Used Hyundai TUCSON cars

Launched in 2004, the Hyundai Tucson is a mid-size crossover SUV that provides a smaller alternative to the Korean manufacturer’s Santa Fe model. Now in its fourth generation, it shares the N3 platform with the Santa Fe and rivals similar vehicles like the Kia Sportage, VW Tiguan and Ford Kuga.

The Hyundai Tucson is available with a petrol 1.6-litre T-GDi engine as the base model. That can be paired with 48-volt electric with the mild hybrid version. There’s also the option of full self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid variants for even better fuel-economy.

Manufactured at Hyundai’s Czech plant in Nošovice, the latest Tucson features a striking exterior appearance that contrasts earlier generations. It has a short wheelbase of 105.5 inches with strong lines particularly noticeable on the side. There are many trim levels available – SE Nav, Premium, Premium SE, Sport Edition, S.

It performs and functions like you would expect from a comfortable 5-door family car. It’s no surprise that the Tucson is Hyundai’s best-selling model in Europe, but its popularity extends beyond the Korean brand. It was Europe’s best-selling compact SUV in 2022 with over 150,000 units sold and is known for its affordability compared to similar models.

Practicality and style of the car

Inside the Tucson, you’ll find plenty of space for four adults in the seats, with ample legroom and headroom. As with many compact SUVs, legroom for the central-rear passenger seat is compromised slightly by a raised floor in the middle. Still, the Tucson is certainly up there with the more spacious of its rivals like the Peugeot 3008.

The Hyundai Tucson sits near the top of the class for boot space, with 620 litres in the petrol variant. That drops slightly to 616 litres for the self-charging hybrid, then 558 and 547 litres for the plug-in and mild hybrid, respectively. Those figures increase to upwards of 1,700 litres with seats down, ranging from 1,737 to 1,799 litres.

If you’re looking to tow with the Hyundai Tucson, 1,650kg is the maximum braked towing weight. This puts it some distance behind the Volkswagen Tiguan at 2,500kg, but on a par with most other competitors.

Running costs

Budget-conscious drivers will look to the entry-level 1.6L petrol Tucson with SE Connect trim, which has the lowest purchase price for the model. Ongoing costs also depend on the trim level and engine type in question.

Road tax for the petrol model ranges from Band G to I, which has a standard rate of £180 for cars registered after April 2017. Hybrid models get a £10 discount, while plug-in hybrids (Band B) benefit from road-tax exemption in the first year due to low emissions. Models valued at more than £40,000 when new will cost £560 in road tax from years 2-5 and £180 for subsequent years.

Insurance groups vary for the Tucson, with base models like the SE Connect Trim falling into group 12 while plugin hybrid models fall into group 21. As well as trim level, the insurance group is increased by mild and self-charging motors, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

How a used Hyundai Tucson drives

In the UK, Hyundai uses petrol engines in the Tucson, with no diesel option available. As well as petrol-only, you can choose from various levels of hybrid assistance – mild hybrid with 48-volt electrification, full hybrid with a 1.49kWh battery, and plug-in hybrid with a 13.8kWh battery. All variations feature the same 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engine.

You can also choose between a manual or automatic gearbox. Manual gearboxes come with 6-speed transmission, while opting for automatic comes with either 6-speed (full and plug-in hybrid) or 7-speed (mild hybrid). Mild hybrids with manual transmission benefit from Hyundai’s Intelligent Manual Transmission technology, which provides a standard biting point and improves fuel efficiency.

The SE Connect, petrol model of the Hyundai Tucson provides 42.2mpg. That increases to 50.4mpg for the mild hybrid model. The best fuel efficiency comes from the plug-in hybrid, though these models have a high miles-per-gallon rating of over 200, given that it’s based on petrol usage only.

The bhp ranges from 147bhp to 177bhp for a petrol Tucson, depending on the engine and trim level. Mild hybrids can achieve 226bhp with 261bhp for plugin hybrids, as show in the official figures below.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

Engine	Official NEDC MPG	Official WLTP MPG
1.6 CRDi 115	57.6 mpg	-
1.6 CRDi 115 Mild Hybrid	-	51.4 mpg
1.6 CRDi 136	57.6 mpg	-
1.6 CRDi 136 DCT	58.9 mpg	-
1.6 CRDi 136 Mild Hybrid	-	47.9–50.4 mpg
1.6 GDi	39.8–44.8 mpg	-
1.6 T-GDi 177	37.7–38.7 mpg	35.3 mpg
1.6 T-GDi 177 DCT	39.8–40.4 mpg	36.2 mpg
1.6 T-GDi 4WD	37.2–38.7 mpg	-
1.6 T-GDi 4WD Automatic	37.7–39.8 mpg	-
1.7 CRDi	61.7 mpg	-
1.7 CRDi DCT	57.6 mpg	-
1.7 T-GDi 116	61.7 mpg	-
1.7 T-GDi 141 DCT	57.6 mpg	-
2.0 CRDi	58.9 mpg	-
2.0 CRDi 4WD	47.9–54.3 mpg	-
2.0 CRDi 4WD Automatic	43.5–47.1 mpg	-
2.0 CRDi Mild Hybrid 4WD	49.6 mpg	-

Features you can expect in a Hyundai Tucson

Interior

While previous versions of the Hyundai Tucson were focused solely on function, the latest addition is ideal for families looking for a mid-size crossover SUV that’s both practical and premium. Within the car, you’ll find a range of features that match and even improve on the competition for comfort and convenience.

The monochrome cabin design has a sophisticated look, with a choice of light grey or black for the leather seats. Front seats are wide and supportive with easy adjustment and a commanding view of the road. In the back, passengers have reclining backrests and USB charging ports – and plenty of space for two adults.

A particularly convenient feature of the Ultimate trim is the fully electric driver’s seat, which takes the effort out of adjusting the height, recline and how far back you’re sitting. It includes memory function, so you can save two different driving positions and switch them at the click of a button.

Technology

On-board tech is one example of this. The Tucson comes with dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, built-in navigation, cruise control and a rear-view camera as standard. High-beam assist also switches your headlights between high and low beam depending on the light detected from other cars.

With higher trim levels – Premium, N Line and N Line S – keyless entry, wireless phone charging and front parking sensors are added to that list. Or opt for Ultimate – the highest trim level – for an electric tailgate, heated front and back seats, and ventilation on the front seats too.

Safety

In terms of safety, Euro NCAP rated the 2021 Hyundai Tucson the maximum five-star rating. That includes 87% for child occupant protection, 86% for adults and a 70% score for its safety systems. The latter comprises driver attention warning, lane-keeping assist and rear-cross traffic alert. Drivers also benefit from autonomous emergency braking with detection for pedestrians, cyclists and large animals.

Opting for the additional Tech Pack gives you a 360-degree camera system which includes a Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM). When you use your left and right indicators, you’ll get a live camera view of your blind spot on the corresponding side of your digital display.

When driving, Eco mode works well with the model’s focus on comfort. Switching to Sport mode makes the engine work harder with better throttle response, at a sacrifice to fuel economy. In line with the comfortable experience, the 148bhp model does 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds. That’s bettered by the mild hybrid with 9-9.6 seconds, depending on the power level, and 8 seconds for the full hybrid.

While the full hybrid is the fastest option available, the 44.2kW electric motor is still only used for acceleration and the shortest trips. Petrol kicks in after 1-2 miles, so the plug-in hybrid is the best option for electric-only performance. It offers up to 31 miles on electric, according to official figures.

Trims available on the Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson SE Connect

As the standard Hyundai Tucson trim level for the latest models, SE Connect trim comes with a rear-view camera, cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning and built-in sat-nav on the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also included, putting it on a par with other modern entry-level models.

Hyundai Tucson Premium

Premium trim adds a touch of luxury with bigger wheels, chrome styling on the car’s exterior and ambient interior lighting. There’s also an upgrade to the sound system, plus front heated seats and wireless phone charging.

Hyundai Tucson N Line

N Line is marketed as the sporty trim, with red stitching on the seats, wheel, doors, armrests and gearstick. There are metallic accents on the inside, like silver pedals with an aerodynamic spoiler and 19-inch alloys on the exterior. For performance, you get Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS) for adaptive damping.

Hyundai Tucson N Line S

The N Line S builds on the N Line trim with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system and adaptive cruise control. There are upgrades to the inside, with a heated steering wheel and Krell premium stereo system, plus a powered tailgate.

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate

As the highest trim level for the Hyundai Tucson, Ultimate includes a panoramic glass sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated seats in the back. There’s also a fully electric driver’s seat with memory function for two settings.

Hyundai Tucson SE Nav

The SE Nav trim includes front and rear parking sensors, automatic windscreen wipers, roof rails, privacy glass and rear LED lamps. There’s also an eight-inch touchscreen display with built-in navigation.

Hyundai Tucson SE Premium

With Premium SE, you get adaptive cruise control, an around-view monitor and Bi-LED headlights. There’s also a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, panoramic glass sunroof and smart tailgate.

Hyundai Tucson SE

Another of Hyundai’s base-level trims, the Tucson SE comes with projector headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a seven-inch touchscreen as standard. Android Auto and Apple Car Play are included with Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Hyundai Tucson Sport Edition

Full LED headlights and 19-inch alloys give this trim level a racier look. There’s also an improved 315-watt sound system and a hands-free smart tailgate.

Hyundai Tucson S

The Hyundai Tucson S features LED headlights with daytime running and dusk sensors, 16-inch alloy wheels and electric heated door mirrors. Bluetooth and DAB come as standard, with audio and phone controls mounted on the steering wheel.

Hyundai Tucson Go SE

Go SE is based on the SE Nav spec, plus 19-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and gloss black door mirrors. You’ll enjoy cloth upholstery with dark silver accents on the interior, plus automatic windscreen wipers and auto-dimming on the rear-view mirror.

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