Is the 2022 Hyundai Tucson a Good SUV? Here Are 4 Things We Like and 4 We Don’t | News

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To stand out in the popular and highly competitive compact SUV class, automakers are being forced to improve their game with more choices and features. This is generally good news for buyers, but some ideas are better than others. Hyundai has covered the selection with the redesigned Tucson, offering front-wheel or all-wheel drive, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well as a total of nine trim levels to choose from. We tested both the pure 2022 Tucson and the 2022 Tucson Hybrid.

Related: 2022 Hyundai Tucson, Tucson Hybrid Review: A Thick Subject

The Tucson is also strong in value, with a generous list of standard features, one of the better guarantees in the business, and consumer-friendly pricing.

Where things get weird is that Hyundai has eliminated traditional controls in favor of an all-touchscreen slap on the Tucson’s upper bezels. We found the controls so annoying and distracting that we felt the lower bezels are the smarter choice; With simple knobs and buttons for many audio and climate functions, the basic models are easier and less frustrating to use.

Aside from the electronic controls, there’s still a lot to like about the redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson. For the full Cars.com review, click the dedicated link above to read Kelsey Mays’ review. For a quick look at what’s good and what’s not, read on for four things we like and four things we don’t:

Things we like

1st value

The Tucson starts off at fewer than competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and buyers get a spacious interior that is well-made and pleasing to look at, with generous cargo space for the category. Also standard are an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a decent list of safety and convenience functions and a long warranty.

2. Spacious interior

The interior appears open and airy, supported by the optional panoramic sliding roof, which is available in both of the Tucson equipment items we tested. The passengers in the front seats have plenty of legroom and the view from the driver’s seat is good. The legroom in the rear is also good, although the sunroof eats up the headroom. In Cars.com’s independent billing of cargo space, the volume tested outperforms competitors such as the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester.

3. Powertrain selection

While we didn’t like either of the two powertrains we tested, it’s nice to see a wide variety. Buyers can choose from a standard 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which, depending on spec, is good overall for an EPA-estimated 26-29 mpg; a hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine with an electric motor for a combined 226 horsepower and an EPA estimated total output of 37-38 mpg; or a plug-in hybrid to match the charged engine with a more muscular battery for a total of 261 hp and a range of 52 miles in all-electric mode. The pure gas drive works via an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid and PHEV drivetrains use a six-speed automatic.

4. Security

The Tucson received the Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with good ratings in all six crash categories. Its headlights and automatic emergency braking also scored points. The standard safety equipment includes a frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane centering that can be touched, a rear seat reminder and a driver attention monitor. Options include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control.

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Things we don’t like

1. About these controls

Traditional car purchase says that if you spend more on a higher trim level, you get a nicer car with additional features and benefits. Hyundai turned that on its head with the 2022 Tucson: lower panels feature wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, as well as physical buttons and buttons for most audio and climate functions. Higher trims lose wireless integration and require a cable. Worse still, they also do without the physical controls for a touchscreen that controls practically all audio and air conditioning functions. The result is an annoying and distracting user interface that has to take your eyes off the road, even with small adjustments.

2. Push button shifter

All Tucson fairings use a push-button shifter instead of a traditional 2022 setup. The downside is that this arrangement is less intuitive to use than a traditional shifter, and you’re more likely to have to take your eyes off the road. While it’s not as annoying as the all-digital dash in higher Tucson trims, we prefer a regular shifter.

3. Moon roof eats into the headroom

Although the optional panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feel open and airy, it eats up headroom – on the order of about 5 inches at the front and a half-inch at the rear. That might not be too much of an issue if the Tucson had plenty of excess headroom initially, but that’s not the case. Taller buyers may want to skip the sunroof.

4. Pitfalls in the powertrain

The six-speed automatic is programmed to maximize fuel economy on gasoline models, and so the transmission is eager to upshift. This often results in the engine dragging and reacting slowly, especially when accelerating at low speed. Downshifting is easier at higher speeds and the drivetrain feels more responsive when pushed, albeit on the noisy side.

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The Cars.com editorial team is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s longstanding ethical policy, editors and reviewers do not accept gifts or free rides from automakers. The editorial team is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

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