Hyundai Tucson 2022 review: Highlander

The Tucson Highlander is a mid-sized SUV, so it’s about the same size as a Toyota RAV4, but it looks quite different. The RAV4 is more angular whereas the Tucson is rounded, although the crisp origami-like creases in the door panels make this Hyundai look modern and unique. 

An enormous grille that almost covers the entire face of the car features built in LED running lights, which set this SUV apart from many of its rivals, as do the taillights, with their jagged, shark-tooth design.

The Tucson looks modern and unique. (image credit: Richard Berry)

This new-generation Tucson came to Australia in 2021, so the cabin tech is also modern and the styling of the interior still feels fresh. I especially liked the media screen and the way it’s integrated into the floating centre console in the same fashion that premium brands like Land Rover are choosing.

Adding an even more prestigious feel to the interior was the optional Grey leather upholstery in our test car.

For a completely different look, but pretty much the same car underneath, you should check out the Kia Sportage, which shares pretty much the same engineering as the Tucson, thanks to the fact that both of them share a parent company.

The Tucson is 4.63m long, which is on the shorter side for a mid-sized SUV, but the interior layout offers adequate legroom in the second row, even for me at 191cm tall, and it has one of the largest boots among its rivals, at 539 litres.

Families need cabin storage, and lots of it. The Tucson is better at this than many of its rivals with big door pockets, cup holders up front and in the second row, a large centre console storage box, a deep well in front of the shifter for wireless phone charging and pockets on the side of the centre console.

The Tucson offers decent interior space. (image credit: Richard Berry)

New parents will also be happy to know that a rearward-facing baby capsule can be installed in the second row, while still leaving enough space for somebody my height to sit comfortably in the front passenger seat.

While the Tucson may not beoverly large, its sense of interior space and the storage it provides are both excellent.

The Tucson Highlander isn’t the easiest car to drive, thanks to that indecisive transmission, but it does come loaded with features that make life easier. The Highlander grade comes with a proximity key, which will lock and unlock the door without you having to take it out of your pocket or bag. You also score push button start, sat nav, dark-tinted rear side windows, a gesture-control tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control with rear directional air vents, plus power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats.

Rear passengers get directional air vents. (image credit: Richard Berry)

For charging devices there’s a wireless charger, a 12V outlet and two USB ports up front, plus another two USB ports in the second row.

Controls are all in logical and easy to reach places, aside from that strange gear shifter, with its button design, which isn’t the easiest way to shift from Drive to Reverse or Park.

The Tucson was given the maximum five-star rating by ANCAP when it was tested in 2021.

The advanced safety tech that comes standard on the Tucson Highlander is excellent. It starts with AEB with junction assistance, which can detect vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Then there’s also rear AEB, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.

A full-sized spare wheel is also standard, and a welcome inclusion. 

For child seats there are two ISOFIX points and three top-tether mounts across the back seats. 

The Tucson Highlander with the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and all-wheel drive lists for $50,400. A front-wheel-drive version with a 2.0-litre petrol is more affordable at $46,400 and I’d recommend that variant, unless you plan to regularly head onto dirt and gravel roads, where all-wheel drive is handy.

The Tucson is covered by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is the norm for most car makers.

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine. (image credit: Richard Berry)

Servicing is needed annually, or every 10,000km, and you can expect to pay $319 on average each year, for five years. 

Hyundai says the Tucson Highlander’s 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and dual clutch auto will use 7.2L/100km, but on my test I found that the Tucson was using 12.2L/100km, which is thirsty. If it’s any consolation, the engine can run happily on 91 RON, which is the cheapest grade of petrol.