Live Thread: One week with a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited

Colin
By Colin Wood
May 20, 2024 | Hyundai, New Car Review, Plug-in hybrid, Live Thread, Tuscon PHEV

Photography by David S. Wallens

[Editor's Note: The Tuscon provided to us to test is from the 2023 model year. Unless otherwise stated, all information and pricing are for the 2023 model.]

Wanna ride shotgun with GRM?

Welcome to this week’s test vehicle, a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited.

In plug-in hybrid form (the Tuscon can also be had with hybrid or gas-only power), the Tuscon makes a combined 261 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque–180 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque from the 1.6-liter turbo-four, 90 horsepower and 224 lb.-ft. of torque from the electric motor. And, unlike other hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles, the plug-in Tuscon uses a more traditional six-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT.

[Live Thread: One week with a 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid N Line]

In addition to being rated at 35 mpg combined, the PHEV Tucson is said to be capable of an all-electric range of 33 miles.

For plug-in hybrid shoppers, the Tuscon is available in two trims, SEL and Limited. Our tester for the week is the Limited model, which carries an MSRP of $44,760. (For the 2024 model year, the Tuscon PHEV carries an MSRP of $45,450.)

Questions? Comments? Feel free to post them below.

Join Free Join our community to easily find more Hyundai, New Car Review, Plug-in hybrid, Live Thread and Tuscon PHEV news.
Comments
Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/20/24 4:45 p.m.

Interested to hear your impressions. Both the hybrid and plug-in Tucsons are on my list of potential next family car.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/20/24 4:49 p.m.

I'm sorry, I fell asleep reading the headline. At least it's not grey.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
5/20/24 6:32 p.m.

I’m going to compare this Tucson against the Mazda3 turbo that we recently drove. 

Wait, what?

Let me explain. 

On paper, the Mazda3 had everything that you’d want, yet it was boring. General impression: kinda meh.

The Tuscon comes in promising little excitement yet excels at its desired mission. General impression: rather competent. 

It’s a family car that does family car things rather well. It’s quiet, it’s comfortable, the controls make sense. It even looks good. 

An unexpected bonus: really tight, responsive steering. 

More to come. 

Hoppps
Hoppps Reader
5/21/24 7:58 a.m.

I'm biased as we have a 22 Tucson hybrid. 
 

I agree about the steering response, it is surprisingly nice. Also, I LOVE that you can turn on/off pretty much every feature of the car. Don't like lane keep? Press the button again. Front collision warning? Go into the me u to turn it off. However, some of the features are nice to have.

One annoying thing: the backup beep.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/21/24 8:22 a.m.

In reply to Hoppps :

That's good to know it's not difficult to turn off the assists, and good to hear you enjoy the hybrid.

If there's anything else you think someone should know before they buy one–good and bad–I'm all ears.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
5/21/24 9:02 a.m.

In reply to Hoppps :

It’s a good regular car, right? It’s not your next track car, it’s not a replacement for a Miata, but if you need a good car to do car stuff, it’s a very solid answer. 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
5/21/24 9:23 a.m.

I had it long enough to top off the battery and drive it over to David's, but I totally forgot to check the electric range when it was full. How far on a full charge for this thing?

In the five miles I drove it I'd say i definitely agree with the assessment that it's a nice regular car. Hyundai is still doing one of the best button/switch/dial packages out there at the moment. And even the stuff you have to go into the touchscreen for isn;t buried and it's intuitively organized.

 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/21/24 9:30 a.m.

A question for anyone who has driven it thus far: Would anyone recommend this over the standard hybrid model? I do like the idea of being able to tootle around town without using gas.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/21/24 9:44 a.m.

The fact that it has a traditional automatic and not a CVT is a plus.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/21/24 9:46 a.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

Agreed. I'll admit that's a big part of the appeal for me (even as someone who owns a car with a CVT).

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
Hcsqgpi9iJG0kNdh3jN6rb6RfxI2ciJljTVSTNtSyRNneY9xca7UrHgBaS7qbiqr