2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited AWD – Review by David Colman

The smart choice for an affordable SUV loaded with amenities

David Colman

Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

In so many ways, Hyundai's 2023 Tucson Hybrid is your perfect compact SUV package: fast enough, big enough, and cheap enough. Let's start with fast. The Hybrid is the quickest Tucson in the model line, cutting the 0-60mph run in 7.1 seconds, and posting a 15.4 second/91 mph quarter mile time. From a size standpoint, the Tucson will carry 4 adults in real comfort, 5 in a pinch. Cargo space with the split bench rear seats folded (manually) affords 39 cubic feet of volume. The utility of the space is maximized by a flat loading floor, with no gaps between panels. As for price, the Hyundai's base cost of $44,760 is absolutely dead on the mark for today's average new vehicle transaction cost. The only extra Hyundai tacked on was $210 for carpeted floor mats, Out-the-door of the dealership, the quick and spacious Tucson Hybrid carried an all-in price of $46,305.

You will not lose sight of the Tucson Hybrid in a mall parking lot. Hyundai stylists have done a masterful job of supplying this SUV with chiseled, idiosyncratic features that distinguish it from any and all adjacent clones. Photographing the side of the Tucson revealed to me the complexity of its flanks. Their diamond-like surfaces refract light in complex and appealing ways. From the side, most SUVs are visually dead whereas the Tucson shines. Even our test model's subdued Amazon Gray exterior color showed the prism pattern to good effect. The burnished, busy spokes of the 19-inch alloy rims complement the sheet metal sparkle. They also provide ample support for a set of 235/55/R19 Michelin Primacy A/S (all-season) radials with a treadwear rating of TW 540.

With a wide choice of drive modes available (Snow, Smart, Sport, Eco), you can select the ride/drive quality most suited to your needs. Choosing each mode reshuffles the appearance of the digital gauges on the 10.25 inch gauge cluster. If, for example, the speedometer and tachometer glow red, you know you've chosen Sport Mode. The baseline handling of the Tucson is rewarding in any mode, but we found the precise steering feedback of Smart mode to be preferable to the more ponderous demands of Sport mode. No matter how you configure the Tucson's feedback loop, you'll be rewarded by secure handling and the kind of precise road placement you'd expect to find in a BMW or Audi. Our only criticism in the ride department was the Tucson's harsh, bump-stopped suspension contractions over bad pavement, regardless of drive mode choice.

While the base model Tucson, which carries a starting price of $26,700, makes do with a wheezy 2.5 liter inline-4 generating just 187hp, our test Hyundai Hybrid utilizes a smaller displacement 1.6 liter inline-4, turbocharged to produce 195hp. Hyundai augments this gas motor with a 59hp AC motor. The combined power sources make 226hp and 258lb.-ft. of torque. Since this assemblage of power is labeled PHEV, you can plug the Hybrid into electrical charging stations and run it on EV power alone. A full charge is good for 33 miles. If you depend solely on gas power, the Tucson still returns 35MPG combined City/Highway. Hyundai supplies a neat charging cord package which stores underneath the trunk floor in a molded Styrofoam container with lots of extra nooks to hide valuables. Even the recharge compartment on the right rear flank is fitted with an internal plug cover in addition to its flush-fitting metal door. Unfortunately, neither the door nor the cable can be locked, so a thief could easily make off with your expensive recharging link.

The amenity level inside the Tucson Limited's cabin made longer journeys a pleasure. The front seats proved comfortable, with multiple electric adjustments, and a tall seating position that provided excellent sightlines in all directions. Given the boxy nature of most SUVs, the ability to see where you're going and where you've been is an increasingly rare commodity. But the excellent sightlines of the Tucson reverses this disconcerting trend. It's nice to know that Hyundai puts more faith in human sensibility than warning beepers. We also liked the comparatively small size of the less intrusive 10.25 inch navigation and Infotainment screen. This unit was intuitive to operate and did not create a distracting diversion while driving.

On all counts, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited AWD is a smart choice for any buyer looking for an affordable compact SUV with lots of luxurious amenities. If you're into saving the earth with electrical propulsion, but not willing to spend your time foraging for elusive charging stations, the PHEV Tucson is the way to go.

2023 HYUNDAI TUCSON PHEV LIMITED AWD

ENGINE: 1.6 liter inline-4, turbocharged in intercooled, DOHC, 16-valve + AC Motor
HORSEPOWER: 226hp (Combined)
TORQUE: 258lb.-ft. (Combined)
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 80MPGe/35MPG Gas Only
PRICE AS TESTED: $46,305

HYPES: Forget-Me-Not Looks, Bargain Price

GRIPES: Sometimes Harsh Ride, Weird Rear Wiper Pattern

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

©2023 David E Colman