2022 Hyundai Tucson Has More Space and a Plug-in Hybrid

Hyundai’s best selling SUV for 2018 and 2019 was the compact crossover Tucson. Despite being a strong seller for Hyundai, the current Tucson is forgettable in a crowded market including the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Chevy Equinox, Hyundai is hoping that an aggressive redesign and new powertrains will thrust this small SUV to the top of shopping lists across America.

The all-new 2022 Tucson looks sharper, packs more technology, and features more space than ever before. LED headlights are integrated into the front grille, giving a futuristic look. The rear LED tail lights also feature a fun, modern design, including a solid light strip spanning the rear deck, similar to those found on the Ford Escape and some Lincolns. We think the new look is a success, even if it does look like a first-gen Toyota Venza in the front.

In the cabin, the bold new design continues. Most noticable is a beautifully integrated center touch screen, similar to what you find in many contemporary Land Rover products. Hyundai really is emulating upmarket design cues. Infotainment software is similar to current models with a light reskinning. 

The inside also features beautiful digital gauge designs, 64 different ambient light colors, and diffuser-style air vents, which are supposed to reduce the unpleasant feeling of harsh air emitting from single vents. The rest of the inside is brought up to modern Hyundai standards. If you’ve been in a new Sonata or Palisade, you’ll be familiar with the 2022 Tucson.

Because bigger is always better, the 2022 Tucson is bigger in every dimension, including passenger and cargo space. Considering that Hyundai now has two smaller crossover options in the Venue and Kona, they wanted to expand the Tucson’s versatility. Considering the Tucson isn’t a sports car or fuel sipper, we can’t imagine many will complain about having a bit more size and weight.

Three powertrains will be available, at least initially. The cheapest Tucson will feature a 2.5-liter direct- and port-injection inline-four with 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Nothing special. This model will also be the only 2022 Tucson with front-wheel drive (AWD optional). Hyundai is hoping for 28 mpg combined, but that has yet to be confirmed by EPA testing. We will certainly run the Tucson through our real-world highway fuel economy test when we get one.

A gasoline-electric hybrid will be new, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine helped by a 1.49 kWh battery. For those who care about power figures from their hybrid, Hyundai is touting 226 hp and 258 lb-ft when the engine and electric motor are working together. Combined power will be channeled through a 6-speed automatic transmission, making the hybrid Tucson a bit more engaging than CVT hybrids. Even though all hybrid models will feature Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive, Hyundai expects you’ll be able to get 500 miles out of a tank of fuel.

The most exciting news about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is the addition of a plug-in hybrid model. Like the regular hybrid, the plug-in utilizes a 1.6-liter inline-four and a 6-speed automatic transmission, but the PHEV sports a much larger 13.8 kWh battery pack. Hyundai predicts this will be good for 28 miles of mixed EV-only driving (you certainly won’t see that on the highway) and over 70 MPGe. A 7.2 kWh charger will allow drivers to fully utilize level-2 chargers.

Hyundai has announced that there will be an N Line version of the Tucson, but don’t expect anything more than some sporty appearance upgrades. This will not be a full-fledged N model like the Veloster N, Sonata N, or Elantra N. 

Though safety testing won’t be official for some time, Hyundai is aiming to achieve top safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA with the 2022 Tucson. The new Tucson also sees a considerable amount of standard safety features including forward collision warning and avoidance, and many more features are found in higher trims. Considering the appeal of these crossovers to burgeoning families, we like to see this commitment to safety.

While the 2022 Hyundai Tucson may not be the most exciting car on the market or even in Hyundai’s own fleet, it’s nice to see new life being breathed so aggressively into a popular model. With Hyundai seeing increasing market share year after year, this updated crossover should only help that growth. Expect to see these rolling onto dealer lots in spring of 2021. Pricing is yet to be announced, but the 2021 Tucson starts at just under $25,000 after destination fees, so the 2022 model should be similar.