[PHOTOS] The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Is Ready for Its Close-Up
Hyundai already introduced the 2022 Tucson a few months ago, and now the automaker is providing a more detailed look at this sweepingly redesigned SUV. The Tucson’s radically reworked exterior is rightfully grabbing the most attention, but there’s a lot more, too. New green powertrain options, expanded performance features, and the latest connective technologies are just a few of the advancements in the next-gen Tucson.
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2022 Hyundai Tucson engine lineup
The Tucson will be available with gas, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The standard Smartstream 2.5-liter gas engine delivers a boosted 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and targets a combined 28 mpg with FWD.
The Tucson’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models match a 1.6-liter turbo engine with an electric motor and battery pack, yielding a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in should provide about 28 miles of all-electric range.
Both hybrids come standard with Hyundai’s HTRAC AWD system. As Hyundai Motor Group executive Thomas Schemera notes, this means “customers no longer need to choose between all-road, all-weather capability and outstanding efficiency.” The hybrids also feature e-handling tech that uses electric torque to create more enjoyable driving dynamics.
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2022 Hyundai Tucson technologies
For 2022, the Tucson is adding an array of new technologies. Highlights include Remote Smart Park Assist (as seen on TV), Digital Key, and a remote start feature that controls the available heated and ventilated seats. Dynamic Voice Recognition can now control the temperature, liftgate, and much more. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered as well. And the Tucson’s upgraded Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist tech can now detect cyclists and ward off left-turn crashes.
2022 Hyundai Tucson design
The Tucson’s striking exterior combines two Hyundai design approaches: Sensuous Sportiness and Parametric Dynamics. What this looks like in practice is a combination of elegantly curved lines, geometrically angled and chiseled surfaces, and jewel-like lighting and grille details. These elements, plus a lengthened wheelbase and shorter overhangs, communicate a sense of sleek, robust energy.
The redesigned interior is a bit more low-key, aiming for a sense of peace and spaciousness. The two-layered dashboard wraps around both sides to integrate with the doors. The center stack merges with the console in a vertical waterfall-like pattern. There’s also a new ventilation system that diffuses the airflow in a healthier way. Overall, the interior is much roomier, with 6 extra cubic feet of passenger volume and 7.7 extra cubic feet of cargo space.
According to Hyundai, the 2022 Tucson will go on sale starting this spring. Plug-in models will arrive in the summer. Performance enthusiasts can look forward to the sporty Tucson N Line, which should also show up some time in 2021.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.