Compact utility vehicles are a big business. The segment contains some of the most popular vehicles sold in the United States now such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Equinox.
The crossover has basically replaced the midsized sedan as the vehicle for everyday commuters as well as singles working at their first job, young marrieds with children and older so-called empty nesters waiting for grandchildren.
Overview
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD clearly fits neatly into the category. It also is very competitive with the crossover vehicles from its American and Japanese rivals. The Tucson is a nicely balanced, equipped and furnished vehicle with ample power.
It also is versatile and can carry passengers or cargo or some combination of the two. It has ample power for everyday driving and more adventuresome runs. It is a solid entry in a very competitive segment where every manufacturer needs to bring in a top-notch vehicle or lose ground.
Exterior
The exterior styling of vehicles in this category tends to be, well, rather boring. But Hyundai gets credit for loading some differentiation into the exterior of the 2022 Tucson in an effort to increase its appeal. The styling starts with an impressive grille and front fascia with its deftly placed light fixture. The grille sits in front of a hood over the engine compartment that has been subtly lengthened to give the vehicle a more impressive silhouette.
The rest of the exterior styling also is fashioned to help set the vehicle apart and give it a more contemporary appearance with its sloping roofline amplified with roof rails and the squared off wheel openings and character line along the side. The liftgate at the rear of the vehicle also is well styled and the Limited version I had a chance to drive was equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels.
Interior
The interior of 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD is well designed and makes the technology loaded into the vehicle accessible to the driver. It’s focused on the 10.25-inch touch screen in the center stack, which also comes with a blind-spot monitor that activates when you flip the turn indicator. It’s sort of gimmick but I found the view to the rear as I was turning helpful.
The materials used to furnish the interior is a cut above what you might expect in a vehicle in this class. The seats are quite comfortable while the steering wheel is loaded with controls for the entertainment system and other features. For a compact crossover, the interior of Tucson is surprisingly roomy, but Hyundai’s engineers and designers have become quite adept at interior packaging. The visibility from the driver’s seat is also very good.
Powertrain
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited I drove was equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with direct, multi-port injection and an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters if the driver wants to do the shifting.
The vehicle also is equipped with a stop-start element to conserve fuel an electric parking brake. The Tucson also is equipped with a drive mode selector and all-wheel-drive system. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency gave the Limited a 26 miles per gallon combined rating, which includes 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg in highway driving.
Safety and Technology
For a compact crossover, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited is particularly well equipped. It has forward-collision avoidance assistance, front-side-impact and side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor as well as stability control with traction control.
The Limited also comes lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention alert. Besides the heated steering wheel, the Tucson also comes with smart cruise control, hand-free liftgate, parking guidance, a Bose high-definition audio system, Sirius XM radio connection, Bluetooth, Hyundai’s BlueLink connections system, digital key, wireless charging dual USB outlets and 12-volt DC power outlet as well as rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Driving Impressions
The 2.5-liter engine in the 2022 Tucson can produce 187 horsepower, which was quite adequate for the vehicle, which also had very good steering and braking. The overall ride and handling, even on broken pavement, seemed to have a “Goldilocks” feel to it — not to harsh and not too soft, making it a generally pleasant vehicle to drive. The all-wheel-drive system also helped bolster the Tucson’s overall ride and handling.
The cabin was relatively quiet, and the road noise never drowned out the sound system, which helped ease the overall stress that comes with commuting or driving a long distance. The 2022 Tucson also has more than 7 inches of ground clearance, which is generally enough for dirt roads or snow-covered streets.
2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD specifications:
| Dimension | L: 182.3 inches/W: 73.4 inches/H:64.1 inches/Wheelbase: 108.5 inches |
| Weight | 3,651 pounds |
| Powertrain | 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, 8-speed transmission, and all-wheel drive |
| Fuel Economy | 24 mpg city/29 mpg highway/26 mpg combined |
| Performance Specs | 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $36,100; As tested: $37,454 including a $1,185 destination charge |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
The overall packaging of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The exterior styling as a fresh, contemporary look and the interior is roomy and well equipped with the latest driving assistance features and communications gear. This combination makes it a very practical and versatile vehicle for meeting the everyday needs of a typical motorists.
However, Hyundai, which has drawn customers with attractive pricing, has joined the trend towards higher prices. The price tag for the Tucson I drove totaled $37,454, which included a $1,185 destination charge.
2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD — Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the price of a 2022 Hyundai Tucson?
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson starts at about $25,000.
What kind of gas mileage does the Hyundai Tucson get?
The EPA estimates that nonhybrid versions of the 2022 Tucson should deliver as high as 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with front-wheel drive.
Is the Hyundai Tucson a sports car or a hybrid?
The more powerful hybrid and plug-in hybrid models both feel quicker, but don’t expect Toyota RAV4 Prime level acceleration from either of them. While the Tucson is no sports car, its handling is confident, its steering is reasonably crisp, and its ride is agreeable.
