Hyundai Tucson Review & Prices

The Hyundai Tucson is an eye-catching SUV, available with a posh interior and the choice of a petrol or hybrid engine. It's not the comfiest over bumps, but it will offer a trouble-free ownership experience and is one of the best-looking cars among alternatives.

That standout design, combined with its super-sensible cabin is like carrying a Prada tote bag around. It’s stylish enough that you can show it off to people, yet without compromising on carrying the basics of modern life with room to spare.

Given that the Hyundai Tucson competes in one of the most popular new car segments, there are more alternatives than you can wrap your head around. Big players include the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq, Volkswagen Tiguan, Citroen C5 Aircross and MG HS, but there’s a huge range of options beyond those.

Yet, with such a breadth of engine options - from basic petrol, manual models at its entry point to highly-specced plug-in hybrids at the very top of the range - it’s a viable alternative to models from both above and below its price bracket.

With its huge, intricate front grille incorporating triple-stacked LED daytime running lights (its actual headlights sit low down and pushed out on the bumper), the Tucson really stands out in a segment crowded with generic designs. That outlandish styling carries through to the rear, too, with its distinctive full-width light bar, hidden rear wiper, and neat chrome details.

Yet, the cabin of the Hyundai Tucson is a very conventional one. Don’t pin that as a bad thing, with high-quality materials used throughout despite the car’s more budget leanings. It’ll take whatever family life can throw at it, metaphorically and probably literally in the case of a wayward iPad.

Two large screens on top of the dash sit above a full set of climate controls, a nice touch that makes the cabin much easier to use compared with more ‘modern’ alternatives, and the software within those is intuitive to use.

Space for your passengers and luggage is brilliant, too. There’s enough room in the rear seats for bulky car seats and lanky teens alike, while a 620-litre boot capacity puts it right at the top of the class. It’ll even best the incredibly popular and cavernous Volkswagen Tiguan in that regard.

There are three engines to pick from with the Tucson – a petrol, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. All have plus points, but none are particularly exciting, even the relatively beefy 252hp PHEV. None of them score highly on efficiency, with the hybrid-only Toyota C-HR spending much less time at the pump than the equivalent Tucson, while a VW Tiguan plug-in hybrid will go far further on a charge.

The light steering of the Tucson will make it effortless to whizz around town, and visibility is good, but firm suspension and a high level of road noise coming into the cabin mean it isn’t the most relaxing car to take on long journeys regularly. For something more comfortable, look at the Citroen C5 Aircross. If you’re after something a bit sportier, you would be better served with a SEAT Ateca.

As a package, the Hyundai Tucson ticks most of the boxes that make for a fantastic family SUV, although it’s a shame the wild styling doesn’t translate to a more exciting car to own. It will at least be stress-free, thanks to a five-year warranty and the brand’s high ratings for customer satisfaction.

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That prices it a few thousand more than many of its key competitors in the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq, Kia Sportage and Citroen C5 Aircross, but places it cheaper than the equivalent Volkswagen Tiguan.

There are five trim levels (although availability varies by engine choice), with Advance, Premium, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate on offer, 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 of the Tucson when driving around the city is that its suspension feels a little on the firm side. It’s not crashy or noisy or uncomfortable, it just picks up on ridges and ruts in the road that a Skoda Karoq would comfortably brush 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 SEAT Ateca or 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 system fitted to some hybrid versions of the Tucson will give extra traction in bad weather, but don’t expect to be able to take it 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 an additional storage bin with a lid that doubles as an armrest, and there are 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 an indentation in the base, which does lead to it digging into your thighs a little. However, it’s pretty comfy in here otherwise 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 to accommodate 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 652 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 calliper could fail. All cars affected should have been dealt with by now.

Hyundai provides a five-year warranty as standard with its cars, which is only beaten by Kia, MG and Toyota for time. However, unlike those brands, Hyundai covers you for unlimited mileage during that time.