I already talked about the new Hyundai Tucson crossover, but we have a topic for conversation again. First, a hybrid power unit based on a gasoline engine and an electric motor is now hiding under the hood. Secondly, the car is presented in the almost top Elegance configuration (last time the diesel car was presented in the maximum Top configuration); which compensates for the potential price increase due to hybrid technology. So what is better to choose – diesel or hybrid, configuration or power?
Design: are the changes noticeable?
Yes; but the minimal changes that are specific to the hybrid version are the corresponding lettering on the trunk lid and dual exhaust pipes. In addition, the Hyundai Tucson hybrid car differs from the previous one in other wheel rims: these are the features of the configuration.
But the rest is already well known. An interesting design with numerous corners and bends on the side surfaces. Wide tinted radiator grille that literally absorbed numerous LED “spots” of daylight. Nice linked triangular lights and a hidden wiper at the back. The new Hyundai Tucson crossover has received a very bold appearance, which really attracts attention!
Unchanged in overall design and dimensions (length – 4.5 meters; width – 1.87 meters; height – 1.65 meters; wheelbase – 2.68 meters), Hyundai Tucson hybrid is distinguished by several details: for example, a matching inscription on the back and a different exhaust system. It also features 17-inch wheels (215/65R17 tires), while the top-spec Tor offered 19-inch wheels and low-profile tires.
Similarly, with the interior: the differences of this car lie in different configurations rather than in the “diesel/hybrid” difference. The latter can be recognized only by the specific graphics on the displays: the directions of the energy flow, the “EV” designation, and the operation of various engines.
However, there are much more differences due to the configuration. First of all, the seats with fabric trim attract attention. It seems that everything is simple, but they added decorative stripes – and it became more interesting in terms of design. And the comfort of seating has not gone anywhere: the soft seats are like your favorite armchairs at home, they literally wrap around the body. Or they give freedom to the passengers in the back – once again I will note the excellent space, a good amount of space above the head and for the legs, the presence of an armrest, and the ability to adjust the angle of the backrest.
However, it became simpler. The front seats, along with the leather, have also lost ventilation. Rear passengers are now deprived of their own “climate” and blinds for protection from the sun. The center console now has an 8-inch display instead of a 10.25-inch one. Moreover, they did not just stop at reducing the size – it has a different, somewhat simplified control menu. Although the simplification has brought improvements in some places because some of the controls are now physical: volume and music selection, “climate” temperature.
In general, the design of the interior is known, but the Elegance configuration defines the differences: the seat trim made of dark fabric, a changed multimedia system, and an 8-inch display (instead of a 10.25-inch) on the front panel, a separate “climate” temperature control selectors (instead of sensors), no “climate” in the back. Although speaking in general, everything is “enough”: space and comfort in the interior, level of equipment, trunk volume (616 liters). Also, the latter offers an organizer, but without a spare wheel.
Equipment: so many changes inside!
There are so few changes on the outside and in the interior – but so many changes inside! With the previous diesel car, this Hyundai Tucson hybrid crossover connects only the general design: supporting body, fully independent suspensions, and all-wheel drive.
But everything that concerns the power unit is completely different. First, the hybrid is built based on a 1.6 T-GDI gasoline engine with a capacity of 180 hp. (by the way, there are also regular non-hybrid versions of the Hyundai Tucson with this engine). This turbo engine features CVVD variable valve timing, a 10.5:1 compression ratio, and direct fuel injection. Secondly, an electric motor with a capacity of 44 kW or 60 hp was added with a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission. In fact, the electric motor was installed at the junction between the internal combustion engine and the automatic transmission.
Finally, the third: electric motor of the hybrid is powered by a Li-Ion Polymer battery hidden under the rear seat. Finally, it is worth noting that the Hyundai Tucson hybrid crossover can have front-wheel drive 2WD or all-wheel drive 4WD (like this test car), which is implemented thanks to a traditional scheme with a cardan shaft and a clutch.
Three main components of the hybrid design options: a gasoline 1.6-liter engine, an electric motor at the junction with automatic transmission, and battery (1.5 kWh) under the rear seat. In total, we will get 230 hp. power and 350 Nm of torque. How will they show themselves?
Behind the wheel: a new level of dynamics for Hyundai Tucson
The most important change in the character of the Hyundai Tucson hybrid is excellent dynamics. Starting from a standstill is very active thanks to the electric motor. Next, the gasoline turbo engine gets down to business – and with a barely noticeable, but pleasant “grunt”, the car perfectly picks up speed. During acceleration in motion, the electric motor seems to support the gasoline “turbo” from below: instead of waiting for a “pick-up” from the gasoline engine, in the case of a hybrid, there is an immediate acceleration, with the first moment of pressing the accelerator pedal. And the usual automatic transmission switches in such a way that you can only guess the gears, but not feel the process itself: everything is imperceptible and smooth.
But the suspension has not changed. Even for a powerful hybrid, soft suspension settings are used. I wanted to get more elasticity, fewer rolls, and a little “heaviness” on the steering wheel. After all, power and dynamics have reached a new level; let’s tentatively call this level N Line – it’s like a hint of what we want to see in the Ukrainian model line. But the suspension still emphasizes softness. Although this is great from the point of view of comfort: the crossover knows how to absorb bumps of almost any size and format, and it dares to drive freely on cobblestones or completely broken roads. In many ways, thanks to the high-profile tires on 17-inch wheels. So, for the combination of dynamics and comfort, it is definitely a good mark.
Hybrid power unit gives new impressions. Hyundai Tucson hybrid crossover has several driving modes, but they are general – there are no special settings for controlling the hybrid power unit: the start almost always takes place on the electric drive, only then the gasoline turbo engine is connected, and then the engines work together. But all for good reason! The phrase “lucky seven” is about the Hyundai Tucson hybrid: such a car provides acceleration to a hundred km in 7.1-7.2 seconds (it’s better than the “passport”) and consumes about 7-8 liters of fuel in the city (it’s not much, but it’s already worse than the “passport”). On the highway at a speed of about “100”, the car needs 5.5-6 liters per 100 km.
Price: how much does the Hyundai Tucson hybrid crossover cost?
Generally speaking, the Hyundai Tucson crossover in Ukraine “starts” at approximately UAH 1 million (or $25,000) – it will be a car with a 2-liter gasoline engine, front-wheel drive, manual or automatic transmission in the Express configuration. The Hyundai Tucson model range also includes versions with a 1.6-liter turbodiesel (136 hp) or a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine (180 hp), with front or all-wheel drive, in various configurations: they start from UAH 1.25-1.3 million or $31-32.5 thousand.
But the hybrid versions of the Hyundai Tucson are more expensive – from UAH 1.4 million or $35,000 for a car with front-wheel drive 2WD and in Dynamic configuration. Which in general already offers a fairly high level of equipment: front and side airbags, side safety curtains, a central airbag between the front seats, assistants to prevent collisions and maintain lane control, heated front seats and steering wheel, separate 2-zone “climate”, light-alloy 17-inch wheels, multimedia system with an 8-inch display.
One level up is the Elegance configuration (as a test car), which adds the following: side mirror blind spot monitoring, reversing assistan, LED headlights, wireless charging, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. Also, in this configuration, you can choose the type of drive – front or all-wheel drive. Accordingly, the cost of Hyundai Tucson hybrid Elegance with front-wheel drive 2WD is from 1.52 million UAH or $38 thousand. The cost of a similar car, but with all-wheel drive 4WD – from 1.57 million UAH or $39 thousand.
At the top of the model line is the Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4WD car in the Top Plus configuration: the video monitoring system of “blind spots”, all-round view, highway traffic assistant, leather interior and settings electric drive, front seat ventilation, rear seat heating, and 3-zone climate control, central 10.25-inch display and KRELL audio system, light-alloy 19-inch wheels are added. The cost of such a Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4WD Top Plus car is approximately from UAH 1.7 million or $43,000.
Maksym Solovyov, founder of the Drivovo company: “In general, we usually take our company’s fleet of cars with the maximum configuration – this is what happened with the diesel versions of Hyundai Tucson. But in the case of a hybrid, we decided to do an experiment – a car in a good, but not the maximum configuration. If compared with the diesel version of the Hyundai Tucson, the hybrid for the same money will be one configuration lower: this is how much the Hyundai Tucson diesel Top costs – about as much as Hyundai Tucson hybrid Elegance. But! On the one hand: this configuration already has all assistants for the driver, there are smartphone integrations, etc. On the other hand: there is no leather interior, which some customers do not like. And the third: the hybrid guarantees high power and dynamics with low fuel consumption. We can already say that this experiment turned out to be successful – such cars have found their fans”.
Hyundai Tucson hybrid test drive results
So, the article began with the question: what is better to choose – diesel or hybrid, configuration or power? I will answer almost in the words of a classic: you can choose any car option, the main thing is that this car is a Hyundai Tucson.
After all, the car really turned out to be very successful, in the last year or two I became a real fan of this model, especially in this generation. The current Hyundai Tucson crossover is able to pleasantly surprise with many things: design and configuration, modern equipment, range of choice of versions by engines, and transmissions. And in the case of a hybrid, it can additionally surprise with high power and excellent dynamics. Therefore, with the Hyundai Tucson car, just choose what you like – in any case, you are not wrong.
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