2023 Hyundai Tucson Review
2023 Hyundai Tucson comes with lots of options and powertrains to satisfy every driver. We take a look at the ten available trim levels in our review.
2023 Hyundai Tucson – hyundaiusa.com | Shop 2023 Hyundai Tucson on Carsforsale.com
What’s new for the 2023 Hyundai Tucson?
We really liked the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and we imagine that we’ll enjoy the 2023 version even more now that it has more standard features and an off-road-focused XRT trim level. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson comes with three distinct powertrains, front or all-wheel drive, and a bevy of upper-end technologies. The eleventh-generation Tucson is by far the best yet thanks to a spacious and quiet cabin with almost luxurious materials littered throughout.
The Breakdown
Excellent quality
Top-notch warranty coverage
Great safety tech
Underwhelming base engine
Middling towing capability
Rival hybrids are more fuel efficient
A great value for the money
2023 Tucson Specs
- 187 horsepower from base engine
- 178 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 10 available trims
- 38.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 74.8 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 2,000-lb max towing capacity
- Available 10.25-inch touchscreen
- Excellent safety aids
- 10-year powertrain warranty
2023 Hyundai Tucson Powertrain
Hyundai offers the Tucson with three different powertrains and the choice of front or all-wheel drive on most. All-wheel drive is standard on all hybrid versions. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 hp mated to an eight-speed auto.
It’s a solid powertrain and we think most buyers will like it but we’re thankful that Hyundai offers a stronger 1.6-liter turbocharged engine in the hybrid versions of the Tucson. It’s a lot snappier thanks to 226 hp. It doesn’t give up anything in fuel economy either. Finally, the PHEV version, which uses the same 1.6-liter engine develops 261 hp and provides up to 33 miles of all-electric range.
We’re happy to report that all three powertrains sit inside a chassis that’s reactive and easy to drive. The steering is tight and accurate and the pedals produce predictable reactions too. The cabin is quiet and the car soaks up poor road conditions excellently. That’s one of the assets that makes it one of our favorite compact SUVs.
Towing & Payload
At its best, the Tucson can tow up to 2,000 pounds. That’s not too bad for the segment. For example, the Honda CR-V can tow just 1,500 pounds but other rivals like the Mazda CX-50 and Toyota RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
2023 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Economy & MPG
Fuel economy numbers are all over the board for the Tucson. The PHEV versions get up to 35 MPGe according to the EPA. That includes up to 33 miles of all-electric range and more than 400 miles of total range on a single tank of fuel.
The conventional hybrids get up to 38 mpg combined and the regular old internal combustion Tucson can achieve 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg highway. That’s pretty thrifty for a car of this size.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Hyundai has managed to make this mid-$30k on average SUV feel a lot nicer than that price tag might suggest. The door cards, center control stack, and dash all look and feel more expensive. We also love how low the dash sits because it aids in outward visibility. A push-button shifter and piano black trim might go a bit too far toward faux luxury but they blend well with the rest of the cabin.
The seating is very comfortable throughout the cabin but we’re especially impressed by how spacious the rear seats are. Not only do they offer seatback adjustability but there’s ample knee room too. A large center armrest/cupholder pops out of the rear seat for additional storage too.
Cargo space behind the second row is excellent. Hyundai offers 38.7 cubic feet of space for gear back there and when the seats are folded that space expands to 74.8 cubic feet.
Entertainment & Technology
The base infotainment system in the Tucson is an 8-inch unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for those who want it. It’s pretty quick and fairly intuitive but we prefer the larger 10.25-inch screen available on most trim levels. It makes due with wired Android and Apple connectivity but includes navigation, clearer graphics, and a slightly simpler interface in our eyes.
The stock sound system is decent but we prefer the premium Bose system that’s available. In addition, we’re happy to report that convenience features like the rear seat reminder, wireless device charger, and blind-spot monitoring cameras all function seamlessly in everyday practice.
Safety Features
The IIHS awarded the Tucson as a Top Safety Pick +, its highest honor. In addition, the FWD version received a five-star crash test rating from the NHTSA while the AWD variant scored four stars. On top of those accolades, Hyundai equips the Tucson with a bevy of standard driver safety aids that work incredibly well including adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist.
2023 Hyundai Tucson Trims & Pricing
SE – $28,035
The base Tucson gets 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, LED headlights, and an 8-inch infotainment system equipped with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and six speakers. Safety aids include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward collision mitigation, driver attention warning, and a rear seat reminder.
SEL – $29,635
This trim includes keyless entry, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, roof rails, tinted rear windows, heated front seats, rear seat climate vents, a wireless charging pad, USB power ports for the rear seats, blind-spot warning, and blind-spot intervention.
Blue Hybrid – $32,485
The base hybrid version of the Tucson is equipped similarly to the SEL but adds a hybrid powertrain.
XRT – $34,860
This off-road-focused trim gets unique bumpers, a tow hitch, 19-inch wheels, side steps, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with integrated navigation and wired Android and Apple connectivity.
N-Line – $34,910
Selecting the N-Line gets customers a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free liftgate, unique 19-inch wheels, front sport seats, and a Bose sound system.
SEL Convenience Hybrid – $35,445
The mid-level conventional hybrid Tucson gets a hands-free liftgate, a sunroof, faux leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a digital gauge cluster.
Limited – $37,295
As the luxury Tucson entry, the Limited gets paddle shifters, a heated steering wheel, upgraded LED headlights, heated rear seats, driver’s seat memory settings, dark chrome exterior trim, blind-spot cameras, lane-keep-assist, and a surround-view camera system.
SEL Plugin Hybrid – $38,635
Similarly, the SEL PHEV version is equipped identically to the SEL.
Limited Hybrid – $40,245
This hybrid version of the Tucson closely matches the features available in the normal Limited trim but of course gets an electrified drivetrain.
Limited Plugin Hybrid – $45,895
Combine the Limited trim features with the plug-in hybrid powertrain and you get this version of the Tucson.
Warranties
Very few companies hold a candle to the awesome warranty coverage offered by Hyundai. It includes five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and ten years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Complimentary maintenance is also included for the first three years or 36,000 miles.
What we think
2023 Hyundai Tucson – hyundaiusa.com | Shop 2023 Hyundai Tucson on Carsforsale.com
The 2023 Tucson is a bargain based on what Hyundai says dealers should charge for it. We like every trim level to one degree or another so we suggest picking your favorite and checking our list of new car incentives to see if you can snag one for less than MSRP. Thanks to a well-rounded package of technology, safety equipment, quality materials, and great ergonomics, the Tucson is one of our favorites.
