Hyundai’s hybrid Tucson is not yet on the cards for Australia but will make a good choice for buyers if made available.
There are two hybrid versions of the Tucson available, one with mild assistance and this plug-in which promises more electrification for even stronger efficiency thanks to a larger 13.8kWh battery. The larger battery allows for a claimed pure-electric range of up to 61km.
Both are produced in right-hand drive, as tested here, however, as they come out of the Czech plant in Nosovice they are destined only for the UK – Hyundai Australia is keen but there are no official plans to introduce the hybrids here yet. But as with sibling brand Kia’s growing line-up of hybrid cars, we expect it is only a matter of when.
The powertrain comprises the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the regular hybrid, but the bigger battery feeds a more powerful electric motor for a total of 195kW and 350Nm, which means 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds. This is slightly slower than the regular hybrid, but as with any car with a serious element of electrification, flat-out performance isn’t the key. Instead, it’s about the ‘fill’ the electric motor adds, and with torque available instantly the step-off acceleration from a standstill is swift in the Tucson.
It surges forward with a willingness that no pure-ICE car like this can match, and there’s no flaring of revs as the transmission moves power to the road, so the Tucson is also really relaxing around town. The ride backs this up, because even on our car’s 19-inch wheels, the composed suspension set-up soaks up the kind of scars urban roads throw at it in an impressively unruffled manner.
With light steering the Hyundai is easy to manoeuvre in this environment, too, and on more open roads the comfort also helps. But it’s not the most dynamic machine; the Tucson PHEV’s preferred groove is relaxed cruising, because the engine gets a little noisy if you ask for some hard acceleration.
That will also dent the claimed efficiency figures of 1.4L/100km and 31g/km of CO2 emissions, and while you might not get close to that (remember to plug in as frequently as possible to minimise running costs) the Tucson PHEV should be an extremely affordable family SUV to run.
When it comes to practicality there’s no compromise inside, with the same great level of room in the rear that made the Tucson such a hit when we first drove it. The dash design gives a feeling of space in the front, too, and it’s constructed from (mostly) premium materials and features plenty of advanced technology, including the infotainment.
At 558 litres, the Tucson PHEV’s boot is down on the 616-litre capacity of the hybrid version due to the packaging requirements of its larger battery. Yet there’s still more than enough space; for reference, the new Nissan Qashqai offers 504 litres, which is perfectly adequate.
Practicality with a plug-in hybrid also extends to topping up, but with a 7.2kW on-board charger, even with a relatively chunky battery for a mid-size PHEV SUV, a charge time of one hour and 42 minutes means there’s plenty of flexibility on offer here. Our tests showed it was easy to achieve 50km of pure-EV driving with the plug-in version, too.
It comes well equipped – like Australian vehicles do – offering 18-inch alloy wheels, climate control, high-beam assist, smart adaptive cruise control, all-round parking sensors with a rear-view camera, full keyless go, heated seats and a heated steering wheel. It also has a 10.25-inch digital dash and a central touchscreen infotainment system of the same size.
It’s a great set-up that boasts sharp graphics and quick responses, plus with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and wireless charging, there’s plenty of connectivity and technology on offer.
Safety tech is similarily great as well, with lane follow and lane-keep assist, along with autonomous emergency braking featuring pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic assist and many more protective systems are all fitted as standard.
Hyundai’s Tucson PHEV is a very good performer, however, it’s possible the regular hybrid model is the better bet if it’s a good deal more affordable. Still, both cars share the same spacious and premium-feeling cabin, impressive in-car technology and refined road manners, which are heightened even further around town in this car’s electric mode. Performance is fine but the efficiency heights are even greater, and it’s something that would slot in nicely to the local line-up.
Sean Carson