2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Review – Carnevalestoricocivitonico

Hyundai’s most popular model in Australia – and globally – the Tucson, gets a styling refresh and new hybrid powertrain for 2025, taking the total number of variants in the range to a staggering 17 across a spread of trim levels and price points.

Where do you even begin?

Now in its fourth generation, the Tucson celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 and comes in a choice of two-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), three engines and three trims — the entry-level eponymous Tucson, mid-spec Elite and range-topping Premium — plus an N Line optional package on most variants.

The only way to narrow it down is to decide your powertrain (petrol, turbo-petrol or turbo-petrol/electric), then FWD or AWD. The rest is a matter of creature comforts and technology.

Note that the old 2.0-litre diesel engine has been discontinued.

I have the 1.6T Hybrid AWD Premium ($59,600) here in gorgeous Deep Sea, which looks metallic black at first glance but is sultry purple-blue-green.

September VFACTS from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries puts the Tucson at 8.3 percent market share nationally in the sub-$60,000 midsize SUV segment – fifth behind the Mitsubishi Outlander (12.3 percent), Mazda CX-5 (10.2 percent) , Kia Sportage (9.3 percent), with – no prize here for guessing – the Toyota RAV4 in top position at 25 percent.

The appearance

There is a new headlight and grill design that is supposed to be more “aggressive”, new wheels and a new bumper with a silver skid plate.

More noticeably, a couple of exterior and interior dimensions (depending on powertrain) have changed with, most notably, the 2025 Tucson being 10mm longer than the 2024 Tucson. The front overhang is also 10mm more.

There are also two new colors – Cashmere Bronze Mettalic and Pine Green Matte – making it nine.

Jump inside and there’s plenty of new equipment, starting with the curved panoramic screen that houses twin 12.3-inch digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment in a single unit, which is the way car interiors are going.

A curved panoramic screen features dual 12.3-inch digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment in a single unit. Credit: Hyundai Motor Company

It’s clean and minimalistic, with different textures, plenty of soft finishes, leather upholstery (Elite and Premium specs), no glitter and a handy non-slip smartphone/gadget niche in the front passenger dash.

The shifter on my hybrid sits on the steering column, which frees up the center console, which has a wireless smartphone charging pad in the center next to the cup holder, so it’s within easy reach.

There are dual USB-C ports up front for device charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Andoid Auto, plus an easy-to-use touch panel for climate and airflow, in addition to seat heating and ventilation and a heated steering wheel.

I like the eight-speaker Bose sound in the test car; while it’s not a top-notch system, it’s pretty good.

Technology includes satellite navigation with live traffic updates, plus Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car service that lets you do all sorts of things remotely, even find your car in a parking space if you’ve forgotten where you left it – and even sends an automatic collision warning to emergency services .

For a mid-sized SUV, there’s plenty of space, generous shoulder room and a large boot with, in the hybrid, 582/1903 liters of storage with the second row up/down (539/1860L in the petrol).

For a mid-sized SUV, there is plenty of shoulder room. Credit: Hyundai Australia

Elite and Premium variants (like mine) get a smart electric tailgate, which opens by itself when you’re just standing in the back of the car with the key in your pocket or bag.

Love it.

Note, hybrids only get a space-saving tyre, while petrol variants come with a full-size spare.

Braked towing capacity for all hybrids (both FWD and AWD) is 1900kg, which is the same as the outgoing diesel AWD; petrol variants get 1650kg.

Lowdown

There is a 2.0-litre petrol engine (115kW/192Nm) with FWD only; a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol (132kW/264Nm) with a choice of FWD and AWD, plus a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid, which has a six-speed automatic gearbox and also comes in a choice of FWD/AWD with an integrated 47.7kW electric motor and 1.49kWh lithium polymer battery in the motor set for a combined maximum system output of 172kW/367Nm.

All take 91 RON fuel.

The hybrid technology has many advanced features, including:

+ Smart regenerative braking mode. This is automatically adjusted when coasting based on road gradient, driving conditions, data from the navigation system and forward camera.

+ Dynamic torque vector control. During turns, the system controls the brake on the inner wheel and the power of the drive motor to optimally distribute the torque to each wheel for stable performance.

+ e-Comfort Drive. Torque is electronically controlled to minimize vehicle fore/aft lean and drive motor power is adjusted based on how the driver turns the steering wheel to optimize smooth and comfortable

Safety and driver assistance

The Hyundai Tucson has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2021 testing, covering petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, with 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child protection, 66 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 70 percent for security assistance.

Note that the 2025 Tucson has not been tested and is unlikely to be given the safety rating valid until December 2027.

Driver assistance and safety technology is extensive, including a central airbag that provides extra protection for front seat passengers in side impacts and is standard on all variants, along with autonomous emergency braking (car to car, vulnerable road users and junction assist), blind spot collision avoidance assist, a lane support system and an advanced speed assist system (more on this later).

Hybrids are included, including a 360-degree camera with front/rear and overhead views, as well as a blind spot monitor that gives you a live video of left and right blind spot areas in the instrument cluster when indicated.

The drive

Quiet and composed. I love the ride.

The hybrid has satisfying power and decent acceleration – just don’t put your foot down hard, it’s not a performance car.

Remarkably, the transition between petrol and electric is seamless; I’d be hard-pressed to choose it without looking at the display on the instrument cluster that shows when the car is in electric, hybrid and charging modes.

Surprisingly, it sometimes manages decent stretches of road in electricity, sometimes at 75-78 km/h.

There are multiple drive modes, with my hybrid AWD also getting an off-road setting with options for snow, mud and sand.

Dive into the touchscreen and you’ll also find ‘baby mode’ which adjusts acceleration and deceleration for a smoother ride and redistributes torque when reversing to make maneuvers less jarring – although I can’t say I noticed much of a difference up front as the driver.

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson has a new bumper with a silver skid plate. Credit: Hyundai Australia

One feature I like is the “auto highway speed change” which works with active cruise control to adjust the car’s speed to legal limits – without the driver doing anything.

The only catch is that it takes longer to automatically slow down to, say, 70 km/h from 100 km/h than if you braked, meaning you’re still over the limit when you pass the sign. Speeding up is no problem but, again, slower than putting your foot down.

There’s a dilemma here – I’m not sure you can blame the car if you got caught speeding before it recalibrated itself as the driver is ultimately responsible for the vehicle.

Warranty and service

All Hyundais come with a five year/unlimited kilometer warranty. There’s also an eight-year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty. Hybrid service is every 10,000km/12 months, whichever comes first, and costs $340, $340, $560, $410 and $340 respectively.