The Hyundai Tucson at the Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton.
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is a new look at the brand’s global best-selling Compact segment SUV. It is larger, more comfortable and more accommodating than ever before. Napleton News had the chance to hang out in the Tucson for a week. Here’s a look at what we think about it.
Pretty much everything is new here. Sensuous Sportiness is the name of the game and also Hyundai’s new design identity for the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The new Tucson is available in gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions. Here are some additional highlights:
The Tucson is available in six trim levels ranging from Tucson SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, N-Line, Premium and Limited models. For 2022, it features a standard engine, namely the 2.5-liter inline-4 making 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It is available with a buyer’s choice of front- or all-wheel drive (FWD or AWD, respectively). Both drivetrains are matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has a max towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.
Designed in Ulsan, South Korea, the new 2022 Hyundai Tucson features sharp angles, short overhangs, a long wheelbase and a muscular stance. To say it is well-planted would be an understatement.
At the front is a jeweled grille with more facets than a 12-carat diamond. There are LED headlights and accent lighting that helps to enhance the appearance of the grille. At the rear is a set of angled, narrow taillights that set off an avant-garde style design theme.
Other markets worldwide can choose between the short- or long-wheelbase Tucson; Here in the good ole US of A, we get only the extended Sweet Home Alabama-built version of the Tucson. But don’t think of us as underprivileged. Think of us as wanting more! More as in more legroom, more cargo space and more overall length. By the numbers, the new Tucson measures out an additional 5.8 inches longer than the model it replaces. The base Tucson rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, though 19-inch alloys are available from SEL and higher models.
Designed to seat five passengers in elegant surroundings, the Tucson offers “class-above” comfort and technology. The Tucson is standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display. An available 10.25-inch touchscreen is complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for up to two smartphones. This large screen is the hub for all the in-car entertainment the Tucson has to offer. What the system does not have are knobs to operate the radio and other functions on the screen. As a result, we were required to take our eyes off the road every now and again to change the station or enter a destination address.
Cloth or leather covers the seating with shades of black or gray. Count on tons of soft-touch material around the cabin, and if you want to “go disco,” you’ll be able to change the interior ambient lighting 64 different ways from Sunday. Just kidding, but you really can set the interior lighting 64 different colors. It’s pretty slick if you ask us.
Some of the bonuses realized by the extended wheelbase include an additional three inches of legroom, drawing it out to 41.3 inches overall. The cargo area has grown to 38.7 cubic feet. If using the dual-level cargo floor, it increases the space to 41 cubic feet.
Safety is a major buzzword these days and it is at the fore in the new 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The brand’s SmartSense safety suite is on board, and active safety features are standard. The suite includes forward-collision-avoidance assistance with pedestrian detection. There’s also lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic high beams driver attention monitoring and rear occupant alert.
Our tester featured some optional safety devices, including blind-spot monitoring and blind-spot collision warning. A surround-view monitor, highway driving assist, reverse parking collision avoidance assist (to prevent cross-traffic accidents in parking lots, for instance), safe-exit warning, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, and adaptive cruise control are all part of the extra-cost safety features.
Hopping behind the wheel of this new third-generation Hyundai Tucson is one that had us feeling we were driving a vehicle that likely cost thousands more. Ride quality is excellent, displaying capable noise suppression thanks to its laminated windshield. The suspension is firm without being bone-jarring.
There’s enough space in front for tall passengers, but not at the expense of the rear seat occupants. That’s partly due to the extra three inches found in the extended wheelbase on the US version of the Tucson.
Our full-time all-wheel drive works in the background, meaning that its use is almost invisible in usage. It can send up to 50-percent of the torque to the rear wheels, as needed. The locking differential allows you to set a 50:50 balance between the front and rear tires. But the reality is that you shouldn’t expect the Tucson to be a robust performer when off-roading. It performs best when on the smooth stuff.
One observation we made was with the gearing from start. The Hyundai Tucson’s gearing seems a bit tall for some situations, requiring us to step on it to get the party going. Once we were underway, the transmission seemed to find its way nicely.
At the end of the day and the end of the road, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson impressed us with its well-put-together persona. With great build quality, a practical style and the best warranty in the business, it impresses on many levels.
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | |
| Popular Powertrains | |
| Engine | 2.5-liter GDI inline-4 |
| Horsepower | 187 @ 6,100 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 26 mpg (24 city/29 hwy) |
| Also Available | Various trim packages, AWD, Hybrid, PHEV |
| Specs | |
| Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Safety Rating | Not Rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.3 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches |
| Height | 65.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.1 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 41.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 56.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 38.7/80.3 cubic feet |
This post was published on December 27, 2021
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