Used Hyundai Tucson 2021-present review

The Hyundai Tucson has, with a seemingly complete disregard for the laws of entropy, been getting better as it's gotten older.

The first-generation 2004-2010 Tucson was merely practical and good value, while the second-generation 2009-2015 model, known as the ix35 in Europe, was better to drive and more competitive generally. The third-generation 2015-2020 model took up the Tucson nameplate again and proved a commendable effort. However, it was with this fourth-generation version that the Tucson really burst out of its shell.

Engines and performance: There aren't any diesel engines for the Tucson, just a range of 1.6-litre turbocharged petrols. The entry-level unit is the 148bhp 1.6 150, which comes with or without 48-volt mild hybrid technology (badged MHEV). There’s also a 178bhp 180 48V MHEV version.

Further up the range is a full hybrid – the 227bhp 1.6 230 Hybrid – and finally there's the range-topping 261bhp 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

The 148bhp 1.6 150 petrol has pace that is more than adequate, but the automatic gearbox needs a moment of thought before it gives you a decent slug of acceleration. The 178bhp 1.6 180 MHEV is decently punchy and comes with the auto 'box and four-wheel drive as standard.

The 227bhp 1.6 230 Hybrid has a battery that is big enough for short bursts of electric driving in stop-start traffic, while it’s no slouch away from the lights with the petrol engine and electric motor working together. Its six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is hesitant, though, taking a moment to decide on a gear when you put your foot down.

The PHEV can officially travel for up to 38 miles on electricity alone. That’s one of the best electric-only ranges you’ll find in a PHEV SUV of this size, although the Ford Kuga runs it close. It’s fast enough to be fun and is super-slick to drive in EV mode, but, again, that six-speed gearbox is a bit hesitant.

Ride and handling: The Tucson is more jarring over sharper potholes and ridges than cars such as the Skoda Karoq and Volvo XC40. It also tends to rock about over uneven surfaces and struggles to settle down on a motorway. On the plus side, it rides over gentler undulations with reasonable aplomb. Entry-level SE Connect models are the most pliant, because they come with smaller, 17in wheels.

The relatively small steering wheel and light steering create an early sense that the Tucson will be a spry thing, but it’s not. When you’re driving sedately, it flows along happily enough, but if you push harder, the steering doesn’t feel particularly reassuring.

The ability of the hybrid to run in electric mode makes it hushed in town, and it's also quiet when the petrol engine is running. The MHEV is similarly hushed, and while it can’t run on electricity alone, it can turn off its engine when it's coasting. The hybrid’s automatic gearbox changes smoothly, but the one fitted to the MHEV and PHEV can be a little jerky when manoeuvring.

Interior and practicality: A 10.3in digital instrument cluster is standard and is easy to read at a glance. All the buttons on the dashboard are positioned closely around you, too, although most are touch-sensitive rather than being press buttons, and as such, they can be tricky to operate by feel. You might need to take your eyes off the road to find and use them.

All Tucsons get an infotainment system with a 10.3in touchscreen that’s as crisp as the best flatscreens and has smart graphics. The menus are straightforward and the software is generally more responsive than in the Peugeot 3008 and XC40. There is a little delay on some of the functions, so it’s not as snappy as the best touchscreens, including the ones you get in the Karoq and the VW Tiguan.

The Tucson’s front and rear seats are great for taller folks, so if your family SUV will be used regularly for ferrying adults as well as youngsters, it’s definitely one to check out. It will take two six-footers in the back comfortably, even with the front seats slid well back.

Its boot is also one of the biggest in the class. You do lose a little space to the batteries if you go for the hybrid or PHEV models, but even in the latter (which has the smallest boot in the Tucson range) we managed to squeeze seven carry-on cases beneath the tonneau cover. That’s up there with rivals including the XC40 and the BMW X1.

Trims and equipment: Tuscons are all well equipped, too. Entry-level SE Connect models come with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and cruise control, plus electrically adjustable lumbar support for the driver. Premium trim gives you niceties that include larger 18in wheels (19in on hybrid and PHEV Premium models), a black two-tone roof, adaptive cruise control, an eight-speaker Krell premium sound system and additional safety features.

Luxurious range-topping Ultimate trim completes the line-up, with 19in alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, an electric tailgate and much more besides.

Facelift: The Tucson was given a facelift in 2024, with changes to the grille, LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and front and rear bumpers. Inside, the revisions are more dramatic, with a new steering wheel design and a crisp new dashboard display (housing the 12.3in infotainment system and 12.3in digital driver's display). The materials were also improved, with a wider use of soft-touch plastic.

As for engines and trims, these are largely the same as the pre-facelift options, other than sporty N-Line and N-Line S trims joining the line-up.

"Choosing between the Tucson and Kia Sportage is a difficult task, but I think the Tucson's lower used price and bigger boot are enough to sway me towards it, even though the Sportage is a bit better to drive." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in finding a used Hyundai Tucson, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

You can buy a used Hyundai Tucson for around £13,000 and, for that, expect a high mileage 2021 petrol model in SE Connect or Premium trim. A budget of around £14,000 will get you a low mileage example. Newer 2023 cars start from £17,000, while £20,000 will get you a 2024 model. Facelift 2025 examples cost upwards of £24,000.

If you want a hybrid or PHEV, prices for these are a bit more expensive than petrol versions; prices start from around £14,000 for a high mileage car. If you want a low mileage hybrid, expect to pay upwards of £17,000. Newer 2023 hybrids start from £19,000, while 2024 examples cost upwards of £23,000. Facelift hybrids start from £27,000.

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MPG and CO2 emissions

The Plug-in Hybrid has the lowest CO2 of 31g/km and a very competitive 38-mile official electric range. When the battery is empty, you should expect around 36mpg from the 1.6-litre petrol engine, which is what we returned over a varied test route in the PHEV. The 1.6 T-GDi 230 Hybrid version produces as little as 127g/km (it varies depending on the spec) and has an official fuel consumption of 49.6mpg. The MHEV automatic isn’t bad, either, at 144g/km and 40.5mpg.

Road tax

Any Tucson built after 1 April 2017, which all of this generation are, will be subject to the new flat rate of road tax applicable to every model, currently £195 per year. There is also a luxury car tax for Tucsons that cost more than £40,000 new, and this is currently £425 per year, from years two to six.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups waver around 15, depending on your chosen variant – that's very reasonable for this kind of car.

Servicing costs on the Tucson are reasonably good value, and will drop once the car is outside of warranty and can take advantage of fixed-price essential servicing. There are three levels of service: basic from £99, interim from £169 and full from £229.

Safety

The Tucson was awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2021. 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 on all models to help you avoid an accident in the first place.

Warranty

When new, every Tucson comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty that's transferable between owners. That’s better than what most rivals offer, with the exception of Kia, which covers you for up to seven years and 100,000 miles. While Toyota offers a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, this is only if you service the car annually at an authorised Toyota dealer. Otherwise it has a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.

Reliability

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, most Hyundai Tucson owners said they enjoyed dependable everyday motoring with their cars. However, some owners reported warning lights with no clear cause, often tied to electrical faults or sensor glitches. A few hybrid owners also experienced intermittent power loss, needing dealer intervention.

Dealer service experiences varied: some praised quick bookings and efficient warranty repairs, while others faced slow fault diagnosis, repeated visits, or delays in getting parts. Hybrid models saw slightly more software or electronics issues than petrol versions.

Find out more about used Hyundai Tucson reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

The 1.6 T-GDi 230 Hybrid is our pick; it's pretty parsimonious, clocking up 49.6mpg according to official figures. We managed just over 40mpg in a real-world test.

Specification

If you want goodies, it’s well worth taking a look at Premium trim. A relatively small jump up in its used price gives you niceties that include 18in wheels (19in on hybrid and PHEV Premium models), a black two-tone roof, adaptive cruise control, an eight-speaker Krell premium sound system and additional safety features.

Our favourite Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi 230 Hybrid Premium

The Seat Ateca is one of our favourite used SUVs in this class, and while it’s more expensive to buy than the Hyundai Tucson, the more pleasurable driving experience makes it a tempting choice.

If you want an interior with more class than the Tucson's, you should also look at the Peugeot 3008. Its swish dashboard, with high-quality plastics and lots of neat styling touches, makes it a far nicer place to spend journeys.

If a long warranty is what you’re after, you could look at the closely-related Kia Sportage, with its seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It's also better to drive and smarter inside than the Tucson, but you do have to pay a premium for it.

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If you're interested in finding a used Hyundai Tucson, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.