Hyundai Tucson review

Introduction

If the Hyundai Tucson name makes you think of Tucson, Arizona – with its wild frontiers and gunslingers – that's actually quite appropriate.

You see, the Tucson is in a gunfight with lots of other sharp-shooting family SUVs – and needs to be darned quick on the draw to see off its rivals in this highly competitive car class. To help give it an edge, Hyundai gives Tucson buyers the choice of petrol, hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engines (there's no longer a diesel option).

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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

1.6T Hybrid Black Line SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (239 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	60
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£291.81
Initial payment	£3,501.72

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

In partnership with

£3,502 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

Plus, the Tucson was updated in 2024 and given a more user-friendly dashboard, revised suspension and tweaks to the exterior, including a redesigned grille.

Hyundai Tucson video review

But is all this enough? When the gunsmoke settles, is the Hyundai Tucson an SUV worth riding off into the sunset in or will you want to leave it stabled?

Read more: Complete the What Car? Reliability Survey now and you could win a prize

What’s new?

- March 2026: Trim range revised to become Element, Black Line, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate
- April 2024: Facelift introduced, bringing a fresh exterior and interior design, plus five trim levels
- June 2022: Named ‘Best Plug-in Hybrid for Towing’ at What Car? Tow Car Awards
- January 2022: Named ‘Best Family SUV for Practicality’ at What Car? Car of the Year Awards
- June 2021: N Line hybrid and plug-in hybrid models revealed, featuring sportier design details and 19in alloy wheels
- March 2021: Plug-in hybrid version added, with 261bhp and an all-electric range of 35 miles

Overview

With its spacious, user-friendly interior, cavernous boot and wide range of engines, the Hyundai Tucson is well worth considering. Some buyers might prefer the tidier ride and handling balance of a Kia Sportage, but the Tucson’s slightly softer set-up will work well for many. The entry-level petrol engine (combined with the entry-level Element trim) is the best choice for private buyers, while the PHEV is the better option as a company car.

Pros

• Well-made, user-friendly interior
• Spacious for passengers and luggage
• Good range of engines

Cons

• Some rivals have tidier handling
• Slightly more expensive to buy than rivals
• No sliding rear seats

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox

The Hyundai Tucson engine range kicks off with a 1.6-litre petrol engine (badged 1.6T 150). It feels strong enough – acceleration is roughly on a par with the Nissan Qashqai DIG-T 158 – and you can get it with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox. This is our engine of choice.

Next up is the full hybrid (HEV), badged 1.6T 239 Hybrid. It still uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine. However, the battery and electric motor allows the HEV to travel on electric power alone for short distances. With the engine and motor working together, there’s plenty of poke – noticeably more than the regular petrol Tucson.

And finally, there’s the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It’s called the 1.6T 252 Plug-in Hybrid Automatic 2WD, and as you might’ve guessed, it also has a 1.6-litre petrol engine. But compared with the HEV, the battery is much larger and its electric motor a bit more powerful. The PHEV is actually slower, though – due to the battery’s heavier weight.

The Tucson PHEV has an official electric-only range of 43 miles. That’s slightly better than the Ford Kuga and on a par with the Kia Sportage. However, if you want exceptional electric range (and cheaper company car tax), check out the MG HS PHEV, Omoda 9 and Skoda Kodiaq iV.

The HEV and the PHEV both use a six-speed automatic ‘box, and unfortunately, it’s slightly hesitant to shift down when you need a burst of acceleration. The petrol’s manual has a good-enough shift, but it’s not especially slick or satisfying.

Suspension and ride comfort

The Tucson has a slightly softer ride than a Kia Sportage, but tweaks to the suspension (as part of the 2024 mid-life update) mean it deals with bumps and potholes at low speeds in a far more controlled manner than before.

It’s only along really bumpy roads where the Tucson feels a bit floaty and bouncy, and it takes a little longer than a Sportage to settle back down again. The Skoda Karoq or Volvo XC40 are also more settled, but the Tucson is far more comfortable than a Ford Kuga.

The smallest 17in set of wheels you get with entry-level Element trim help to maximise ride comfort.

Handling

While the latest Tucson doesn’t pitch into bends as much as it used to and there’s plenty of grip available, it’s still best enjoyed at a more leisurely pace.

When you’re driving sedately it flows along happily enough, but if you push harder, the steering doesn’t build up much weight and you find it’s not as easy to place accurately on the road as a Kia Sportage or Volkswagen Tiguan. Those models have tighter body control, making them more stable and agile to drive spiritedly.

Noise and vibration

At low speeds, the Tucson is well refined. Both the Hybrid and PHEV are hushed in electric mode and the petrol engine doesn't become vocal or sound coarse when it wakes up – unless it's worked hard.

There’s a fraction more wind noise on motorways than in a Volvo XC40 but it’s still pretty low for a family SUV. There’s not much road noise either, and occupants are slightly better isolated from the outside world than in a Kia Sportage. Previously, the Tucson’s soft suspension would twang over expansion joints, but the 2024 update vastly reduced this.

The Tucson’s brakes are powerful enough but the response from the pedal isn’t quite as immediate as it is in the Sportage so it’s not quite as easy to come to a smooth stop.

“I like that you can adjust the strength of the regenerative braking system in the Tucson Hybrid by using the paddles on the steering wheel. It’s something you can’t do in a Kia Sportage.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Driving position and dashboard

The Hyundai Tucson’s driving seat isn’t as high up as in the Volvo XC40 – something to think about if you want a lofty SUV driving position. Still, it's supportive through corners and comfy on long journeys thanks to electrically adjustable lumbar support.

On Black Line trim and above, the Tucson gets a 12.3in digital driver's display that isn’t particularly configurable, but it is easy to read at a glance. Some drivers might find the top corners are partially obscured by the steering wheel if it’s set low down, though.

All the buttons and physical dials on the dashboard are positioned closely around you, including a large control panel below the infotainment touchscreen that makes it easy to adjust the temperature. There are some touch-sensitive controls that are trickier to operate by feel but at least they’re not ones you'll use frequently.

Visibility, parking sensors and cameras

The Tucson's front pillars are not that chunky, but some might find the angle they’re set at a little obscuring through tighter corners or at T-junctions. Otherwise, the low dashboard gives you a clear view ahead over the bonnet. You get a clearer view over your shoulder in the Tucson than in a Kia Sportage thanks to its larger and longer rear side windows.

The rear pillars are very chunky so you’ll almost certainly end up relying on the parking aids. Thankfully, you get front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard. Top-spec N Line S and Ultimate trims gain a 360-degree camera and a system called Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM), so that when you flick on the indicator a camera feed shows an image of what’s in your blind-spot on the driver's display.

N Line S trim introduces matrix LED headlights that automatically adjust to avoid dazzling other road users when on high beam.

Sat nav and infotainment

All Tucsons get a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen positioned beside the driver's display. It’s as crisp as the best flatscreen TVs and has smart graphics.

The infotainment menus are straightforward and the software is responsive enough to inputs, if not quite as snappy as the best touchscreens, including the ones in the Renault Austral and VW Tiguan. The icons could be a little larger to make them easier to aim for, but at least there's a row of physical shortcut buttons on the panel below that’s handy for hopping between functions.

Hyundai’s penchant for giving you lots of kit means sat-nav, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring are standard. All versions get wireless phone-charging and a six-speaker sound system. Moving up to N Line Edition trim upgrades the stereo to an eight-speaker Krell unit.

Quality

The upgrades made to the Tucson’s interior in 2024 improved the range of materials used. They're soft and dense where it counts and the finish is better overall, with buttons that operate with a well-damped action.

What’s missing, however, is the dollop of premium panache and high-end material quality you get in the Volvo XC40, but it’s still a step up from the Ford Kuga interior, which has more hard plastics.

“I found that the twist-operated gear selector low down on the steering column took some time to get used to, but it does free up some space on the centre console.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Front space

If you ate all your greens as a kid and grew up tall and strong, the Hyundai Tucson’s generous proportions will see you right. There’s plenty of leg room, plus at least as much head room as any other family SUV offers. It also feels as broad and airy as many rivals, including the Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage.

The front door bins are on the small side but the roomy glovebox and the two-tier centre console opens up various storage trays. There’s also a storage shelf above the glovebox. In short, you won’t struggle to hide your paraphernalia.

Rear space

The Tucson's back seats are great for taller folks, so if you often ferry around adults as well as youngsters, this is definitely one to check out. There's enough space for two six-footers to sit comfortably, even with the front seats slid well back. There’s lots of room for their feet under the front seats and the head room is excellent.

When you add a passenger to the narrow middle seat, things can get a bit pinched around the shoulders if all the passengers are burly adults. It's slightly wider inside than a Kia Sportage but the Ford Kuga offers a little more space for feet on either side of the hump in the floor.

The Tucson's rear door bins are small, with just enough room for a 500ml bottle in each, but there's a fold-down armrest in the middle with integrated cupholders.

Seat folding and flexibility

The rear bench doesn't slide back and forth as it does in a Ford Kuga or VW Tiguan but the backrest does recline so your passengers can snooze.

The backrest folds down in a useful 40/20/40 split, helping to maximise the space available for passengers and longer pieces of luggage. That's more versatile than the 60/40 split in a Nissan Qashqai.

As with the Kuga and the Kia Sportage, all Tucsons now get handy remote levers just inside the boot that fold down the rear seats. Before the 2024 update, that feature was reserved for higher trim levels.

Boot space

At up to 620 litres, the Tucson’s boot space is among the biggest you’ll find in the family SUV class. However, that figure is for the regular petrol version. The regular hybrid and PHEV have 616 litres each, so their boots are only slightly smaller.

You’ll be able to fit around eight carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf. In other words, the Tucson will easily cater for the average family holiday.

There’s a height-adjustable boot floor in most versions of the Tucson, although the PHEV has a fixed one due to the battery pack underneath. All versions except entry-level Element and Black Line come with an electric tailgate.

“I like that most Tucsons get a height-adjustable boot floor, but it’s not completely flat in the lowest setting and slopes up towards the rear seats.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Equipment, options and extras

The entry-level Element trim comes generously equipped, with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and keyless ignition. We think this is the trim to choose.

It’s worth considering Black Line for its heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and rear privacy glass. It gets 19in wheels and a larger driver’s display, too.

N Line Edition is a little too pricey for our liking, but if you’re interested, it gets sportier exterior styling, faux leather and suede-like upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, sun blinds integrated into the rear doors and additional safety features. N Line S then adds a panoramic sunroof and LED matrix headlights.

At the top of the range is Ultimate, which adds electrically adjustable front seats. They’re ventilated as well as heated.

Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2

The Hyundai Tucson comes with plenty of kit as standard given its price tag. Its starting price roughly matches the Skoda Karoq’s and undercuts that of the Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage. The entry-level Seat Ateca is even cheaper, though.

Mid-level trims push the Tucson towards the premium territory occupied by the BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and VW Tiguan, while top spec versions are close to the Range Rover Evoque (and the Evoque is estimated to depreciate slower).

The Tucson PHEV's low CO2 figure of 22g/km and 43-mile official electric range makes it a good option as a company car, but not the best. As we mentioned, the MG HS PHEV, Omoda 9 and Skoda Kodiaq iV have much longer electric-only ranges. That puts them in a lower BIK tax rate. When the battery is drained, you can expect mid to high-30s MPG figures from the Tucson PHEV’s petrol engine.

The HEV produces as little as 126g/km, putting it in a lower BIK tax bracket than the entry-level petrol manual, but because it has a higher list price, the amount you pay in monthly salary sacrifice works out virtually the same.

The Tucson Hybrid clocked up 44.4mpg in a real-world test, matching the Kia Sportage (44.6mpg). That’s about the same as some diesel family SUVs and compares well with petrol rivals. The petrol isn’t quite as frugal, but mid to high-30s MPG is easily achievable if the trip computer is to be believed.

Reliability

The Tucson came 21st out of 57 family SUVs featured in our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. It proved more reliable than the Mazda CX-60 and VW Tiguan but not the Lexus NX and Kia Sportage (petrol/hybrid). As a manufacturer, Hyundai performed reasonably well in the survey, coming 14th out of 30 manufacturers ranked.

You get a five-year, unlimited-mileage Hyundai warranty. That’s better than most rivals offer, although Kia covers its cars for up to seven years.

Safety and security

The Tucson achieved the highest five-star safety rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP. Airbag protection for the driver’s chest in a front collision was rated as marginal but the car performed well everywhere else. There’s plenty of safety kit as standard to help you avoid an accident in the first place.

For example, every Tucson comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), a driver attention warning system, speed-limit recognition and trailer stability assist. You also get a system that can automatically apply the brakes after a collision to ensure you don’t roll forwards and have a secondary impact.

Stepping up to N Line Edition trim (with an automatic Tucson) adds a Highway Drive Assist feature that adjusts your steering for you in order to keep the car centred in your chosen lane (you must keep your hands on the wheel though).

“Big discounts are available on the Tucson, but I'd urge potential buyers to do their sums because it loses value quicker than some rivals.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

Buy it if…

- You appreciate the choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines

- You’re more concerned with comfort than sportiness

- You’re after a big boot

Don’t buy it if…

- You’re after a low-budget option

- You want sliding rear seats

- You want a company car that’s low on BIK tax

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