Hyundai Tucson Review 2023

Sometimes car companies feel the need to make a statement, particularly if they have an unwanted image to shake off. Hyundai has clearly decided that its midsize SUV, the Tucson, just wasn't interesting enough to look at in the face of competition from the Peugeot 3008, Ford Kuga and Mazda CX-5. Enter the new version, which seems to have a point to prove. Read our Hyundai Tucson review to find out everything you need to know.

The previous Tucson followed the old Nissan Qashqai's template by ticking many rational boxes, but also being totally uninteresting to look at, sit in and drive. Nothing particularly wrong with that: it was a huge success in terms of sales, just like the ubiquitous Qashqai. 

Clearly that wasn't enough for Hyundai. Or, the Korean brand felt there was just too much competition in the family SUV sector, so the new generation had to be bold to stand out. And, well, it isn't exactly subtle, is it? 

That angular shape, huge grille festooned in LED lights and mass of creases may put some of Hyundai's more conservative customers off, but it'll surely bring in buyers wanting to stand out from the crowd. And the Tucson has plenty more strings to its bow than design. 

The interior, for example, is a huge step forward. Though less 'out there' than the exterior, it's very plushly trimmed for this end of the market, and comes with plenty of advanced technology. It's also well equipped whichever model you go for. Hyundai hasn't forgotten the important SUV qualities, though, so it's spacious for passengers and offers a sizeable boot. 

Although diesel used to be a huge chunk of Tucson sales, Hyundai no longer offers the new model with a diesel engine. That's perhaps no surprise in the current climate, though, and the Tucson is well catered for in the fuel efficiency department with mild-hybrid petrols, a full ('self-charging') hybrid and a plug-in hybrid available.

The latest Tucson is a bit more sporty in its dynamic make-up. It's a fair bit sharper in the bends, although it isn't as enjoyable to drive all-round as a SEAT Ateca. Where it does fall down a little is the ride quality: it's far from uncomfortable, but there are softer-feeling rivals. 

Still, with keen pricing and equipment levels, Hyundai's typically generous warranty and loads of space, there's a lot to like with the new Tucson. 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Hyundai Tucson review.

There's loads of space up front in the Hyundai Tucson and an airy feel, along with plenty of storage. Getting comfortable as a driver is easy, partly because even base models get an electrically adjustable lumbar support. There's plenty of adjustment in the wheel and seats, too, although the driving position itself isn't as lofty as some SUVs, so you can't lord it over other drivers. 

Sitting in the back is no hardship, either, because the Tucson's rear seats are comfortable and recline to allow for relaxation on long journeys. It's a shame the seats don't slide forwards and backwards, though, while cars such as the Citroen C5 Aircross which have three individual seats are more accommodating for middle seat passengers. 

Still, even without the sliding seats there's plenty of legroom for even tall adults to get comfortable, plus acres of headroom. There's also big windows to prevent it feeling claustrophobic back there. 

Those seats split in a useful 40/20/40 arrangement when folded, but it's a pity that only top-spec Ultimate trim gets handy levers on the sides of the boot to easily fold them.

With the seats up there's an impressively large boot, with a 620-litre capacity on the petrol models. It's worth noting that figure is less on all the hybrid models to a varying degree because of the electronics or battery pack being mounted under the boot floor. But even those versions have space for several suitcases. 

The days of Hyundai being considered as a budget brand are long gone, as the prices for the Tucson reflect. Happily, there's been a huge uplift in quality in the last few years, and the Tucson is now even more plush inside than Volkswagen's rival, the Tiguan. 

There's more dense, soft-touch materials covering the dash and doors, and you won't find scratchy plastics even if you dig around the lower areas of the cabin. Nothing feels flimsy, either - although base models don't exactly have premium seat upholstery. That aside, this is one of the nicest cabins in the class. 

There will be no fear of missing out as every Hyundai Tucson gets the same 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment - even the entry-level model.  It's a very good system, with a crisp and responsive screen and logical menus. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is sat-nav. 

All Tucsons also get a clear and customisable 10.25-inch digital dial display as standard. That's not something you can say with every rival, where the digital dials that you see in the glossy brochure are either optional or not available on lower-end trims. 

Our only gripe is that the mass of touch sensitive buttons below the touchscreen for climate and other functions aren't as easy to prod on the move as a simple old physical button, while the glossy black trim gets covered in fingerprints. 

The very cheapest Hyundai Tucson SE Connect with a 150PS petrol engine is now just over £29,000. That's nearly £4,000 more than the cheapest Nissan Qashqai and more than a SEAT Ateca, Skoda Karoq and Kia Sportage, although it's a touch cheaper than an entry-level VW Tiguan. 

The Tucson does counter by being as well equipped at the base point as mid-spec versions of these models. But the high-end hybrid models push prices over £40,000, which reaches into premium territory. Really, the Tucson makes the most financial sense lower down the lineup. 

It's also a shame that the plug-in hybrid can't be had in base SE Connect trim, meaning that the cheapest (N-Line trim) version is nearly £7,000 more than the self-charging hybrid. You'll really need to do the sums to see if the PHEV's fuel-saving benefit makes financial sense. 

There's no weak link in terms of running costs: even the entry-level petrol Hyundai Tucson manages 41.5mpg combined. That's boosted a little bit with the 48-volt mild-hybrid system and an automatic gearbox, up to 43.5mpg. 

The self-charging hybrid manages just under 50mpg officially, and that seems to be a realistic figure in real-world driving - if you're mourning the loss of the diesel, this will fulfil that brief very well. 

The plug-in hybrid, as is always the case, has a rather bonkers-sounding official MPG figure of 201.8mpg. You'll only get close to that with regular charging and short journeys, but at least a competitive 38-mile all electric range means most should be able to complete their entire commute on electric power.

The latest Hyundai Tucson has a smallish steering wheel with plenty of directness, meaning it feels a bit more agile than it actually is. The handling is pretty eager for a tall SUV, although push it hard and it doesn't have the composure of a SEAT Ateca or Skoda Karoq. 

Front-wheel drive models have plenty of grip, although if four-wheel drive is essential you'll find it on the higher-powered mild-hybrid petrol or the plug-in hybrid. 

The ride comfort is acceptable on all versions, although it borders on firm with the 19-inch wheel option. Keep the spec modest and get the 17 or 18-inch wheels and it's still not as adept as brushing off bumps as a Mazda CX-5 or Citroen C5 Aircross, but it's not bad. Road noise is well isolated on every model, though, and high-speed comfort is pretty good. 

Every Tucson is a doddle to drive around town, with light steering. decent all-round visibility and standard parking sensors and a reversing camera. You don't get front parking sensors on the base model, though. 

All versions of the Hyundai Tucson are a variation of the same theme - a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. This then becomes mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid depending on version. There are no diesels any more, which is becoming almost par for the course now even in the SUV sector. 

The only version offered with a manual gearbox is the base 150PS 1.6 unit without mild-hybrid assistance. It's fast enough, although the dual-clutch automatic is faster still, and we reckon the Tucson feels most appropriate without a manual anyway. 

There's a bit more pace offered up by the 180PS version of this engine, which is mild-hybrid and automatic-only. It's also four-wheel drive, which makes quite a significant dent in real-world fuel economy, while the clumsy automatic gearbox doesn't do it any favours either.

Our favourite Tucson we've driven so far is the full hybrid, which puts out a healthy 230PS and can take the Tucson from 0-62mph in under eight seconds. It's hardly thrilling, but there's useful urge, while it's very smooth and refined when you're trundling around town, The six-speed dual clutch automatic isn't that keen to kick down, either, preferring you to take a gentler pace. 

The 265PS plug-in hybrid is the most powerful but offers broadly similar performance to the full hybrid, because of the weight of its extra batteries. The ability to mooch around on electric power alone is pleasant, and that larger battery means that where it's difficult to keep the full hybrid in electric mode above town speeds, the PHEV will take you up to motorway speeds before the engine kicks in.

The Hyundai Tucson has been awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP, making it one of the safest cars in its class. 

Part of that is down to its ability to absorb a crash, but much of it is also the huge array of safety systems as standard: forward collision assist with pedestrian and bike detection, lane follow and keep assist, intelligent speed limit assist and multi-collision braking. 

It's worth noting that lesser Tucsons don't get blind spot monitoring or rear-cross traffic alert, however. 

All Hyundai Tucsons have the same braked towing capacity of 1650kg - except the plug-in hybrid, which sees that fall to 1350kg. 

The Tucson's weight means it's perfectly capable of towing a small-to-medium caravan or trailer, but the larger Santa Fe is the best option if you're regularly towing heavy loads. 

SE Connect trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, and body-coloured bumpers. Interior features include a leather steering wheel and gear knob, dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control, heated and folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. A comprehensive range of active safety systems include Forward Collision Assist (FCA) – with car, pedestrian and cycle detection, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Manual Speed Limit Assist (MSLA), Multi Collision Braking (MCA), and tyre pressure monitoring with individual tyre display.

The all-new Tucson is equipped with a 10.25-inch supervision cluster and 10.25-inch AVN screen, through which the driver can access Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car services that encompass Connected Routing, Last Mile Navigation and a new User Profile feature. Drivers can also locate their vehicle, lock and unlock it remotely, or view the car’s fuel level remotely, via the Bluelink app.

The Tucson Premium is available from £30,195 in 1.6 T-GDi 150PS 6MT guise. The trim line is also available with a 1.6 T-GDi 150PS 48-volt Mild Hybrid with 6iMT or 7DCT or a 1.6 T-GDi 230PS Hybrid powertrain with a 6AT. It builds on SE Connect specification with the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels (19-inch on Hybrid models). Other upgrades include LED headlamps, ambient interior lighting, heated front seats and heated steering wheel, smart adaptive cruise control with stop go function (DCT and Hybrid models), front and rear parking sensors with rear-view camera, and smart key with keyless entry and engine start/stop button.

It also includes a KRELL premium audio system with eight-speakers and a subwoofer, as well as a wireless smartphone charging pad. Additional safety equipment includes Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW) with additional Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) on Hybrid models, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with additional Junction Turning assist on DCT and Hybrid models, as well as Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) and Safe Exit Warning.

The range topping Ultimate trim starts at £32,895 for a 1.6 T-GDi 150PS 6MT. It is also available with a 1.6-litre T-GDi 150PS 48-volt Mild Hybrid with 6iMT or 7DCT, a 1.6 T-GDi 230PS Hybrid with a 6AT and a 1.6-litre T-GDi 180PS 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain with a 7DCT and 4WD. Upgrades include 19-inch wheels, satin chrome door mouldings, leather seat trim with electric adjustment to driver and front passenger seats – both with heat and ventilation function, and driver’s seat position memory function.

Ultimate trim also includes heated rear seats, three-zone climate control with separate rear-seat control, panoramic sunroof with front section electric tilt and slide function, and a smart electric tailgate. Additional safety equipment includes Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA), Highway Drive Assist (HDA), and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCCA) on all powertrains.

Also available is a ‘Tech Pack’ option that includes Electronic Control Suspension (ECS), Around View Monitor (AVM) and Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM). On Hybrid models, the Tech Pack also includes Remote Smart Park Assist to aid parking in confined or difficult spaces.

The all-new Tucson is available in nine colour finishes: Polar White, Engine Red, Phantom Black, Dark Knight, Shimmering Silver, Silky Bronze, Amazon Grey, Sunset Red and Teal.