8 things you need to know about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV [Update]

Update: ‘Hyundai’s most popular PHEV in the U.S.’ section added.

Tucson is Hyundai’s best-selling model in the U.S market, and 150,949 units were sold in the country in 2021. With the full model change for MY2022 and the expansion of powertrain options to include hybrid and plug-in hybrid, annual sales should set new records in 2022, the first full year of sales of the fourth-gen Tucson, provided supply constraints are managed well.

The fourth-gen Hyundai Tucson’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants are now on sale in the U.S. Here are eight things you need to know about the 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV:

Is the most powerful Tucson configuration

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid uses the same internal combustion engine as the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. It’s a 1.6-liter T-GDi turbocharged gasoline direct-injection four-cylinder mill that produces 180 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500-4,500 rpm. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV shares a 6-speed automatic torque converter transmission also with the Tucson HEV.

The plug-in hybrid variant has more advanced electrification, with a higher-output motor and a higher-capacity battery. Refer to the table to compare the mechanical differences in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants:

Parameter	2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Specification	2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV Specification
Engine	1.6L T-GDi	1.6L T-GDi
Engine Max. Power	180 hp at 5,500 rpm	180 hp at 5,500 rpm
Engine Max. Torque	195 lb.-ft. at 1,500-4,500 rpm	195 lb.-ft. at 1,500-4,500 rpm
Electric Motor Power	59 hp at 1,600-2,000 rpm	90 hp at 2,100-3,300 rpm
Electric Motor Torque	195 lb.-ft. at 0-1,600 rpm	224 lb.-ft. at 2,100 rpm
Combined Power	226 hp	261 hp
Combined Torque	258 lb.-ft.	258 lb.-ft.
Battery	Lithium-ion Polymer	Lithium-ion Polymer
Battery Voltage	270 V	360 V
Battery Energy Storage Capacity	1.49 kWh	13.8 kWh
Battery Power Output	64 kW	88 kW
Charge Port	No	Yes
On-board Charger Peak Power	–	7.2 kW at 240 V
100% Charging Time	–	Under 2 hours
EV Range (EPA)	–	33 miles
Total Range (EPA)	Up to 521 miles	420 miles
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout	AWD (with HTRAC)	AWD (with HTRAC)
Fuel efficiency	Up to 38 MPG (combined)	80 MPGe (combined, elec + gas)/35 MPG (combined, gas)
Cargo Capacity (Max.)	38.8 cu. ft. (rear seats up)/74.5 cu. ft. (rear seats folded down)	31.9 cu. ft. (rear seats up)/66.3 cu. ft. (rear seats folded down)

Electric range not as good as the Toyota RAV4 Prime

The Hyundai Tucson PHEV’s EPA-estimated EV mode range is 33 miles, which is much lower than the Toyota RAV4 Prime (PHEV)’s EPA-estimated EV mode range of 42 miles. Its combined fuel economy rating is 80 MPGe (electricity + gasoline)/35 MPG (gasoline). The Toyota RAV4 Prime crushes it in this aspect as well, with 94 MPGe (electricity + gasoline)/38 MPG (gasoline). On a full charge and a full tank, the South Korean SUV can provide a range of 420 miles, while the Japanese SUV can cover a much longer distance of 600 miles.

Standard AWD

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is the first Hyundai SUV where the plug-in hybrid variant gets the HTRAC AWD system standard. The same applies to the new compact SUV’s hybrid variant.

Not made in Alabama, USA

Where the standard Tucson is made at the Alabama factory in the United States, the Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid production takes place in Ulsan, South Korea.

Available in two trims

The SEL trim includes features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, front-seat heating, Smart Cruise Control with start/stop, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance Assist. As for the Limited trim, Hyundai mentions a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, an 8-way power front passenger seat, front-seat ventilation, Surround View and Blind-Spot View Monitor, front and rear parking sensors, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and Remote Smart Park Assist as key features.

Least spacious Tucson variant

The plug-in hybrid variant of the Tucson obviously has some compromises with respect to dimensions and capacities compared to the ICE and hybrid variants, as the battery, motor and power electronics take up added space.

Dimension/Capacity	Tucson ICE	Tucson HEV	Tucson PHEV
Total interior volume (w/o pano sunroof)	146.9 cu. ft.	146.7 cu. ft.	137.8 cu. ft.
Passenger interior volume (w/o pano sunroof)	108.2 cu. ft.	107.9 cu. ft.	105.9 cu. ft.
Cargo capacity, rear seats up (cu. ft.)	38.7 cu. ft.	38.8 cu. ft.	31.9 cu. ft.
Cargo capacity, rear seats folded down (cu. ft.)	74.8 cu. ft.	74.5 cu. ft.	66.3 cu. ft.
Fuel Tank	14.3 gallons	13.7 gallons	11.1 gallons

Lower base price than the RAV4 Prime

Tucson PHEV Trim	Tucson PHEV Price*
SEL	USD 35,400
Limited	USD 43,200

Hyundai has priced the 2022 Tucson PHEV at USD 35,400 in the base SEL trim. That makes it USD 4,900 cheaper than Toyota’s (base) RAV4 Prime SE, which costs USD 40,300. However, the higher-grade Tucson PHEV Limited costs USD 43,200. The better-equipped 2021 RAV4 PHEV XSE is cheaper, retailing at just USD 425 higher – USD 43,625. Do note that none of these prices include the destination fee, which is USD 1,245 in the case of the Hyundai PHEV and USD 1,215 in the case of the Toyota PHEV.

Hyundai’s most popular PHEV in the U.S.

The Tucson PHEV is the most popular plug-in Hyundai model in the U.S., as per Wards Intelligence data (via wardsauto.com). Of the 3,678 plug-in hybrids sold through April 2022, up from 779 in 2021, 1,793 were Tucson PHEVs. The compact plug-in hybrid SUV accounts for nearly half (49%) of the PHEVs Hyundai sold in the country. The Santa Fe PHEV, with 1,100 units, ranked second, while the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid’s sales were flat. Note that the Ioniq eco-car family launched last decade is no longer on sale in the U.S.

Source: Youtube/Legend17

Hyundai Tucson PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Hyundai