2024 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

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.

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.

How’s the interior? In its redesign, the whole Tucson lineup moved to touch-based controls for the climate and multimedia systems. Operating the controls is more complicated than it should be, but the controls are responsive and easy to reach from the driver's seat. The biggest problem is that the glossy black panel that covers the controls holds onto smudges and fingerprints like it's starting a collection. Keeping a soft cloth to wipe the screen and the panel off is a must in the Tucson.

The Tucson PHEV's interior room is a plus; adults will have no problem sitting in the rear seats. Visibility is pretty good out of the front and to the sides, but the chunky rear roof pillars can block the driver's view out back.

How’s the storage? The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid's larger battery takes up some cargo space. There's 31.9 cubic feet available behind the rear seats compared to 38.7 cubic feet in other Tucson models. But it's enough to be helpful for grocery runs and the like. The 60/40-split rear seats can also be folded down from the cargo area via a convenient pair of latches on either side of the cargo space, and that expands cargo room to 66.3 cubic feet. Up front, the Tucson PHEV has a few useful storage nooks and a small bin below the climate controls that also houses the wireless phone charger. The central bin is pretty large, but there isn't a convenient place to store a purse or bag so those may end up on the seat or the floor.

For those with young children, the Tucson PHEV has easy-to-access lower seat anchors and three upper anchors, one for each rear seat. There is enough room as well to fit any type of car seat without too much trouble, though to fit a rear-facing seat comfortably, the passenger may have to scoot forward slightly, but not so much as to be uncomfortable.

Is the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid a good value? The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid commands a large price premium over the regular Tucson and the Tucson Hybrid as well, a difference that's harder to make up as the PHEV no longer qualifies for a federal tax credit as of this writing. The more you can use the PHEV solely on electric power, the quicker your costs will be recouped but it will take time.

Solid build quality and a strong feature set make the Tucson PHEV feel like it's worth its price on most occasions, and since it's a Hyundai, the robust warranty adds to its value proposition as well. Powertrain and battery components are covered for 10 years/100,000 miles and it comes with three years/36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid goes about its business without fuss and leaves the driver feeling satisfied but not wowed. Its styling will be hit-or-miss depending on who you're talking to — the exterior is covered in angles and creases that give the crossover vehicle a crinkly wrapper. Those grille-integrated daytime running lights give it an interesting visual signature at night, but at its core the Tucson PHEV is exceedingly practical transportation.