Hyundai has revealed a posh new version of its big-selling Tucson SUV with a plug-in hybrid model targeting an electric range of 50 miles, more space for the family and a luxury interior that mixes bigger screens with physical buttons. There’s a rugged new look, too, while the PHEV pairs its battery and electric motor with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
The new Tucson now looks more like an SUV than before, with pronounced wheelarches and sharply defined body lines. It has grown, too, and at 4,560mm long, 1,900mm wide and 1,670mm tall it’s 35mm longer, 35mm wider and 20mm taller than its predecessor. The distance between the front and rear wheels has grown by 40mm to 2,720mm, meaning more room inside as a result.
The front lighting combines an illuminated central strip with vertical LED daytime running lights on the car’s front edges and hidden headlamp units. At the rear there’s more LED tech with a three-dimensional internal pattern. The headlights can use 25,600 individual LED pixels to control their beams, as well as play welcome and farewell animations. New paint choices finish off the exterior and include Moonlake Blue and Rich Walnut, both available in metallic or matte finishes, plus Ignite Red. Wheels range from 17 to 20 inches.
Commenting on the new Tucson, Xavier Martinet, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “We could have played it safe and simply evolved a successful model. But that is not Hyundai’s style.”
Access to the roomier interior is easier than before thanks to rear doors that now open to 83 degrees rather than 73. Rear legroom has been boosted, while Hyundai says there’s also more headroom and shoulder room. The rear seats slide by 150mm and fold in a 40:20:40 split, so owners can adjust the balance between space for people and luggage. Hyundai quotes a maximum boot capacity of 695 litres across the new Tucson range. Smaller belongings get some attention as well, with umbrella holders hidden in both front doors and cupholders built into the rear door trim.
Depending on version, the main touchscreen measures either 12.9 or 17 inches, while a separate 9.9-inch driver’s display sits above the steering wheel. A head-up display is also available, projecting key driving information onto the windscreen, and electric steering wheel adjustment. Below the main infotainment screen, physical buttons give direct access to the most important functions, so it isn’t a case of putting every control on the touchscreen.
The dashboard looks far more premium than before with a horizontal upper section featuring soft padding, and a deep open storage tray below. There’s also cushioning on the doors and centre armrest, which has been extended to support an arm while using the screen. The gear selector sits on the steering column, freeing up space between the front seats, with a button to select Park.
That central display runs Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment system, based on Android Automotive. Its Gleo voice assistant can use live information from the internet and respond to spoken requests, rather than making the driver work through menus. The system also provides access to compatible apps and connected services, while selected vehicle functions and infotainment features can receive software updates over the air.
There are two 15W wireless charging pads in the centre console, plus four 100W USB-C sockets around the cabin. Those can charge compatible laptops and tablets as well as phones, so the car’s battery isn’t the only one that can get a top-up.
Hyundai’s Digital Key 2 allows smartphones and smartwatches to unlock and start the Tucson, while there’s also a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and ambient lighting.
More luxurious options include a driver’s seat with air-filled supports for the lower back and sides, along with a massage function. One-touch reclining seats are available for both front occupants, offering a different seating position during a break. Three-zone climate control lets occupants set separate temperatures for different parts of the cabin, while the ventilation system spreads air through several small outlets rather than relying on a direct blast from the main vents.
Rear passengers also get an attachment point for accessories such as phone holders and tablet mounts. It’s part of Hyundai’s AddGear system, which also accommodates fragrance diffusers. Cabin finishes include black, a blue-grey and light-grey combination, or plum, with cloth, part-leather and leather upholstery available.
The new PHEV powertrain produces up to 288bhp and 380Nm of torque, with a six-speed automatic standard on all hybrid cars. It’s reasonably quick, too; Hyundai quotes a 0–62mph time of 7.9 seconds for the four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid.
The plug-in hybrid sits alongside a 242bhp full hybrid and a 148bhp petrol model, the latter offered with a manual gearbox or with a mild-hybrid system and automatic transmission. The full hybrid also has a ‘Stay Mode’ that lets the climate control, audio and device charging work while parked with its petrol engine switched off.
Parking assistance includes a system that remembers a short, previously driven route and helps steer the car back along it in reverse – handy down narrow country lanes. Remote parking assistance can move the Tucson into and out of spaces, while a camera system on four-wheel-drive versions shows the area around and beneath the vehicle. A digital rear-view mirror is also available and uses a camera image when passengers or luggage block the view through the rear window.
Cameras monitor where the driver is looking and signs of drowsiness, and if you’re especially forgetful there’s an alert when the car thinks you’ve left someone in the back seat. Driving aids include collision-avoidance assistance, speed-limit assistance and cruise control that uses navigation information to adjust speed for selected road conditions. As with other new Hyundais, the Tucson will come with a five-year warranty with no mileage limit plus five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.
European Tucsons will be built in the Czech Republic and there’s another Tucson still to come: Hyundai will reveal a version with different styling at the Paris Motor Show on 12 October.
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