the dash, there’s another 12.3-inch screen for the infotainment, set under the same seamless piece of glass as the driver display.

Hyundai sticks with separate buttons for the heater, though they are electronic ones that sit flush with the dash panel. As a result, they are not quite as intuitive to use as normal physical buttons, but it’s still a lot better than the fiddly set-up in the Peugeot 3008, for example.

The Tucson's infotainment screen is much more integrated than the previous generations, and it’s simple to use. Its menus are arranged in a logical order and the screen is reasonably quick to respond to a tap from your finger.

Screen resolution is good on the 12.3-inch monitor and it doesn’t show up finger marks the way some can in direct sunlight.

It’s easy to pair your phone to the Hyundai’s infotainment, which is done through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, when using these systems, part of the screen’s width is taken up with a pointless logo, so you get a reduced amount of screen for the sat-nav or other functions.

With most Hyundai Tucsons using hybrid power of some sort, you’d be right to expect some decent economy and emissions figures. The non-hybrid 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with six-speed manual gearbox offers an official economy figure of 41.5mpg and 154g/km of CO2 emissions. Choose the mild hybrid version with this engine and the dual-clutch automatic gearbox and you’ll see an improvement to 44.8mpg and 142g/km.

The hybrid Tucson improves this to nearly 50mpg and reduces CO2 to 129g/km, which isn't too impressive compared with some alternatives. The full hybrid Renault Symbioz emits less than 100g/km and returns over 60mpg.

Best of the lot is the plug-in hybrid Tucson with its 252hp combined of petrol and electric motors. It delivers an impressive official 282.5mpg along with 22g/km of CO2 output. Of course, that's a pipe dream unless you plug in frequently, but do so and you'll enjoy low running costs. Not the lowest, though - an MG HS or Volkswagen Tiguan are both in lower bands for company car tax thanks to their superior all-electric range.

The Hyundai Tucson comes with the usual front, side and curtain airbags as most other SUVs in its class. However, the Tucson also has a central front airbag to prevent the driver and front passenger banging into each other in an accident.

Every Tucson has lane keeping assistance, lane follow assist, and intelligent speed limiting. You also get a driver fatigue warning and automatic emergency braking.

The N Line gains a safe exit warning to help when pulling out of space, while the upper three trims have junction turning assistance.

In these three trims, there’s a blind spot collision warning, as well as rear cross traffic alert that’s also shared with the N Line model.

Only the Ultimate version of the Tucson has Highway Drive Assist that offers a small degree of self-driving ability, though you have to keep your hands on the steering wheel and it won’t work in trickier driving situations.

There’s been a single recall for this generation of Hyundai Tucson. It concerns the rear brakes, where the brake caliper could fail. All cars affected should have been dealt with by now.

Hyundai provides a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty as standard with its cars, which is only beaten by Kia and Toyota.