Written by Marco Carvajal
2024 Tucson Hybrid N Line AWD
I am test-driving the sporty Hyundai Tucson hybrid N Line model. This sporty model is inspired by racing style including its own N Line unique exterior and N Line Sport combination seats. The N line also includes sporty large 19-inch alloy wheels.
The new 2024 Hyundai Tucson hybrid, is a compact SUV with two rows and seats for five people, that feels bigger than many other compact vehicles in its class.
The new Tucson Hybrid looks great inside and outside, it provides a very comfortable drive with 38 MPG and 226 horsepower. Cargo capacity inside the Tucson is one of the best in its segment with a spacious 38.7 cubic feet of cargo room space, and if you need more, then cargo can increase up to 74.5 cubic feet when folding the second row of seats, but wait, there is more this hybrid SUV has a great low price, starting at $32K.
As hybrid and electric technologies become more popular there are many new challenges for automakers and car buyers, that can make the process of purchasing a car more complex and uncertain.
For some drivers buying an electric car is a huge mystery, almost as challenging and uncertain as going to explore the Tibetan mountains. This is one point where hybrid cars have an advantage, as drivers feel more comfortable as they are already used to hybrid rather than to completely electric engines.
Besides technology uncertainty another factor that we all consider is pricing and value, especially as we are living in a time with not the best economy, with inflation increasing, and car prices increasing, car buyers are more concerned than ever about their buying power and value for their dollars.
Car buyers are also concerned about maintenance and repairs in the long term, especially when we talk about an electric car battery replacement that can be scary, but buying a hybrid car like the Tucson gives us peace of mind in the long term.
Hyundai has done an amazing job with the Tucson, not only is it one of the most economical Hybrid SUVs starting at $32K, but also gives you an amazing miles per gallon range and tons of standard features that shout the word “value” everywhere. This is a very good purchase option for budget-conscious car buyers.
Finding a $32K fully loaded hybrid SUV is not an easy task, and for this reason, I can recommend the Tucson hybrid as a car that provides low pricing, great value, and good smart efficient hybrid technology with very cost-effective pricing.
This hybrid SUV gives you the best mix between gasoline and electric cars with its very cost-efficient hybrid engine that produces an amazing average of 38 miles per gallon. Not only you will save money in gas but also the purchase price starting around $32K is one of the lowest prices you can find for a hybrid SUV in the Hyundai family.
With a hybrid car like the new Tucson, you get a very advanced and efficient engine, and you also get a hybrid car using two different car technologies in one, so you can manage the energy of your Tucson in the most balanced way for your budget and preferences, using gasoline and electricity at the same time.
The new Tucson’s Combined 38 Miles per Gallon when using its hybrid engine is an excellent efficiency better than most SUVs.
Tucson’s smart hybrid system uses regenerative braking as the motor converts braking energy into electric power, which helps recharge the battery on the road. Tucson’s 38 MPG fuel economy can save you money, spend less gas, and let you drive more for the money.
The Tucson was born just about 20 years ago, back in 2004. As the car industry evolved into more SUVs and fewer sedans, Hyundai kept expanding its fleet with new SUV models for every segment, like the Tucson. This SUV came to fill a gap between the larger Hyundai Santa Fe and the smaller Hyundai Kona.
It wasn’t expected that Tucson would become so successful in sales, becoming Hyundai’s best-seller SUV with more than 7 million units sold!
The new generation Hyundai Tucson is produced at the Hyundai Montgomery, Alabama plant in the United States. This is the first time a Tucson has been manufactured in the United States, and for the first time, the plant is producing four different cars at the same time, including the Hyundai Sonata, Elantra, and Santa Fe.
I think that Hyundai is pushing and being very generous with tons of standard features to continue maintaining and increasing the successful sales of the Tucson, buyers are getting tons of standard features and a new exterior design for a very low price.
Tucson is Available in 3 Powertrains: Hybrid, Tucson Hybrid PHEV, and the Regular Gas Model
The Tucson is available in three powertrains, gasoline, hybrid, and hybrid PHEV.
The new Tucson 2023 offers a very good lineup with more value than any other previous Tucson model. Offering new trim models, PHEV Plug-in, Hybrid, and Non-Hybrid models for every budget and every taste.
I previously drove the Hybrid PHEV which is a nice model because of more horsepower and the option to drive with its electric-only power but has less combined fuel efficiency compared to the Hybrid version.
The Tucson Hybrid has a higher efficiency with a 38 MPG combined average compared to the Tucson PHEV hybrid with a 35 MPG combined average. Then the traditional Tucson has an average fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon.
The three Tucson powertrain models have excellent fuel economy and pricing, while the Tucson gas model is the cheapest one with a starting price of around $27K, and the hybrid goes a little higher with a starting pricing of around $32K. The PHEV hybrid is the most expensive model starting at around $38K.
In terms of power, the 2024 Tucson hybrid has a good 226 horsepower combining the electric and gasoline engines, it is enough for a compact mid-size SUV to take you anywhere. Compared to the 2024 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid the power is lower than the Tucson PHEV, as it can produce up to 261 horsepower, and finally, the Tucson gasoline has less power with an average of 187 horsepower.
Performance
The new Tucson hybrid is very agile, more efficient, and has more power. The suspension works great in conjunction with Hyundai’s e-handling systems to provide a smooth ride with more comfort and more power and performance spending less gas per mile.
The Smartstream 1.6L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine works together with its Hybrid electric motor.
Tucson’s Standard HTRAC All-Wheel Drive
The new Tucson hybrid is more powerful and smarter with HTRAC All-Wheel Drive to help you drive on off-roads and in difficult driving conditions. This system provides all-around versatile AWD hybrid power to each Tucson hybrid car.
Hyundai AWD’s most advanced system, HTRAC AWD (Hyundai TRACtion All Wheel Drive), monitors 50 vehicle inputs over 100 times per second to calculate the torque needed for each wheel. If it detects slippage, this intelligent system reroutes power between the front and rear axles and applies subtle braking pressure to the left and right wheels to help you maintain traction.
The fuel tank capacity for the Hyundai Tucson hybrid is 13.7 gallons, and with its efficient average of 38 miles per gallon, the Tucson hybrid can drive over 500 miles of range with one tank of gas.
e-Handling Driving Dynamics
The e-handling technology combines the Traction Control System and a hybrid electric engine to provide better cornering performance.
All Tucson hybrid models feature the smart Hyundai’s e-handling technology that works applying electric motor torque control according to dynamic inputs and road conditions to improve cornering performance, providing better driving dynamics on the Tucson.
This system works as needed, when the Tucson hybrid turns into a corner, the electric motor system applies precise incremental braking force to the front wheels, increasing their tire contact patch on the road surface for enhanced traction and steering response while initiating turn-in. Then, as the Tucson keeps moving to exit the corner, the electric motor applies precise torque to the rear axle, increasing the rear tire contact patches for enhanced traction and control accelerating out of the corner very smoothly.
Transmission
The smooth six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC lets you change speeds smoothly and enjoy fast acceleration on board the Tucson hybrid.
The Tucson is a very safe car. Even if the Tucson is not an expensive premium SUV, and instead is a very affordable car, the model that I am driving comes with very good safety features like Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), Surround View Monitor (SVM), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), and more standard features included in its price.
Hyundai Smart Driving Modes
The new Hyundai Tucson offers different driving modes that will help you adapt to different road and weather conditions. When driving the Tucson you can change modes with the push button and the driving modes are shown on the digital instrument cluster.
The different driving modes on the Tucson include:
- Normal: This is your default mode for everyday driving, it is well-suited for daily commute, providing a balanced, comfortable, efficient performance.
- Eco: This mode maximizes the use of the electric engine and adjusts acceleration to stretch your driving range. This is still a very smooth mode to drive and is good for daily driving.
- Sport: This mode gives you more power as it defaults to the gas engine and utilizes the electric engine for power boosts to provide quickly accessible power and stiffens the steering for a more sports driving experience.
- Smart: This is an adaptive mode that adjusts steering, acceleration, and shift points to suit your current driving style.
- Snow: This mode maximizes traction from the all-wheel drive system for low-traction environments.
The New Tucson Offers More Space and More Style
The new Tucson is more stylish than previous models, it has a very modern look with a beautiful exterior design, a good engine with enough horsepower, a great long warranty, and tons of standard features. It doesn’t feel like a compact SUV but more like a two-row medium-sized SUV.
The Tucson that I am driving reminds me of some of the previous models that Hyundai offered several years ago where the brand was offering too many standard options and features at no extra charge, and all for a low price, so you could buy a fully loaded Hyundai model for a lower cost than many of its competitors, offering great value and tons of standard features.
As the Hyundai brand has acquired more popularity, some of Hyundai’s top models are more premium and still well-priced but don’t offer as much value and standard features as was provided in the past, but it seems that the Tucson is reviving Hyundai’s original pricing and generous value strategy that will be very hard to beat for many of its competitors.
Tucson’s new exterior styling is bolder than it looks, with body-side pleats, a striking front grille that is very attractive, and new taillights with light bars that extend across the entire rear of this new SUV. It features an edgy and aggressive look based on parametric shapes.
This new grill gets more stylish incorporating daytime running lights. The two outer columns of triangular trim that appear to compose the grille with disguised LED lights, when off, are indistinguishable from the rest of the grille.
With larger exterior space and more space everywhere, technological improvements, and a makeover, the new Hyundai Tucson has a great advantage over many of its competitors.
The new exterior lights seamlessly integrate into Tucson’s parametric jewel grille, it looks sharp and modern.
New design highlights for Tucson include the latest evolution of Hyundai’s signature headlight architecture called ‘Parametric Hidden Lights’ and a crew cab design that offers a custom space intuitively optimized for a user experience of high technology.
The new Tucson exterior is larger and wider than previous-generation models, offering a long hood and short overhangs on an elongated wheelbase that lends it a coupe character.
Chiseled surfaces create a striking contrast between the sleek silhouette and the masculine wedge, suggesting forward movement even when stationary.
The Tucson’s athletic form blends seamlessly into the angular wheel arches where the alloy wheels provide a powerful and dynamic stance for this new SUV.
2024 Tucson Hybrid Starting Price $32,575
The 2024 Tucson SUV starts at $32,575 MSRP, this model offers a good price for such advanced hybrid technology, AWD, and more features standard.
If you want to purchase a regular Hyundai Tucson, no hybrid and no plug-in, then the Tucson gasoline model starts at $27,250 for the 2024 Tucson base model. This is a very good price for a brand-new 2024 SUV.
The Tucson Hybrid Plug-in has a starting price of $38,725.
In my opinion, the best Tucson you can buy is the hybrid model, not the hybrid PHEV. You will pay around $6K less for the hybrid, and you will get more miles per gallon, you also will get less horsepower but considering the standard all-wheel drive and the good power of the hybrid model at 226 horsepower, you are well prepared for any off-road with this hybrid SUV.
Four Tucson Hybrid Trim models are available:
- 2024 Tucson Blue
Starting price $32,575
- 2024 Tucson SEL Convenience
Starting price $33,155
- 2024 Tucson N Line (the one I am test-driving)
Starting price $36,655
- 2024 Tucson Limited
Starting price $39,715
I am test driving the sporty Hyundai Tucson hybrid N Line, a sporty trim model inspired by racing style including its own N Line unique exterior N Line Sport combination seats, and sporty 19-inch alloy wheels.
Every Tucson comes fully loaded with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, blind spot monitors, parking aids such as remote parking, automatic high beams, and a surround-view camera.
Competition
The new Tucson Hybrid stands out as a roomy, low-priced, and very efficient car in an ever-growing and competitive class of compact SUVs. The Tucson competes with compact SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Jeep Meridian, and Ford Escape among others.
The new Tucson has Hyundai’s support, including a great warranty, good exterior design, very low maintenance, and good quality. Buyers who follow Hyundai will find the new Tucson as a great choice compared to most hybrid compact SUVs.
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