Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Hyundai Tucson PHEV N Line 1.6 4WD
Price: Tucson PHEV from £39,275
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol and electric motor
Battery: 13.8kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 252hp
Torque: 304Nm
Emissions: 29g/km
Economy: TBC
Range: 39 miles
0-62mph: 8.2 seconds
Top speed: 116mph
Boot space: 558-1,721 litres
Styling
The differences between the new and old Tucson models are, to be brutally honest, very hard to spot. Look very closely and you might notice new bumpers designed to accentuate the car's width and a lightly modified grille with more elegant lines, but realistically, you're just as likely to spot the new alloy wheel designs. Most will need to see the incoming and outgoing models side by side to make out the differences, and even then, it might not be immediately obvious. But that's fine, because both cars look cool and modern and snazzy, particularly alongside the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq. It's a design that isn't broken, so why fix it?
Interior
Although the Tucson's exterior design hasn't changed very much at all, the interior design has been revamped quite noticeably. For starters, there's a new bank of screens spanning about half the dashboard's width and housing both the central touchscreen and the driver's digital instrument display. That screen sits above a handy shelf, against which you can brace your hand while using the screen, and a new heater and ventilation control panel, which sees the Tucson stick with proper buttons, rather than touch-sensitive heater controls.
All this sounds much more modern, and it is, but the software hasn't changed all that much. That means the touchscreen is every bit as functional and useful as before, but it doesn't feel especially spectacular in the context of, say, Volkswagen's latest in-car infotainment. That said, the Hyundai system is much better laid out and much easier to navigate, with fewer fiddly menus and odd design features.
But although Hyundai has changed the design slightly (and changed it for the better), the quality remains. Admittedly, one or two plastic parts still feel a fraction cheaper than they probably should, but that's a minor complaint given every piece of switchgear and every moving part feels well engineered and smooth in its action. And every part that doesn't move feels solidly bolted to its neighbour, giving you confidence in its longevity.
Practicality
Like its predecessor, the Tucson is a really roomy car, thanks in part to the fact it's slightly larger than the Qashqai, Ateca and Karoq, and more on a par with the VW Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Even so, it's roomy enough, with plenty of space in the front and a decent driving position, while carrying two adults in the back is relatively straightforward. Headroom and legroom are both ample for those over six feet tall, and the seats are fairly comfy. Boot space is solid, too, despite the plug-in hybrid Tucson offering slightly less carrying capacity than its conventional hybrid siblings. And anyway, 588 litres of luggage space with all five seats in place is still pretty good going.
Performance
Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid (HEV and PHEV) versions of the Tucson come with a hybrid system centred around the same 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. But the PHEV tested here has a more powerful 67kW electric motor and a plug-in 13.8kWh battery pack, allowing the car to cover 39 miles on a single charge according to the official economy test.
Drive carefully, and on the right roads, and you might get somewhere near that, but most will find the range is around 30-35 miles. That's fine for most suburban dwellers, particularly those that can charge the battery easily at home, and it means the Tucson will be able to manage the school run and shopping trips without using a drop of petrol. If that's most of what it does during an average week, and it only occasionally ventures on longer trips, you might find it returns outstanding economy.
On a single long drive, however, it won't fare quite as well. But it won't perform much differently from the HEV, and it comes with more power when the petrol engine is on song. In fact, the Tucson PHEV delivers 253hp and offers you a choice of two- and all-wheel-drive variants, so you can get some off-road capability, as well as ample performance. That said, the all-wheel-drive car gets its power down much more effectively, so it's considerably quicker off the mark. Getting from 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds, compared with 9.8 for the front-wheel-drive Tucson PHEV.
Not that the Tucson is a sporty car, even in this N Line form. Efficiency is more important, and though Hyundai hasn't yet published official economy figures, they don't mean much in a plug-in hybrid. What matters is that the all-wheel-drive Tucson PHEV is faster and more capable, but the front-wheel-drive car will likely prove a fraction more efficient on the road.
Ride & Handling
Although the Tucson has long been one of those cars you're more likely to choose with your head than with your heart, it still drove with a bit of gusto. Admittedly, it never could keep pace with the class-leading Mazda CX-5, but reasonable body control and ample grip meant it could hold its own on a good country road.
This time around, nothing has changed, and the Tucson still feels every bit as competent, even though it isn't exactly involving. The steering is a bit lifeless, but the response is quick and stable, and the body doesn't roll about too much in corners, so the car feels nicely balanced and light on its feet.
It's comfortable, too, with suspension that soaks up even the rigours of British roads pretty well, and that's despite the weight of the hybrid system, which often holds cars of this size back a bit when it comes to comfort. Here, though, the Tucson is still pliant enough for most surfaces, and you only really notice the sharpest potholes and imperfections.
But the Tucson doesn't just impress on the road. It's pretty capable off it, too, with the option of all-wheel drive and useful features such as hill descent control to give you more control on slippery surfaces. Maybe it isn't a 'proper' 4x4, but it'll deal with way more than most customers would ever throw at it. Particularly on the right tyres.
Value
Choosing a plug-in hybrid Tucson will see the price rise to £39,275 for the basic Advance model, and that sounds like a lot, but it's well over £1,000 less than you'll pay for a Kia Sportage and you get plenty of standard equipment. The two-screen display, climate control and rear-view camera are all standard, along with automatic windscreen wipers and wireless phone charging. Move up to the £41,775 Premium and you get a heated steering wheel, heated seats in the front and rear, and a power-operated tailgate, while the similarly priced N Line model we tested came with sportier styling, the same power tailgate and metal sports pedals, as well as part-leather, part-microsuede upholstery.
Verdict
Although changing a winning formula can be a dangerous game, Hyundai has got it just right with the new Tucson. Now better than ever before, it's set to retain its position at the top of the class, and the massive range means there's a version that will suit pretty much any customer.
