Hyundai Tucson Hev 4WD: test, price, technical data sheet

Hyundai Tucson is that phenomenon that in less than twenty years has managed to change the perception that motorists had of the Korean brand. Once upon a time, with the first generation in 2004, buying a Tucson – or more generally a Hyundai – was a rational choice, of substance, perhaps a little timid and which looked more at the wallet than the personality. With the current restyling of the third series, the choice to purchase a Hyundai is a conscious one, not dictated by the affordability of the vehicle but by precise aesthetic and technological tastes, as well as by technical needs, having the certainty of purchasing a mature, safe, valid product with the right quality/price ratio.

1 The prices

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On the third generation Tucson, Hyundai technicians have managed to combine an innovative design with everyday practicality that few other SUVs can offer in 4 and a half metres. And, together with the brand, it has grown in the national and European collective imagination, increasingly alongside renowned brands. By the way: the 1.6 Hev Exellence 4WD protagonist of our test reflects the high technological content and the quality of the materials, with a starting price of 45,600 euros, but the Tucson range starts from 34,400 euros (the Full Hybrid with two-wheel drive starts from 38,500 euros).

2 The numbers

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Before delving into the test, let’s take a look at the numbers to understand “the Tucson phenomenon”: more than 13,000 units delivered in 2025 in Italy and growing numbers in the first quarter of 2026, with a convincing +18.3%, comfortably settling into the Top 10 among the best-selling C-SUVs in Italy. However, Tucson is a European and global reality, constantly at the top of the rankings despite the fact that we are talking about a model that received a restyling in 2024, but whose generation actually arrived in 2020. From 2021 to 2025, in fact, it was able to conquer over 150,000 motorists in Europe for five years in a row.

3 The design

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The first impact with the Tucson is visual and does not leave you indifferent. Part of its success lies in what Hyundai calls “Parametric Dynamics”. It is the concept behind the design of the grille, with LED daytime running lights hidden inside the grille that only appear when turned on, creating a scenic effect that very few other competitors can boast. The lines are muscular, full of edges and surfaces that play with the light, completed in this Excellence trim by generous alloy wheels that perfectly fill the wheel arches, giving the vehicle a dynamic look. The rear three-quarters are also intriguing, sporty and designed with good taste. In terms of dimensions, we are faced with a car 4.53 meters long, 1.87 meters wide and 1.65 meters high: compact enough not to go crazy in city car parks, but with the presence on the road of a higher segment SUV.

4 The interiors

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Climbing aboard the Hyundai Tucson, the perception of quality is high. It may also be thanks to the Exellence setup, we don’t deny it, but careful assemblies and a feeling of solidity don’t lie, not even on the base range. The passenger compartment comfortably accommodates up to five passengers and the work done on the ergonomics is masterful. Despite the reasonable external dimensions, legroom and headroom for rear passengers are very respectable. And then there is the trunk: a huge 616 liter compartment, despite this being the Full Hybrid variant, penalized by the presence of the electrical part. It is a storage space that allows you to load everything you need for a large family’s trips without having to play Tetris with your suitcases.

5 Technology

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The technology on the Tucson is not just aesthetic, but concrete and aimed at safety. The most spectacular and incredibly useful element is the camera system that projects the road directly onto the 10.25″ digital dashboard when the indicator is activated. It is a solution that completely eliminates the blind spot: a true revolution for urban but also motorway safety. The package of driving assistants is complete: we have, among other things, adaptive Cruise Control, active lane keeping which acts on the steering to always keep the car in the center of the lane and emergency braking enhanced by sensors that drastically increase the range of action. There is no shortage of quick buttons on the steering wheel – good that they are all physical, as well as on the central tunnel and partly on the dashboard – to deactivate what you may not like, such as the acoustic warning when the speed limit is exceeded or the lane assist. There is a dedicated screen, perhaps not the most practical element because you certainly have to take a look at it to activate the function you want, but it is spectacular customizable in design is accompanied by the infotainment system, whose advantage is that it has very large icons. This way it is difficult to make a mistake by pressing the wrong icon and everything is organized in pages and boxes that are easy and simple to memorize, although it is still an exhaustive and complete tool.

6 Technique

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Under the hood of the sample under test beats the 1.6 T-Gdi Full Hybrid. A system capable of delivering a total of 239 HP of power (of which 180 from the endothermic alone), combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The peculiarity of this version is the 4WD all-wheel drive, a guarantee of traction even on difficult surfaces, as underlined by the three specific driving modes, in addition to the traditional Eco and Sport. As for performance, the car reaches 196 km/h and takes 8 seconds flat to go from 0 to 100 km/h. But the real strength of the Tucson is also in its variety of choices. In fact, Hyundai offers a very vast range: you can have it with front or all-wheel drive, 48V diesel or petrol Mild Hybrid, Full Hybrid and even Plug-in Hybrid with a total of 288 HP, suitable for those who can recharge at home. In short, one of the reasons for the model’s success is that there is a Tucson for every type of driver, without giving up diesel and without giving up 4×4.

7 How is it going

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On the road, the Tucson confirms its maturity. The raised driving position is impeccable and allows you to keep everything under control, with the controls arranged intuitively. Despite its SUV-like bulk, this Tucson drives well: the feeling is immediate, the car is appreciated for its qualities of reactivity and sincerity. There are never any uncertainties about road holding and lateral lying when cornering is limited, guaranteeing exemplary stability. It is a car designed to cover kilometers in maximum comfort, with good acoustic insulation and braking that always conveys great safety. When the paddles are not used for regenerative braking in Eco, of course, that is when energy is recovered to be “spent” in the subsequent acceleration. The mechanical all-wheel drive is electronically controlled, so there is not just an electric motor dedicated to driving the rear axle, there is a real traditional transmission shaft. The consumption recorded, the vehicle weighs over 1,700 kg, is over 14 km/l on average with several stretches on the motorway at 130/135 km/h.

8 Pros and cons

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Below are the strengths and weaknesses found on the Hyundai Tucson during our test, including extra-urban and motorway contexts.

• Design: the aesthetic impact is remarkable, one of the most fascinating C-SUVs on the market
• Interior: refined, with soft and practical materials, with intuitive physical buttons
• Quality/equipment/price ratio: you pay the right price for what it offers

• Consumption: those recorded are slightly higher than those declared, i.e. 14.2 km/l. However, it should be taken into account that it is still an SUV weighing over 1,700 kg