SEE YOU IN TUCSON? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Hyundai's fourth generation Tucson mid-sized combustion SUV continues to be a strong seller for the brand. Jonathan Crouch looks at the improved version of this model.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 55

Hyundai has made good sales headway in the mid-sized SUV segment with this fourth generation version of their stylish Tucson, a sharp-suited family mid-sized SUV aimed at the Qashqai-class. We're told it'll 'change the way you drive': this lightly improved version of this design certainly intends to promote this Korean brand's fortunes in this sector.

Backgroundword count: 175

In an era where nearly half of all European car buyers are looking at something from the mid-sized SUV/Crossover class, mainstream brands need to take this segment very seriously. Hyundai's been doing just that with this car, the Tucson, with the current fourth generation NX4-series model dating back to 2020, with a mid-term update in 2024 and a further set of line-up enhancements introduced in Spring 2026 to create the model we're going to look at here, The Korean maker has been offering Crossovers in the mid-sized 'Qashqai'-class SUV 'C'-segment since the first generation JM-series Tucson sold between 2004 and 2009. That contender was replaced by a far more competitive LM-series model, which the brand chose to badge 'ix35' for Europe and which campaigned until the MK3 TL-series design made its debut in 2015, before being updated three years later. Very little was carried over from that MK3 model to this fourth generation one. Can this current, now much-improved car offer a genuine alternative to the established players in this sector? Time to find out.

Driving Experienceword count: 299

There are no engineering or handling changes to this lightly improved MK4 Tucson. As before, all versions of this model use some sort of 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine. In the base variant, this features in conventional form with 150PS and ordinary 6-speed manual transmission. Your dealer will urge you though, to find the small extra premium necessary to get this same 150PS engine with the brand's 48V mild hybrid tech and a 7DCT auto gearbox. Both these variants are front-driven. The front-driven 48V mild hybrid Tucson model accounts for most sales but it isn't a particularly frugal choice, mainly because (as usual with MHEVs) its tiny battery isn't big enough to ever run the car independently on electric power. If you want the kind of more frugal Tucson that can do that, then your starting point will be the HEV variant, also front-driven. This full-Hybrid model offers a self-charging petrol/electric engine working with a 6-speed auto gearbox and mated to a 60PS electric motor powered by a 1.49kWh battery, which provides sufficient extra urge to up the combined power output to 239PS. Enough to improve the 62mph sprint stat from around 9.5s to 8.2s, though top speed falls slightly to 116mph. Although the battery on offer in a Tucson HEV still isn't very big, it's very good at constantly replenishing itself with regenerative energy, so that much of the time in town travel, you'll be able to cruise through the urban sprawl in a dignified silence. Whatever your choice of Tucson, you'll find body roll well controlled and refinement quite impressive - a boon on the kind of long journeys over which you'll appreciate the standard Highway Drive Assist set-up that all automatic Tucsons feature. Braked towing weight falls from 1,650kg to 1,510kg if you choose the HEV Hybrid.

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