2022 Hyundai Tucson

Pretty much the only thing that's consistent between the all-new 2022 Hyundai Tucson and its predecessor is the name, the badge in its grille and the fact it's still a crossover SUV. Otherwise, the new Tucson goes from being one of the smallest compact crossovers to one of the biggest, with commensurate gains in passenger and cargo space. The design goes from tasteful if forgettable, to a unique celebration of exaggerated lines and expressive accent lighting. If nothing else, it's definitely memorable. The interior similarly goes from attractive and functional with a few cheap bits, to borderline luxurious and a real head turner in the segment with exceptional technology. Finally, the powertrain lineup goes from a choice of two blah naturally aspirated four-cylinders to only a single still-pretty-blah one, but there's now a choice of hybrid powertrains as well (including a plug-in hybrid). Put it all together, and not only do you have a radically different Tucson, but a radically improved one. Indeed, the 2022 Tucson can now be considered one of the top choices in its segment as it basically checks off all the boxes of the segment's heavyweights, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Space, fuel economy, value and quality are all comparable, while boasting superior infotainment and safety technologies, a longer warranty and a more attractive interior. The verdict on its exterior might be a bit more polarizing, but we'd rather have overly expressive than anonymous. The driving experience is similarly as mundane as those other top contenders, but at least the Hybrid's traditional automatic transmission results in a more "normal" feel compared to Honda and Toyota's hybrid system. There will also be the new Tucson N Line later in the model year, which promises to offer a sharper, more responsive driving experience (albeit paired to the base engine). In short, check out the new Tucson.  What's new for 2022? 2022 marks the introduction of a new generation of Hyundai’s compact SUV, so virtually everything is new. Hyundai has revamped the Tucson along the same lines as its other products, introducing a new suite of powertrain options (standard, hybrid, and plug-in) and migrating it onto a larger, more comfortable and more electrification-friendly platform. There will also be a sportier Tucson N Line version.  What's the Tucson interior and in-car technology like? In a segment where many competitors go with a more functional aesthetic, the Hyundai Tucson is more stylish, more tech-focused and more premium. We especially like the dash-width vents and cloth trim. Plastics and switchgear are of a high quality as well. There are some key differences based on trim level, however. Besides upholstery and color choices, the center stack controls actually differs. Most come with an 8-inch touchscreen, while an upgrade 10.25-inch widescreen unit is available as upgrade. Their basic user interface is similar, but the bigger screen increases functionality.  Unusually, only the 8-inch screen is compatible with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; the larger unit requires a wired connection. This is true of …
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