For many years, the Hyundai Tucson has been a staple for car owners looking to get a compact SUV. While it may not be the most popular option in its segment, it has always given buyers the choice between a punchy diesel variant and a more affordable gasoline variant.
Most recently, the brand has introduced a new flagship variant called the Tucson 1.6T HEV GLS, which we can simply refer to as the Tucson Hybrid. It retains the nameplate’s stylish looks, comfortable ride, and spacious cabin, while adding safety features and an energetic, fuel-efficient powertrain. But the question is: Is it the right SUV for you?
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
StylingPHOTO BY Lije Martin
Hyundai’s designers have gotten better at making the Tucson stand out within the brand’s lineup. The first and second generations weren’t my cup of tea, and while the third generation looked better, it also looked too much like the Santa Fe. This generation has a distinct design. It’s unmistakably a Tucson while retaining the previous gen’s soft silhouette.
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That’s not to say it doesn’t look aggressive. The Tucson Hybrid has sharp body lines everywhere, but most notably on the sides. Diagonal accents on the fenders connect to the doors and give this SUV a wide stance. From the front, however, the Tucson can look deceptively small. The parametric daytime running lights integrate into the front grille and move inwards, making the SUV look more compact than it is.
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
The rear gets a light bar and sharp-angled taillights with black accents. Both bumpers get silver garnish, while the fenders get matte-black cladding. The SUV sits on 19-inch alloy wheels finished in dark gray and brushed metal, paired with 235/55 R19 tires. As for dimensions, the Tucson Hybrid measures 4,640mm long, 1,865mm wide, and 1,665mm tall, with a 2,755mm wheelbase, while ground clearance is listed at 181mm.
InteriorPHOTO BY Lije Martin
Unlike the Honda CR-V, which has a more car-like driving position, the Tucson gives you the feeling of sitting higher up. The seating position is tall and provides good visibility above the hood and around the vehicle. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels nice to the touch, while tactile scroll wheels on the spokes control audio and the information display.
The 12.3-inch touchscreen is responsive and connects to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto either wirelessly or through a cable. There are USB-C and USB-A outlets at the bottom of the dash, as well as a wireless charger by the center console. Next to the wireless charger are the camera controls, drive mode functions, and two cup holders. Above, there’s a panoramic sunroof that gives the cabin a nice and open feel.
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
There’s plenty of soft-touch leather on the dash, doors, and center armrest. The leather seats are also comfortable and provide decent support on long drives. The second row, meanwhile, is spacious, with enough room for my six-footer frame to sit comfortably behind my usual driving position. However, while this is a five-seater, I wouldn’t recommend a fifth occupant as the second row’s center seat feels stiff.
The rear cargo is accessible through a power tailgate and is spacious enough for a few suitcases. With the second row folded, you get a total of 1,903 liters of space. There’s also a 12V outlet with a maximum output of 180W, which you can use for accessories like a tire inflator or a vacuum cleaner.
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
Powertrain performancePHOTO BY TopGear.com.ph
The Tucson Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with a single electric motor. It churns out 232hp and 367Nm of torque, sending power to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
It’s a lively powertrain to say the least. The Tucson Hybrid had the fastest acceleration time in our five-way Big Test, and I got to experience why. The torque from the electric motor is almost instant, and the additional help from the turbocharged mill makes the SUV accelerate like it’s about to go into warp speed.
Overtaking and merging are no issue for this SUV, and what’s more impressive is that it does so with good fuel economy. Throughout the car’s week-long stay with me, I managed an average of 18km/L in mixed driving conditions using Eco mode. You can also use the paddles to determine how much brake regeneration you want.
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
Of course, if you want to trade fuel economy for more smiles per mile, you can go to Sport mode, which uses the hybrid powertrain’s full performance. The dramatic acceleration is satisfying, while the transmission ensures good engine braking while keeping you in the powerband. Plus, the conventional six-speed automatic allows for linear revs and pairs nicely with the paddle shifters.
Ride and handlingPHOTO BY Lije Martin
Ride and steering are on the soft side. Bumps and potholes are impressively handled by the MacPherson struts and multilink suspension, but expect some body roll when taking corners too quickly. The SUV also leans back when accelerating aggressively—which honestly kinda adds to the fun of it.
While I didn’t test emergency braking, I also didn’t feel the need to. The brakes were predictable and had plenty of stopping power with minimal input. There was barely any slack between the brake pedal’s top position and its biting point.
Extra featuresPHOTO BY Lije Martin
The Tucson Hybrid has a host of safety features, including forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, and a blind-spot view monitor. While I appreciate the safety, the system felt uneasy in traffic-dense areas. The car would constantly warn me when motorcycles were sitting beside me in traffic, and when going over newly painted lines where the old lanes were still present, I found myself wrestling with the steering wheel as the lane-keeping assist confused the old road markings for the new ones.
I also think the smart cruise control with stop and go could use some improvement. In rush-hour traffic, the system worked well below 40kph, but anything above that, braking kicked in too late and too aggressively, prompting drivers behind me to switch lanes. That said, on uncongested stretches where the flow of cars was more predictable, the system worked just fine.
Apart from those things, I found the other ADAS features enjoyable to use, particularly the front-facing and 360-degree cameras. I also appreciated the automatic brake hold a lot, especially at intersections.
VerdictPHOTO BY Lije Martin
Overall, the Tucson Hybrid is still an excellent compact SUV. While the driver-assist systems might not be the best for Metro Manila driving just yet, it can still work for out-of-town trips and non-rush-hour expressway runs. Plus, the lively powertrain more than makes up for the flaws. This SUV is for those who appreciate performance while also prioritizing a plush ride, fuel economy, and enough space for the family.
Priced at P2,290,000, the Tucson Hybrid stacks up well against its competitors. While the segment is full of great choices, I think Hyundai has produced a surprisingly fun package that’s practical enough to serve as a daily driver. The only thing left to do is to take it for a test drive to get a true sense of what we mean.
SPECS: 2027 Hyundai Tucson HEV GLSPHOTO BY Lije Martin
Price: P2,290,000
Engine: 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine + single electric motor
Power: 232hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 367Nm @ 1,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Layout: FWD
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin
PHOTO BY Lije Martin