The new Hyundai Tucson is bigger, better and more refined

The 4^th-generation 2022 Hyundai Tucson is here, with a bigger footprint, more cargo space, improved performance and body rigidity, and a long list of standard features. The Hyundai’s best-selling SUV on the South African market has all the right ingredients to attract an even wider audience.

If you weren’t a fan of Tucson’s 3^rd-gen inoffensive exterior design, you might like the changes they’ve made in this model. The fully redesigned 2022 Tucson is bigger, broader, and taller, with a length of 4,630mm (+150mm), a width of 1,865mm (+15mm), and a height of 1,665mm (+5mm). Furthermore, the design has allowed the powerplant to sit a little ahead of its previous position to create more space inside the cabin.

The result isn’t only extra room inside for passengers to stretch their legs but also 51 litres more boot space with 539 litres available behind the rear seats. You can increase the capacity further by split-folding the rear seats.

Other changes include an edgier and more distinctive exterior, an upmarket cabin, a sleeker-looking infotainment system, and improved safety features.

Hyundai offers the new Tucson in three trim levels – Premium, Executive, and Elite – all powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol except the range-topper Elite, which comes exclusively with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

While the standard naturally aspirated mill generates precisely the same power (115 kW) and less torque (192 Nm vs. 196 Nm), the turbodiesel offers more power and torque (up 7 kW and 16 Nm) than the previous powerplant.

The 2.0-litre petrol pairs with a 6-speed automatic transmission, whereas the turbodiesel employs an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you want to remain in the optimal torque zone on the highways, the turbodiesel mill is by far the best choice.

The 2022 Tucson is undoubtedly a head-turner. The chrome-finished beltline goes from the A-pillar to the C-pillar, all the way to the rear LED, and looks distinctive. However, the new daytime-running LED lights fixed into the grill catch the better of our eyes.

The high-end trim levels (Executive and Elite) have this grill finished in dark chrome for a more upscale look. Customers can choose from seven paints and 17-inch (Premium), 18-inch (Executive), and 19-inch (Elite) alloys.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson drives up its price in terms of interior excellence, boasting soft-touch surfaces, a wireless charger, an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility, heated front seats, and cruise control.

Besides strengthening the SUV's chassis, Hyundai has added more safety tech with the top-spec Elite featuring blind-spot collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, main-beam assist, and forward-collision avoidance assist. In short, it is a highly safe utility vehicle, as evident from the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

At a starting price of R519,900, a 7-year/200,000 km warranty, and a 6-year/90,000 km service plan, the 2022 Tucson is hard to beat in its class. We highly recommend the high-end Elite for a more refined drive and attractive features starting at R634,900 for petrol and R699,900 for diesel. (Prices correct at time of publication.)

With so many good quality SUV offerings available to the South African market, it pays to do some research before making a final decision. Good research starts online, right here on the MotorHappy blog. Check out our Reviews section to see our feedback on the other SUVs in this category. Once you’ve done all your online research, be sure to take the car for a test ride so you can decide for yourself.

Please note the imagery supplied in this blog was taken off www.caranddriver.com