Hyundai Tucson hybrid 2025 review
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00It may not look all that different, but the updated Hyundai Tucson has seen some significant
00:04changes. The diesel engine has been dropped in favour of a turbo-petrol hybrid, and pricing
00:09has gone up, but so has the standard specification level. So stay tuned, and if you haven't already,
00:14please hit subscribe and ring the bell to keep up to date with all of my reviews.
00:18Let's check it out, shall we?
00:24There are price increases across the entire range for the Hyundai Tucson this time around,
00:29and it is a complex line-up of models. So stay tuned, the pricing that you'll see on your screen
00:35popping up for the different variants and derivatives is before on-road costs, so not
00:40a drive-away price. You'll need to go to the Hyundai website if you want to find out what
00:43the drive-away price is for you where you live. Now, there are 17 different takes on this theme,
00:49which is excessive. There's a lot of different variations that you can pick from in this line-up.
00:55Part of that comes down to the fact that you've got three different variants available,
00:59the Tucson, the Elite, and the top-spec Premium, which replaces the Highlander. And then there's
01:04also different powertrain options. There's three different powertrain options, a petrol
01:09non-turbo front-wheel drive model, a turbo-petrol with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive,
01:14and a turbo-petrol hybrid with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. And then, there's the N-Line
01:20pack, which adds sporty exterior styling and a different interior as well. I'll put pricing for
01:26it all as we go through on your screen so you can see for yourself the different prices that you have
01:30to consider. Now, the entry-level version, Tucson, it's called, and it starts just under $40,000. It
01:37now gets LED headlights. It didn't have them before, so thank goodness for that. You get bigger
01:4118-inch wheels. There's keyless entry and push-button start, a new 12.3-inch touchscreen media
01:47system, new interior finishing as well, and a few extra features which make it feel a bit more
01:52special than it did before. Up from there is the Elite grade. Now, there are so many different
01:58versions of the Elite grade, turbo-petrol, non-turbo-petrol, hybrid, and the N-Line models, so
02:04it's a very, very complex range of just Elite models, and they add extra features that you
02:09will appreciate. Still gets 18s and LEDs, and on the inside, it gets leather-accented interior trim,
02:16heated front seats, and a few extra features that do make it feel just a bit more special than the
02:21entry-level version. And at the top of the range is that premium grade. It gets all the stuff that
02:26you can possibly get in a Tucson, including things like a blind spot view monitor system, and also a
02:32surround view camera as well. So, I reckon that it does stack up pretty well in terms of value for
02:37money, but there are some really good alternatives. Let's talk about them now.
02:43If you're looking for an SUV like this and you want it to be hybrid, well, I still think that
02:47the Toyota RAV4 is the standout choice for most people's needs, because it has real-world
02:53efficiency on its side, it's got tried and tested hybrid technology, it's now a hybrid-only lineup,
02:58so if you are looking for something different, it might not suit your needs anymore. But it is still
03:03a really fantastic vehicle, really practical on the inside, heaps of space, a big boot,
03:08and like I said, real-world efficiency and access to the Toyota network of dealerships
03:14around Australia, which is unparalleled by any other brand. Now, if you are looking for a diesel
03:20option, well, those are thinning out pretty quickly, but the Kia Sportage still has a diesel
03:25available, and it has a hybrid, and it has a petrol as well, and a turbo petrol too, so there's plenty
03:31of choices in the Kia Sportage lineup, and it's also a very practical option if you are looking
03:36for a mid-size SUV with plenty of space and a big boot, it could be a really, really good choice
03:41for you as well. And if you're ready to step just a little bit further into the electrification zone,
03:46then maybe you could go and have a look at the BYD Sealion 6. It's a plug-in hybrid with about
03:5180 kilometres of EV driving range capability, it's very, very nice to drive, very easy to live with,
03:58got plenty of tech, and it starts at around the mid-point of this model range, so it could be a
04:03really good choice for you if you're on a budget too. Tell me which one you would pick in the comments.
04:08If you didn't know that this was the updated, facelifted version of the Tucson, you might not be
04:12able to pick the changes because they are pretty modest. There is some differentiation to the front
04:18end design, so the front bumper and also the front grille has changed a little bit, but in profile
04:23it's still a very design-led look to this 4.6 metre-ish SUV, so it's the sort of size of vehicle
04:32that you might pick if you've got one or two youngsters, or maybe you just like a car of this
04:39size. I think that it's very nicely proportioned. Some people really don't like the look of this
04:45Tucson generation though, maybe a little bit too busy, lots of sharp edges as well. Now,
04:51there have been a couple of changes at the back. You also now get a different wiper, which is
04:57hidden up underneath the rear spoiler there. It's bigger, so it's got a better sweep across that
05:03rear windscreen, and obviously it's got a hybrid badge and a slightly different lower bumper
05:08section as well. Now, to open the boot, this is a high-grade one, so it gets an electric tailgate.
05:14Look, let's just have a look in the boot and see what we are dealing with. You can see for yourself,
05:19it is a pretty sizable space when it comes to the cargo capacity in here, and there are some
05:25really nice elements to this rear-end design. So, you've got quick-release levers for folding down
05:32those back seats if you need to, shopping bag hooks like so, there's a couple of tie-down points if you
05:38have one of those cargo nets, there's also a 12-volt port in the back here, an LED light as well,
05:44and underneath the boot floor, even in this hybrid model, you get a spare wheel. It's a space saver
05:50in the hybrid, a full-size alloy spare wheel in the non-hybrid models, so it could be a really good
05:56choice for you if you live in the bush and you know you are prone to getting flat tyres, you can
06:01still get a hybrid version of this car with a spare wheel, which is nice to see, isn't it?
06:09There have been some pretty significant changes to the interior of this updated Hyundai Tucson. In
06:14fact, there's more change inside than there is on the outside, and I reckon that it looks fairly
06:20fantastic, to be honest. I love this new steering wheel design with the four-dot logo, which is
06:27actually Morse code for the letter H, in case you're wondering. Now, this one is the N-line
06:32model, so it gets the perforated leather elements to the steering wheel, the red stitching on the
06:37steering wheel, there's also some nice red stitching across the top of the dashboard,
06:43and on the seats as well, which are finished in a suede and leather design. They look absolutely
06:51fantastic. There's even a little N logo on the seat. They are nice and sporty and supportive.
06:57You get that red theme on the doors as well, and it is a pretty nice cabin design, I have to say.
07:04Now, there's also a new screen array in front of the driver, so you've got a 12.3-inch digital
07:11display in the high-grade versions of this vehicle, and you've also got a 12.3-inch touchscreen
07:17media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you also get a sat-nav system built in, as you
07:24can see for yourself there. Now, the screen itself is a pretty neat piece of tech. There's quite a lot
07:32of really nice design to this screen. This one also has connected services as well, so you can go
07:39online and keep an eye on what the weather might be like over the next seven days, which is kind of
07:44neat, or just check what's going to happen for the rest of the day. And those connected services also
07:50include an SOS call button, so if you're in a crash you can call emergency services and it'll
07:56geolocate to tell where you are, which is actually pretty handy technology, I reckon. There's obviously
08:03AM, FM and digital radio as well as your smartphone mirroring technology. On this screen you can also
08:10keep an eye on your hybrid settings, so you can keep an eye on your battery state of charge and
08:15your fuel consumption and that sort of thing. I'll tell you the fuel consumption that I saw across a
08:20mix of driving later on, but it is good to see that there's plenty of tech and elements to this
08:26screen that you can play with. Now on this driver info screen there's also a few different modes
08:30that you can dive through. There's also terrain modes for the all-wheel drive models, snow, mud and
08:36sand, which is interesting to have in case you need to go off the beaten path. And if you're wondering,
08:42down here is where your gear selector is, so it's right near your right knee, and yes you have to
08:49shift up to go into drive and down to go into reverse, and the park button is on the end of that
08:55stalk. You've also got your park brake there, and if you ever get a flat battery that's your 12 volt
09:01battery reset button, because it doesn't have a traditional 12 volt battery this hybrid model. Yes,
09:06you've also got right side indicator stalk and a left side headlight and wiper stalk. You've also
09:12got paddle shifters, and on the hybrid models the paddle shifters actually work to adjust your regen
09:18braking when you're not driving in sport mode. Also new for this redesigned cabin is this 6.6
09:24inch screen down here, which is an interesting thing to have added because existing models had,
09:31well, more traditional buttons and dials which were a bit simpler to use. This is still a touch
09:36screen so it's kind of maybe not as easy to use in some situations, but it also will show up
09:42fingerprints which I don't love. Now you've also got dual zone climate control as well, and I'll
09:48just turn it off so it's not as noisy, and an array of buttons there as well with a tuning knob and
09:54also a volume knob as well. Now down here you've got a decent size storage section which actually
10:01could fit a small handbag or maybe a shopping trip worth of bread and milk or something like that,
10:08and back here you'll find your drive mode controller there, and as you can see here this
10:12is a little status bar for the wireless charger which is a standard fit item across all models.
10:18I love that. Now you've also got a pair of cup holders here and a decent size center console
10:24bin. Yes, that is the key in there. It looks like the Hyundai badge which is kind of neat,
10:28and high-grade versions also get this entry controller thing so you can adjust this passenger
10:35seat to be more comfortable or more roomy for anyone in the back, and speaking of which,
10:40let's jump in the back now, shall we? Righto, so here's an interesting fact for you when you're at
10:44your next Hyundai pub trivia event. The version of the Tucson that we get in Australia is bigger
10:50than what other markets get because it's got a longer wheelbase, and what that means
10:55is that we get more legroom in our Tucson than other markets get, and yes, there's plenty of
11:01legroom. Look at that. I've got heaps of legroom, a heap of footroom as well, so I can move my feet
11:07in and out there and no hassles whatsoever, and I'm just about six feet tall and I've got enough
11:14headroom. Anyone really tall might find that vehicles with the big panoramic glass roof might
11:19be a little bit tight, but I think that it is a pretty comfortable space. Now, it's also got a
11:25fair few great features in the back here. You've got directional air vents, you've also got a couple
11:29of USB-C ports down there, there's also some mat pockets on the seat backs, there's bottle holders
11:35in the doors, of course you've got ISOFIX points in the window seats and three top tether points
11:41as well, and there's a flip down armrest in here with a pair of cup holders as well. It is a
11:49practical car. It is going to be big enough for a family of three, four or five. I would say yes,
11:56you can fit three adults in the back if you need to. That transmission tunnel doesn't interrupt
12:01the space too much, and I reckon that it is a spacious and likeable cabin. What do you think?
12:08So, like I said, there are three different powertrains available in the Hyundai Tucson
12:12lineup. The entry-level model is a 2.0-litre non-turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine.
12:18It's a pretty basic engine. It comes with a six-speed automatic and it's front-wheel drive
12:23only. Up from there is the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It does have a fair bit more
12:29power and torque. It comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which isn't
12:33dual-clutch automatic transmission, which isn't my favourite transmission,
12:36and it's now available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. And then there's the turbo
12:42petrol hybrid model, which is this one here. It's a 1.6-litre as well, but it adds an electric motor
12:48into its six-speed automatic transmission, so you can actually feel it shifting gears in EV mode,
12:54which is kind of cool. And it has the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as well.
13:00And I'll tell you, it's a pretty interesting powertrain when it comes to how it drives,
13:03so let's go do that now, shall we?
13:08That beeping, bonging technology that will tell you if it thinks a speed sign has changed or the
13:15zone that you're driving in has changed, and that is the chime that it gives off when it thinks that
13:22you're speeding in that zone. It thinks that it's a school zone. It's school holiday, so it's not.
13:27But there's been a big fix for this updated version of the Tucson. All you need to do is
13:34hold your finger or your thumb on the mute button for a long period of time, like five seconds,
13:41and it will turn off all the audible warnings for the system. Alright, so the speed sign thing,
13:48sorted. So what about the powertrain? Well, it's obviously the other big talking point here,
13:52this 1.6-litre turbo-petrol electric powertrain. Yeah, it's a fairly big mouthful.
14:00It does have a hugely powerful output to it. It is quick, there is no doubt about it. Now,
14:06I'm not in the speedy mode right now, I'm in eco mode because that's what this car is more about
14:12than performance, I would say. And it is heavier than the non-hybrid turbo-petrol versions of this
14:20car, so if you do just want the most performance-oriented version, well, there's the
14:24turbo-petrol without the hybrid power element to it, which might be a better choice for you. But
14:29if you are more interested in saving a bit of fuel and also doing your bit for the environment,
14:34then maybe the hybrid would be a better choice. And it is a pretty decent choice, I would say.
14:40At lower speeds, the electric motor does a pretty good job at just pushing you away from a standstill,
14:46and it works really nicely hand-in-hand with this turbo-petrol engine. Now, like I said before,
14:53it does have the electric motor integrated into the transmission, so if you're driving in EV mode,
14:58it'll tell you on the screen if you're in EV mode, if you can't tell, otherwise it's relatively
15:05silent, if the road's a good surface, that is. And look, it does jump between petrol and electric,
15:12and it'll shift gears in EV mode, so that's kind of weird. It's sort of strange to get used to
15:19the fact that it will upshift when you're driving in electric mode. It's kind of peculiar. You don't
15:26get that in a Toyota RAV4, for instance, and that's why it maybe feels a little bit different,
15:29because it's got a different type of transmission. It's a six-speed auto, not a dual-clutch,
15:34and it does do a pretty good job as far as I can tell so far. It doesn't really feel like
15:39it's showing any shortcomings. It's pretty quick to react, and it seems to be pretty smooth in
15:44terms of the way that it behaves when you're getting on and off the throttle as well, which
15:49is what these cars do more often than not, right? Now, today I have experienced this car across a
15:55mix of different scenarios, including on the freeway, in some urban traffic snarls, and out
16:01here in the bush as well, and it's proving itself to be a pretty competent powertrain in a mix of
16:08different scenarios. Now, also, it is a hybrid. It does have a regen braking system as part of this
16:15hybrid powertrain, and in fact it's got configurable regen braking, so you can set it in four different
16:22levels to suit your tastes when it comes to the regen braking, which will ultimately try and
16:29replenish the battery as much as it possibly can when you take your foot off the accelerator. So,
16:33if it's in its most assertive mode, it doesn't necessarily do the full single-pedal driving thing,
16:39but it does pull up with a fair bit more assertiveness than if you are in one of the
16:44more lenient regen driving modes. And when it comes to the other elements of the drive experience,
16:51look, the ride is maybe just a little bit sharper than I recalled it being. It has stepped up in
16:58terms of wheel size on the base grade at least, and still you do have pretty decent large alloy
17:04wheels with relatively low profile tyres as well. But it's not uncomfortable, I wouldn't say, just
17:10maybe a little bit sharper over some bumps and lumps than I was probably expecting it to be. It
17:16is an SUV after all, and some of the SUVs I've driven in recent times have had a bit more cushiness
17:22to the ride to them. And then when it comes to the steering, it's got a nice progressive action to
17:28it. It's predictable and easy to manage in a mix of different situations. In urban driving before,
17:34it was perfectly fine. On the open road, it's perfectly fine too. So in summary, there is no
17:39doubt that this hybrid powertrain is a welcome addition to the Tucson range, but is it efficient?
17:46Let's talk about that now.
17:49All right, so on your screen, you'll see the official combined cycle fuel consumption figure
17:55for the hybrid versions of this SUV. And yes, it's the same whether you choose the front-wheel
18:01drive or the all-wheel drive model, doesn't matter. They're equally as efficient on paper
18:08as each other. And look, that isn't necessarily as much of a wow moment in terms of the fuel
18:14consumption figure compared to a RAV4 or something like that, which is below 5 litres per 100 on
18:19paper at least. And in terms of the real-world driving return that I've seen today across this
18:25mix of driving, a couple of hundred k's covered so far, you'll see what I saw on your screen now.
18:31And I think that is very good. If you can achieve that on a real-world day-to-day basis, I think
18:37it'll tick the box for you. There's no doubt about that. Now, also I'll tell you what the
18:42non-turbocharged petrol front-wheel drive model is said to use, that number's on your screen now,
18:48and also the turbocharged petrol with the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive,
18:52there is a bit of a difference between those two numbers. So, what do you think about that?
18:57I think that it's pretty good in terms of the efficiency, in terms of the drive experience.
19:02Yeah, Tucson Hybrid, not bad at all. Jeez, I bloody love the fact that they've figured
19:08out a way to fix the bing bong tech. Good on you, Hyundai.
19:14The Hyundai Tucson maintains its five-star ANCAP safety rating from a few years ago,
19:19but it has seen some improvements to the standard safety specification and technology on offer. So,
19:25the forward collision warning system now also picks up on two-wheeled motorcycle vehicles,
19:31and it's also got junction assistance and head-on collision prevention as well. Now,
19:36there's auto emergency braking as part of that, obviously, you've got lane-keeping assistance,
19:41emergency lane-keeping, there's a blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert,
19:45a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, that's all standard, and there's other
19:50systems like a safe exit assist function, so it'll stop you from opening your door into oncoming
19:55traffic and that sort of thing, and if you choose one of the higher grade versions, you can get it
20:00with a surround view camera and a blind spot view monitor as well. There's other features here,
20:05including connected services, so if you're in an accident, it can call emergency services for you
20:10if you're unresponsive, which is really good technology, and when it comes to airbag coverage,
20:15there's dual front, front side, front centre airbag, and also curtain coverage as well.
20:23Hyundai Australia offers a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty for its model range. If you
20:28choose one of the hybrid versions of the Tucson, you get an eight-year, 160,000 kilometre warranty
20:34for the high-voltage battery pack. Now, when it comes to servicing, there's a lifetime cap price
20:40servicing for the different versions of the Hyundai Tucson, and I'm going to put some pricing and
20:44intervals up on your screen so you can see for yourself the 2.0-litre petrol model, and then also
20:50the 1.6-litre turbo petrol, and then also the hybrid version as well. So, look, the pricing might be
20:58sneaking up a little bit in terms of the costs, but I still think that it's good to see that you've got
21:04the option of pre-paying if you wish. You can pre-pay in a three-, four-, or five-year block,
21:09or you can just pay as you go if you want to do that instead. When it comes to roadside assist,
21:14every time you go to Hyundai to service it, they will top up your roadside assistance as well. Nice!
21:22Yes, the prices have gone up, but I think that this is a more compelling option than it already
21:27was because, well, there's been increases to the standard equipment. This petrol-electric hybrid
21:31powertrain, even though it's not the diesel, is still a very likeable option, and now that you
21:37can turn off that beeping-bonging technology just by holding down a button on the steering wheel,
21:41that gets the big thumbs up from me. Tell me what you think about it in the comments section below.
21:45Would you choose a Tucson? Would you go for the hybrid? Or would you choose one of the other
21:50powertrains, or would you choose something completely different? I'd love to hear from you.
21:53If you haven't already, please hit subscribe and ring the bell to keep up to date with all of my
21:57reviews. Thanks for watching, I'll see you in the next one!