When it premiered 4 years in the past, the fourth-gen Tucson was certainly one of Hyundai‘s most eye-catching fashions. With an edgy form and complicated lighting signatures on the entrance and rear, it proved it was doable to have a compact SUV with persona that, not like its predecessors, stood out on the street.
Whereas there was nothing inherently mistaken with it, the Korean model however launched a facelifted mannequin for the 2025 mannequin yr. It could not look very completely different from the skin, however it has an all-new inside and builds on what was already a really spectacular bundle. The revamped Tucson can also be obtainable as a hybrid for the primary time, changing the diesel that had been beforehand been on sale.
To see what enhancements have been made, and to find if the hybrid powertrain is any good, we lately lived with the 2025 Tucson Hybrid, driving it for nearly 2,000 km (almost 1,250 miles) and spending virtually 30 hours behind the wheel.
QUICK FACTS
SWIPE
Photographs Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Unsurprisingly, the Tucson Hybrid carries a hefty premium over the usual fashions that sport both a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-pot. Whereas the most affordable 2.0-liter begins at AU$39,990 ($26,000), the entry-level Tucson Hybrid is priced from AU$46,990 ($30,600). Nevertheless, that’s not the model we examined.
As an alternative, we jumped behind the wheel of the flagship Tucson Hybrid Premium, which begins at AU$62,490 ($40,700). As well as, our check automobile was additionally outfitted with the obtainable N Line bundle and painted in Final Pink, bringing the entire value as much as AU$64,585 ($42,000).
That’s some huge cash, making it slightly pricier than a flagship Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid obtainable from AU$60,773 ($39,600). Nevertheless, the Tucson Hybrid is true in step with the flagship Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Edge, which fits for AU$63,794 ($41,500).
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Wanting on the facelifted Tucson from the skin, you’d be onerous pressed to note the variations. Nevertheless, Hyundai has crafted a brand new entrance bumper for it that’s barely extra aggressive. The N Line model provides to the seems with body-colored arches, a brand new entrance bumper, a particular black grille, and new 19-inch wheels. It additionally provides LED reverse lights, new LED headlights, and Excessive Beam Help.
A Model New Cabin
Photographs Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Whereas the outside of the brand new Tucson seems largely the identical because the mannequin it replaces, Hyundai has redesigned your entire inside, one thing which is kind of uncommon for a facelift.
The cabin is far nicer. Whereas there was nothing inherently mistaken with the cabin of the previous mannequin, it had some odd options, together with a wierd four-spoke steering wheel. I used to be additionally by no means a fan of how the infotainment display was integrated into the sprint and surrounded by piano black plastic. The Tucson’s twin, the Kia Sportage, additionally acquired a brand new technology in 2021, however its cabin felt extra trendy than that of the Hyundai. The Tucson is now on par with the Sportage.
Essentially the most important replace are the fitment of two 12.3-inch screens housed inside a single curved panel sitting atop the dashboard, much like what you’ll discover in flagship Sportage fashions. Each of those screens are crisp and responsive, whereas additionally offering help for wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Elsewhere, there’s a small new contact panel for the local weather management. There are additionally bodily temperature dials for the driving force and passenger too, one thing that’s changing into much less frequent these days. The Tucson additionally features a wi-fi charging pad and a a lot nicer three-spoke steering wheel that the pre-facelift mannequin.
Hyundai has shifted to a column-mounted gear selector, much like what’s present in a few of its EVs. It could take prospects a short while to get used to, however it typically works properly.
Photographs Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The remainder of the cabin is provides an abundance of house and the brand new Tucson is unquestionably giant sufficient to hold 4 adults in consolation, or 5 at a pinch. The entrance seats are snug and I by no means skilled any discomfort even after multiple-hour stints behind the wheel.
Cargo house is rated at 582 liters (20.5 cubic toes) or 1,903 liters (67.2 cubic toes) with the second-row seats folded down. There’s additionally some small storage cubbies under the ground, together with an space to stow the cargo blind.
All informed, the cabin of the brand new Tucson is a pleasant place to spend time, and is an enormous enchancment over the previous mannequin.
Easy And Environment friendly Powertrain
Photographs Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The SUV’s hybrid powertrain consists of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, an electrical motor, and a 1.49 kWh battery pack. Sadly, Australia doesn’t get the Plug-In Hybrid model that’s offered in america and which packs a bigger 13.8 kWh battery.
Maybe probably the most spectacular factor in regards to the Tucson Hybrid’s powertrain is simply how clean it’s. By no means throughout my week with the SUV did a expertise any jerking or interruptions of energy because it intelligently shifted between electrical energy and combustion energy, as can occur in some hybrids. All of it works seamlessly within the background.
Whereas that is good, there’s no strategy to alter the best way the electrical motor and the 1.6-liter are working. For instance, the Tucson Hybrid doesn’t provide an EV-only mode just like the PHEV, neither is there may be an possibility to change solely to combustion energy to cost the battery.
Admittedly, capabilities like this are often reserved for plug-ins, not conventional hybrids, however it will be good to have the choice to drive purely on electrical motor, even when just for quick distances.
On paper, the Tucson’s powertrain packs a formidable 231 hp (172 kW) and 271 lb-ft (367 Nm) of torque, two very respectable figures for a automobile on this class. Pin the throttle and the electrical motor and engine fireplace to life, leading to a stable 0-100 km/h (62 mph) dash of seven.2 seconds.
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Nevertheless, the Tucson isn’t the kind of automobile that wishes to be pushed by the scruff of the neck. Most individuals will go for the hybrid due to the effectivity. Hyundai says the Tuscon Hybrid sips simply 5.3 l/100 km (44.3 US mpg) over the mixed cycle. We weren’t in a position to match that, averaging 6.2 l/100 km (37.9 US mpg).
A key cause for that is that we spent most of our time cruising on highways, that means the SUV had little probability to putter round in EV-only mode because it usually does at low speeds. It proved slightly thirstier than the Qashqai Ti e-Energy I examined final yr over the identical route, averaging 5.8 l/100 km (40.5 US mpg).
One characteristic I used to be notably keen on was the adjustable regenerative braking. It really works similar to it does in Hyundai’s EVs, and provides three completely different ranges of regen, operated by way of the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
Sadly, there’s no one-pedal driving mode, like an EV although. Moreover, the brake regen solely works in Eco mode. In every other mode, the paddle shifters are used to vary gears. Which means you may’t drive in Sport mode and use regen, for instance, which is a disgrace.
One other annoyance is the column-mounted shifter. It really works properly sufficient, however you can not transfer between Park and Reverse until the Tucson is totally stationary and the brake is firmly pressed. This may make parking and three-point turns slightly annoying, as you need to come to a whole cease between shifting gears.
The six-speed automated is sweet however within the trendy age, it feels slightly antiquated and would profit from a few additional gears.
Verdict
The up to date Hyundai Tucson takes what was already a really stable possibility, and makes it even higher with a nicer inside. Nevertheless, the flagship Hybrid model we examined is kind of pricey, and as is so usually the case, we suspect one of many fashions sitting in the midst of the vary would be the best choice for many buyers.