New 2020 Hyundai Tucson arrives with hybrid and plug-in hybrid power
This is the new Hyundai Tucson SUV, revealed in full after a number of teaser images were shown earlier this year. The new car shows off a new design direction for the South Korean brand and will be offered with a choice of mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Hyundai says the Tucson will arrive in mild-hybrid and hybrid form before the end of 2020, with the plug-in version coming in 2021.
The new Hyundai Tucson is bigger and wider than the old car, with a long bonnet, short overhangs and a longer wheelbase all helping to create a sportier-looking SUV. A more rakish roofline is in keeping with current trends, while the overall look focuses on sharp lines and angles, all of which form part of Hyundai's new 'Sensuous Sportiness' design language that'll be making its way onto other models in due course.
Elsewhere, the new Tucson offers "best-in-class" safety kit, according to Hyundai, along with a new infotainment system working across two screens and the option of adaptive suspension, among other high-tech options.
Details of the plug-in hybrid model – due to arrive in 2021 – have not been announced but a conventional hybrid will arrive first, powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor fed by a 1.49kWh battery. The hybrid will be offered in both front and four-wheel-drive versions. Total system power is 227bhp, with 350Nm of torque. Emissions and economy figures haven't been announced.
Prices are also yet to be determined, but we expect the electrified models to start around £27,000. Rivals with the option of electrification include the Peugeot 3008 and Ford Kuga.
Hyundai Tucson interior and technology
Exact trim-level information is yet to be announced but Hyundai has revealed that the Tucson will sport some impressive new technology – not least within its slickly designed interior.
A new 10.25-inch infotainment screen sits in the centre of the dash, while all physical buttons found on the outgoing model have been replaced with touch-sensitive equivalents. A second screen sits behind the car's steering wheel.
The uprated infotainment system, called AVN-T, features Hyundai's Bluelink connected online services, with many car features operable via a dedicated smartphone app. The system can also integrate with your Apple or Google calendar, as well as supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – both of which will also feature on the smaller eight-inch screen that'll be found on lower-spec models.
The car's interior is more luxurious than before, with soft-touch trim and a clean, modern look. A number of options are available for the leather and textile upholstery, while ergonomic armrests and ambient interior lighting also add to the high-end feel.
Practicality and safety
The Tucson is bigger than before in all directions and this is reflected inside: the hybrid version gets a 616-litre boot, expandable to 1,795 litres with the seats down. Hyundai also says that rear occupants have 26mm more legroom than before.
Hyundai claims that the Tucson now offers a best-in-class lineup of driver assistance and active safety systems. Seven airbags are fitted, including a central front airbag that stops front-seat passengers colliding with each other in an accident. Automatic emergency braking features alongside a system that applies the brakes after the airbags have deployed to mitigate against any further collisions.
Other systems on-board include lane-keep and lane-follow assistance, driver attention warning and lane-departure alert. Hyundai says that its 'Highway Driving Assist' system – essentially a one-button active cruise control system – is a first for the class. It works together with a system which can anticipate motorway corners and slow down accordingly using sat-nav data.
Other highlights from the huge list of safety kit include a 360-degree camera, remote parking assistance and advanced blind-spot monitoring that can prevent a collision by applying the brakes to keep the car in-lane.
