Sad sack base engine; some weird interior controls; a piece blah to force
You should supply the designers of the 2023 Hyundai Tucson credit score: They certainly went for it. In a segment long known for bland anonymity, the Tucson is an explosion of sharp creases, abnormal bulges and a smiling grille that lighting up on its edges like a Vegas marquee. The wheel arches are angular instead of actual arches, there are diamond shapes embossed in the rear bumper, and LED rear lights that dangle from a complete-width mild bar like Dracula fangs. There’s A LOT taking place. Maybe an excessive amount of, however whats up, higher than stupid.

And, importantly, all of the above adorns a strong entry in the ultra-competitive compact SUV phase. It’s actually large, for one, besting the shipment capability of the Toyota RAV4 and ultimate-gen CR-V, and offering similar passenger-hauling functionality. It has a nicer indoors than each, too, with a lot better infotainment and protection technology. The Tucson Hybrid’s powertrain is also an all-superstar, uniquely combining a turbocharged engine, electric powered motor and six-pace automated to create a powertrain that is surprisingly powerful and delicate, thrifty as anticipated, and pleasingly everyday to force. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid steps all that up even similarly. Unfortunately, the bottom engine is a actual slug, and worse, is the best manner to get the greater characterful N Line and XRT trim degrees. We’d likely select some other compact SUV over a fuel-only Tucson, however the Hybrid? Definitely check that out. And if A LOT isn’t what you’re going for stylistically, the 2023 Kia Sportage is automatically associated.In a segment where many competition go together with a extra useful aesthetic, the Hyundai Tucson is extra stylish, more tech-focused and extra top class. We specifically like the dash-width vents and material trim. Plastics and switchgear are of a high quality as well. There are some key variations based on trim stage, but. Besides upholstery and color choices, the center stack controls truly fluctuate. The SE and SEL come with an 8-inch touchscreen, even as an upgrade 10.25-inch widescreen unit is preferred on the entirety else (plus the SEL’s Convenience bundle). Their basic consumer interface is similar, but the larger display increases capability. Unusually, only the 8-inch screen is like minded with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; the bigger unit requires a wired connection. This is actual of most recent Hyundai merchandise, and the ten.25-inch system will get new hardware in destiny model years to cope with this.

With both, Hyundai ditched a traditional extent knob and other physical controls, which is a downgrade. The 8-inch display screen is paired scroll wheels for quantity and tuning (below left), which is technically higher than the tap-faucet-tapping you have to do with the all-touch controls paired with the ten.25-inch unit (underneath proper), but they are nevertheless peculiar. Touch-touchy controls have also historically been hard to discover and effectively press whilst driving, and these aren’t any unique. All that piano black trim additionally means plenty and masses of fingerprints.

Otherwise, the the front seats are secure and supportive with exquisite adjustment on better trims (base fashions get just six-manner manual adjustment). Rear-seat recline and remote fold-down functions are standard, and heating for the rear bench is to be had on the variety-topping Limited model.For some thing dubbed a “compact SUV,” the answer is “very huge.” With a touch help from its new, larger platform, the Tucson grew significantly interior for the 2022 model 12 months. It’s now almost precisely the identical size as a Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and its mechanically related Kia Sportage cousin, making it considered one of the most important within the segment. Besides providing masses of room for adults, we could easily healthy a rear-facing child seat while keeping plenty of space up the front for motive force and passenger.

Behind the raised back seat, Hyundai now claims 38.7 cubic feet of rear cargo room, which places it proper among the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. At least on paper. As we determined in our Tucson bags check, the brand new Tucson can absolutely keep a bit extra than them in terms of real stuff. There is an asterisk, though. Although the Tucson Hybrid has the same shipment capacity on paper as the gasoline-best version, it does not have a spare tire (just like the CR-V Hybrid, but in contrast to the RAV4 Hybrid). So, you do lose something through adding batteries — it is just no longer apparent at the spec sheet or when loading baggage.