2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid First Drive: When Dynamism Trumps Efficiency

Auto123 gets in a first drive of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

Hyundai is introducing a new, bolder generation of its Tucson for 2022. We had the chance to test drive the hybrid variant of the compact SUV, which will soon be complemented by a plug-in hybrid model. This Tucson surprised us with its liveliness, but it comes at the cost of fuel economy.

Original styling
Hyundai's new styling approach is described as "parametric dynamics". Don’t ask me to explain exactly what that means, but there is indeed a dynamic design to the vehicle with its multi-faceted exterior elements. There are more pronounced angles everywhere and a more sculpted silhouette. In profile, the Tucson has a powerful, forward-moving appearance. The front headlights disappear into the long hood.

The same approach is evident at the rear, where the full-width lights incorporate half-camouflaged triangular shapes that are only revealed when lit, echoing the design of the daytime running lights at the front. To ensure the purity of this design approach, the Hyundai logo has been moved up and integrated into the rear window, while the wiper is camouflaged under the rear spoiler. Overall, it’s a style that stands out in today’s somewhat grey automotive universe.

Lots of technology
The Tucson Hybrid, which retails for a higher-than-average starting price of $41,499, offers a long list of active and passive safety features. The list of safety functions includes all of the Hyundai SmartSense features that come standard in all Tucson models and include: forward collision avoidance assist (FCA) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist and lane tracking assist, long-range headlight assist, low driver attention alert, rear occupant alert and vehicle departure warning system in front.

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