Hyundai’s moved on from simply having sufficient SUV and crossover choices in its portfolio to providing specialised variations of these autos to draw new patrons to its spectacular line-up of utility autos.
Lengthy the most important criticism of the South Korean model, Hyundai’s now received a full complement of utility autos, among the many hottest being the Tucson. It’s additionally been across the longest, so the compact crossover’s received a little bit of a following — or a minimum of some familiarity with patrons within the compact crossover phase.
Overview
Now Hyundai’s shifting to capitalize on the need of patrons who need a bit of extra functionality from their autos. They need them to be greater than grocery getters with a better seating place, however additionally they don’t want them to be absolutely off-road succesful. Extra importantly, they don’t need the bloated price ticket that comes with full off-road functionality.
Enter the 2022 Tucson XRT AWD. It shares the highlight with different autos providing the identical formulation, just like the Outback Wilderness or the Toyota RAV4 TRD Professional. Even Hyundai’s sibling, Kia, presents the Sorento X-Line.
Extra present than go for these autos — though the RAV4 TRD is the exception — it’s a means to assist Hyundai discover extra patrons. And by including these packages to decrease trim stage fashions, they’re including to the corporate’s backside line.
Exterior
The Tucson XRT begins life as an SEL mannequin earlier than getting the accoutrement for the improve to XRT. It’s a handsome compact crossover. Like all Hyundai fashions, it options the present iteration of the model’s Sensuous Sportiness design language. The ute’s designed to look extra succesful than it’s, and the small slit-like headlights accent the width of the well-designed grille.
The grille and headlights primarily draw you to the marginally arched entrance quarter panels, that come to a degree dealing with a crease that begins in the midst of the entrance two doorways and attracts your eye down the remainder of the car’s facet. The rear quarter panels flare out, highlighted by the black facet cladding, preserving the athletic and rugged theme of the XRT intact.
Utilizing loads of black with the facet cladding, facet mirrors, 19-inch alloy wheels and the window surrounds in live performance with the black roof rails in addition to the all-black inside, enhances the appear and feel of the Tucson XRT as a car able to loads of motion.
If there was a draw back, it’s the black facet steps. They’re arduous to see at nighttime and, extra importantly, the car isn’t lifted sufficient to wish them. Almost everybody who received into the automobile with me — ranging in top from about 5’ 4” to six’4” — uttered some type of “What are these for?!”
They’re not wanted and supply extra annoyance than help — dump them or add one other 3 or 4 inches of floor clearance.
Inside
The inside would make Johnny Money a fan: black, black and black. The seating is all fabric as is the headliner, which can be black solely. It’s a easy aesthetic, nevertheless it works properly on this small ute. It’s uncomplicated with out feeling low-cost, particularly with the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The cabin presents loads of house, together with simple ingress and egress within the entrance and rear seats. I’m greater man and this isn’t all the time the case in smaller utility autos.
When you’re inside, you’ll discover you might have loads of house not only for you however in your issues. The heated fabric seats are supportive and cozy, and superb for an extended drive. The entire touchscreens, switches, knobs and whatnot are all inside simple attain of the motive force and could be seen clearly. Hyundai’s been updating its interiors and the designers have achieved a fantastic job in preserving the cabin clear and roomy with out coming throughout as low-cost — no simple feat on this class of car.
Powertrain
The Tucson presents three potential powertrains within the 2022 mode: fuel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Our tester got here with the model’s Smartstream 2.5-liter direct-injected and multi-port-injected 4-cylinder fuel engine placing out 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an 8-speed computerized transmission with all-wheel drive. The engine is punchy, however not highly effective. It received’t make you rise up and take discover, however its greater than acceptable for every day commuting or operating errands, whether or not that includes scooting round on floor streets or preserving forward of the pack on the expressway.
As for the transmission, I imagine that if I don’t cease and take into consideration the efficiency of any transmission, then it’s doing its job very, very properly — very a lot the case with the 8-speed auto right here. Easy shifts and energy supply counsel a wonderful providing.
Security and Know-how
The winners and losers on this phase are decided on this class — and the Tucson XRT is a winner.
The inside presents three separate applied sciences, together with a ten.25-inch full-touch display screen, a hoodless digital gauge cluster, and multi-air air flow, a temperature-adjusting system offering subtle airflow on the entrance passengers. Based on Hyundai, the oblique, diffusing air flow system “reduces doubtlessly disagreeable airflow and is exclusive within the automotive business.”
I’d say, “Uh, certain.” I can say I used to be by no means too chilly nor to heat within the car … like Goldilocks prefers, I used to be good. Nonetheless a bunch of screens could be disconcerting and off-putting. Nevertheless, this wasn’t the case within the Tucson XRT. The setup was intuitive and straightforward to make use of. Extra importantly, it hyperlinks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which like so many other people, I take advantage of completely, however solely after initially testing the put in system within the car.
Our mannequin got here with wi-fi telephone charging, a pleasant function in a automobile on this worth vary, and loads of USB ports to cost different telephones or equipment.
By way of security, our check mannequin got here with superior driver help tech persons are calling for in autos today, together with ahead collision-avoidance help, lane preserving and lane following help, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance help and lots extra. The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration offers it an total crash score of 5 stars, together with for frontal and facet crashes and 4 stars for rollover crashes. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security supplied comparable rankings, giving it a “Good” in all crashworthiness classes. Good is the best score the group presents.
Driving Impressions
The XRT makes a nice-looking car higher trying. Luckily for Hyundai, I don’t suppose anybody believes a roof rack and greater wheels make it prepared for severe off-roading. However in case you’re seeking to separate your small crossover from the remainder of the pack for minimal money, the XRT package deal a superb path to go.
Extra importantly, while you climb behind the wheel, the outside hasn’t deceived you. The Tucson XRT is a wonderful performer in virtually any atmosphere. The two.5-liter inline-4 presents loads of oomph for traversing traffic-laden floor streets whereas guaranteeing you don’t have any downside merging into — and maintaining with — free-flowing visitors on the interstate.
The dealing with, even in sport mode, is … fantastic. You don’t purchase this car since you’re going to run it by curving and twisting roads at excessive speeds. It’s not made for that and in case you suppose it may be, you’ll be underwhelmed — even in Sport mode.
One little bit of expertise I didn’t actually get an opportunity to place to the check was Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel-Drive system. To be used throughout all the car’s driving modes it makes use of pc smarts to assist shift the torque from the entrance to the again axle, relying what possibility will assist preserve car management. The climate throughout my week within the XRT was fairly boring so there was no actual probability to place it to the check.
2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT Specs
Wrap Up
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT competes in a tricky phase of the market. Typically, the autos on this area, just like the aforementioned Toyota RAV4, are the highest sellers for that individual model. The automakers know this and guarantee there are many sources for patrons of those autos.
The XRT could be very enticing. Not simply on the outside, however the entire package deal. For those who want a really comfy house with loads of room to deal with groceries, residence enchancment provides and folks, this one’s among the many greatest within the phase. And it does this all for lower than $35K out the door. If I had been out there, this one could be on my checklist — particularly in hybrid kind.
2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT — Steadily Requested Questions
Does the 2022 Hyundai Tucson have AWD?
The Tucson presents HTRAC All-Wheel Drive comes customary.
What’s Tucson XRT trim?
Accessible as an add on for the SEL trim stage, the XRT trim appears to be like more durable and rugged than the usual mannequin with its blacked-out design components. Modifications on the XRT trim embrace: Unique entrance and rear fascias with rugged detailing. Beefier black cladding across the sides and the wheel wells.
What’s the Tucson’s prime mannequin vary?
The highest-spec Final is absolutely loaded, with ventilated leather-based seats, a panoramic glass sunroof and a powered tailgate. You’ll be able to not purchase a Hyundai Tucson with a diesel engine. As a substitute, there’s a line-up of petrol and hybrid energy — together with delicate hybrid, typical hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
