Overview

Now in its fourth generation, the Hyundai Tucson has been a notable success for its maker, regularly making appearances in the bestsellers list. It’s a range of hybrid SUVs that offers excellent value for money combined with an eye-catching front end with distinctive LED running lights and a raft of tech.

It’s a Nissan Qashqai rival powered by a range of petrol or hybrid models that majors on efficiency and refinement. There are three flavours of hybrid to choose from: mild 48-volt, full self-charging hybrid or plug-in. Add in Hyundai’s five-year warranty and reputation for reliabilty, and it’s no wonder that the Tucson is such a common sight these days.

It needs to stand out to be competitive in the family SUV market. We’ve picked the Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga here as its principal rivals, but there are many others to choose from, not least the Kia Sportage. Other Volkswagen Group models include the SEAT Ateca and Skoda Karoq, while the Citroen C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland are closely related to the 3008.

The Tucson interior features a low-set dashboard that is dominated by two large screens – one for infotainment, the other for instrumentation. Both are fully customisable and connected, with live parking and traffic information available as part of the new sat-nav setup. Contrasting highlights across the cabin smarten things up, and there’s a touch-sensitive climate control panel.

There are plenty of trims to choose from, with the Connect SE kicking off the range. It features with 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, climate control, a rear-view camera, and a 10.3-inch digital instrument screen with 10.3-inch centre touchscreen. Above that are the Premium, Connect, N Line, N Line S and range-topping Ultimate, which gets you 19-inch alloys, full leather interior, panoramic roof and electric tailgate. All are well equipped for the money.

As for the engine range, it’s extensive but exclusively petrol-powered, which is becoming increasingly common in this market sector as the industry moves away from diesel. The entry-level 1.6-litre TGDi is as basic as they come, but the TGDi MHD adds mild hybrid assistance, while the Hybrid adds more battery assistance and ups the power to 230hp. The top Tucson is the Plug-in Hybrid model, which boosts power to 265hp and gains four-wheel drive.

So, you can’t accuse Hyundai for not offering enough choice. Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Tucson, including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.