2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid SUV

　　

2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　One of the most significant reasons keeping shoppers from considering an all-electric vehicle is range anxiety, and we don't expect that to change until the public charging infrastructure meets demand. That doesn't mean you can't go at least partially electric in the meantime, though. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is one of the best SUVs that can deliver an EV-like experience without stress over where to charge.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid PHEV Insights

Trim:Tucson Plug-In Hybrid SEL

　　SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A) - $37,500 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A) (Most Popular) - $44,760 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　33 miles

　　EPA Estimated Electric Range

　　The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

Hybrid Parts Warranty

　　10 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.

　　

Charging at Home

　　1.7 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$97/mo

　　Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　The Tucson PHEV is estimated to offer up to 33 miles of EV range on a single charge, which comes close to the 41-mile daily average for commutes in the U.S. If you have a shorter drive, a visit to the gas station could be a rare occurrence, saving you a lot of money in the long run. Once the battery is depleted, the hybrid engine is estimated at 35 mpg in combined city and highway driving, effectively eliminating range anxiety.

　　Among other plug-in hybrid SUVs, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid rises to the top of the class, though the related Kia Sportage PHEV may give it a run for its money. We'd easily recommend either over their most direct rivals that include plug-in variants of the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. With enjoyable driving dynamics, ample comfort and a generous warranty, it's easy to see why. At least for now, these are the best bridges between our internal combustion past and our electric future.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid drive? Much like the hybrid version of the Tucson, the Plug-in Hybrid is superior to the gas version with quicker and smoother acceleration. Our test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, which is an average time for a plug-in small SUV. When traveling on solely battery power, the Tucson PHEV's electric motors are strong enough to get it to highway speeds without kicking on the gas engine most of the time. Pressing the accelerator aggressively will fire up the engine, though it quickly shuts off when its added power is no longer needed. The transmission downshifts quickly when called upon.

　　The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid's suspension is well tuned, offering comfort in most day-to-day situations while keeping body roll mostly under control. There isn't much feedback from the steering wheel, but the crossover is quick to respond to inputs and it's easy to track straight on the highway. The Plug-in Hybrid does have a Sport mode that turns on the gas engine all the time and makes the steering heftier, but the engine drone gets annoying after a while; the less aggressive drive modes are more suitable for most situations. The brakes work smoothly and also provide good emergency stopping power.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid? The front seats offer good support and enough adjustments to find a comfortable position, though some drivers might prefer more telescoping action from the steering wheel. The back seat offers several recline angles and a long seat bottom cushion, so adults can be comfortable back there even on longer trips. The available front seat ventilation is a welcome feature for hot days.

　　Also helping to cool you down quickly is a great climate control system. Instead of a single auto setting, there are three (low, medium and high) that make finding a comfortable fan speed and temperature easy. There's also a diffuse mode, which keeps the cabin at a set temperature without blowing air directly on the passengers and lowering the fan noise considerably.

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