2022 HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID

NEW HYBRID DRIVETRAIN DELIVERS EXTRA POP FOR HYUNDAI TUCSON COMPACT SUV 

In addition to giving the Tucson’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine a slight power boost for this year, Hyundai also is out with hybrid versions that further up the performance of the South Korean automaker’s top-selling model.

The powertrain in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid mates a 180-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder gas engine with a 44.2 kilowatt electric motor for a combined 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a boost of 39 hp and 83 lb.-ft. over the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder in gas-fueled Tucsons.

According to the website zeroto60times.com, the Tucson Hybrid with standard all-wheel drive knocks nearly two seconds off the 8.8 seconds clocking of gas models.

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The Hybrid’s 60 time of 7.1 seconds won’t exactly snap your neck, but it does mean a livelier — and more enjoyable — driving experience around town, especially with a standard 6-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT.

The power boost is appreciated, but it may come at a cost of extra mileage. EPA figures for the standard Hybrid Limited are 37 miles-per-gallon city, 36 highway, numbers that fall short of the 40-mph figures some of its competitors offer.

Still, that is a pretty good improvement over the combined city/highway mileage figure of 26 mpg for the standard Tucson Limited. The base Blue model has straight numbers of 38 mph city or highway.

Hyundai offers the hybrid drivetrain in plugin or the usual hybrid form. AWD is standard, and three trim levels are there for your choosing — base Blue, SEL Convenience, and the top-of-the-line Limited. This review is based on the Limited trim of the standard Hybrid.

Standard equipment for each are similar to corresponding trims in the non-hybrid Tucson. For the Hybrid Limited, that means features such as a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and daytime running lights, leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated steering wheel, dual automatic climate control, proximity key with push-button start, power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, rain-sensing wipers, Smart cruise control, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and a surround-view monitor are all included in the starting MSRP of $37,650.

Standard safety systems include forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping and lane-following assist (you get a little “ding” when the car in front of you pulls away from the intersection), driver attention warning, and blind-spot collision warning.

Infotainment functions are plentiful and operate off a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation. The 10.25-inch instrument cluster features Hyundai’s blind spot view monitor system that when activated by the turn signals shows what vehicle may be coming up behind you on your right or left via an image in either your speedometer and tachometer displays.

The final bottom line on my test Tucson was not available on the spec sheet, but the only items not included in the starting MSRP were floor mats ($169 on the standard Tucson Limited) and a freight charge of $1,245 (according to Hyundai’s media website).

What I liked about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited: What I wrote about the Limited with a gas engine holds true for the Limited Hybrid since they are virtually identical vehicles save for the powertrain. The exterior styling of both models is sharp. The wheels look really cool, 3and the interior also has a premium feel about it. It is roomy and comfortable. There is good legroom room in the rear seats (41.3 inches). The touchscreen for infotainment functions on the Limited is the largest of the Tucson trims and includes an easily read map for navigation. The list of standard safety features is very extensive. Specific to the Hybrid, there is no annoying whine as you come to a stop, and the hybrid drivetrain has more punch than the conventional 4-banger.

What I didn’t like about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited: The infotainment system is not complicated, but I still would like knobs to make adjustments for some functions. You need to press buttons to adjust volume and stations on the radio, for instance, and touch-sensitive buttons often can be touched by mistake.

Would I buy the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited? Yes. Considering the Hybrid Limited’s starting MSRP is very close to that of the standard Tucson Limited, I would go for the Hybrid for the extra power. I would not go for the Plug-in, however. I just think they are too much of a hassle to deal with on a regular basis unless you have a dedicated charging outlet at home, which I do not.