Hyundai’s all-new Tucson – RAISING ARIZONA

Hyundai’s all-new Tucson – 

RAISING ARIZONA

The Hyundai Tucson is all-new for the 2022 model year, and is now available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants for the first time. There are many things to love about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and a select few items that feel like a letdown. Nevertheless, as a whole the new Tucson is a well-designed, comfortable, spacious crossover SUV that will undoubtedly become a common sight in parking lots next year. 

Sculpted Design

This fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson offers a new exterior design, and it is sharp. Light bounces off its sculpted body lines, which made me think of a style of art called cubism. Every panel reflects sunlight differently, giving it the appearance that it’s slicing through the air while parked. You can walk around the new Tucson several times and spot a new design detail in each lap. Everywhere you look, lines seem to rush towards a point like the tip of an arrow. As a result, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is a visually appealing crossover. 

A Variety of Trims to Choose  

There is a luxury in choice, and Hyundai does a great job offering that to its customers. The Hyundai Tucson is available in four trim levels, not counting its Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants. Among the four trim levels are the sporty N-Line and the top-of-the-range Limited. (The model featured in this article is the Tucson Limited). In addition, the Tucson Hybrid models each offer their own trim levels, allowing buyers to choose the best model to fit their specific needs. 

Comfortable Interior Space

Hyundai has dramatically stepped up its game in interiors and has, what I believe, to be one of the best-looking steering wheels in modern times. The molding on the doors carries over into the dashboard and surrounds the driver and passenger before coming down the center console for a sense of personal space when seated upfront. The Hyundai Tucson can fit up to five passengers with plenty of room in the back for luggage, family pets, baby strollers, IT equipment, guitar cases, and whatever else life requires you to carry. 

The Limited trim spec features two 10.25-inch digital screens. One is used as the gauge cluster and the other as the infotainment screen. Lower trim levels get a smaller 8-inch infotainment screen. The center console does not offer traditional buttons and dials in favor of touch-sensitive controls. Some may not like this as it can require more time to memorize commonly used functions without looking down or risk selecting another item by mistake; it’s a bit of a learning curve but not a deal-breaker. 

Drivetrains 

Only one engine is available on the gasoline 2022 Hyundai Tucson, a DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 187-hp and 178 lb.-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is available on all trim levels for the Tucson, and is standard for Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid. These models use a 1.6-liter T-GDi engine with a 44-kW electric motor to produce a combined output of 266-hp and 258 lb.-ft of torque. The Plug-In Hybrid variant uses a 13.8-kWh battery to provide up to 32 miles of zero-emission range. Compared, the gasoline Tucson (with AWD) gets a combined 26 mpg, with 35 mpg combined for the Plug-In Hybrid and 38 mpg combined in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

Standard Safety Features on 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited 

In addition to 19-inch alloy wheels, heated leather-trimmed seats, Bose premium audio, and panoramic sunroof, the Tucson Limited comes loaded with essentially every driver assistance option Hyundai has to offer. 

Nit Picks with the New Hyundai Tucson 

I have two nit-picks with this new Hyundai. The first one involves color options. Hyundai offers the Tucson in seven colors, including the Calypso Red featured in this article. My grievance is that three of the seven colors are different shades of grey (not including black). This is a real shame considering the effort that went into crafting a stylish exterior only to be dressed in dark, bland colors that often blend into the pavement of parking lots and highways. 

My second issue is the N-Line performance trim level. We’ve seen Hyundai do wonders with the 276-hp N-Line Elantra and 290-hp N-Line Sonata, providing satisfying bangs for your buck as performance variants. Yet the N-Line Tucson is merely a performance appearance package that dresses the interior with sporty accents and gives the SUV a rear spoiler. One can only assume this was because most would not buy a hot rod Hyundai Tucson. In addition, the hybrid variants already offer over 266-hp, so there is no need for a trim level that offers more. Nevertheless, performance appearance packages always carry a sense of unfilled value. 

SUMMARY

Beyond these two details, I found the new Hyundai Tucson to be a capable and comfortable crossover SUV that offers buyers plenty of personal choices, along with those safety features to better handle the demands of daily life. Starting price for the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is $24,950. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid starts at $29,200 and $34,750, respectively. Finally, the Hyundai Tucson limited begins at $34,850.