Are plug-in hybrids the training wheel of this transitional era? On a more than 50-mile detour of the partisan capital of Bachelorette to the south, Nashville, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid offers support and comfort to drivers who can’t yet commit to battery-only.
In the Hyundai lineup, it’s a compact alternative to the mid-size Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, which has an EPA rating of 31 miles/33 mpg combined. A little bit smaller, it’s also a bit more efficient. Rated by the EPA for 33-mile electric range, 80 MPGe, and 35 mpg combined (higher than initial estimate), the Tucson PHEV posted some more impressive numbers during the blooming season of plug-in hybrid compact crossovers.
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
The Tucson PHEV 2022 is not radically different from gasoline-powered models, at least in terms of styling. It’s still a frenzy on the outside, less charismatic on the inside.
The bodywork and interior are slightly changed compared to the petrol Tucson; Under the hood, the Plug-In Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter turbo-4 and six-speed automatic, paired with a front-mounted single electric motor and 13.8 kWh battery pack for a net 261 power output. horse power. Hyundai offers a standard 7.2 kw built-in charger that recharges a 2 240 volt power supply in less than two hours.
On an impromptu spin to the western suburbs of Music City, the wheels of the PHEV Tucson’s powertrain were virtually silent, saving for impatient moments when I needed to overtake and press deeply. throttle. I quench my enthusiasm with an energy-flow meter on the digital cluster: As it revs the engine and hums a little, I step back to make the most of the predicted 29-mile electrical range.
The Tucson plug-in has three modes for you to choose from. There is an automatic mode, the brain works to choose the driving modes; a hybrid mode that maintains the charge state; and EV mode, which drinks all the juice provided by the battery pack, harnessing engine power only in extreme situations such as long hill climbs.
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
The Tucson’s plug-in bit does 33 miles of EPA-rated electric driving, with little more than a reconfigured fuel port and some badges to tell the story.
It’s a thrill to see 136 miles/gallon show up in the gauges at the bottom of the SUV’s instrument cluster—even though it’s gaming the system in a way that doesn’t include the impact of the electricity you put in. into the. Electric driving is more than noticeable tire noise, because there’s too little of the usual hum of the 4-cylinder Tucson Hybrid to be heard. It’s refreshing to hear and feel the powertrain changes in an electric-mode car, however, the perceptions are also minimal. The Tucson PHEV doesn’t have the flashy rear electric motor of the RAV4 Prime, but its standard all-wheel drive system can provide wet-weather comfort for motorists north of Nashville.
I was able to extract 25 of the 29 miles of predicted electric range when the Tucson first switched itself into hybrid mode, with about 4 miles remaining. That translates to an on-screen reading of the remaining 31% in the pack (as it saves the rest to increase mileage as a hybrid). I stopped and turned around to find a photo spot, and it worked again in electric mode lasting another mile on the trip back to town.
In a frenzy of hopeless optimism, I stopped at a Blink toll station in Ashland City, about 14 miles left for the return trip. After a few fiddling around with the tiny damaged touchscreen, I gave up on recharging the car and instead recharged myself with some local coffee—coffee, not moonshine.
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
The chance that someone else needs this charging point is equivalent to the chance that this town will find Bernie in 24.
The powertrain’s smoothness is undeniably smooth, but the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has increased its weight in different ways than other Tucson SUVs. It can get constrained when recovering from large gaps in the road — the car is mostly taut and stable, but it can bounce when all the weight of the battery is jostled by gaps in the road. Nashville is growing rapidly, and there are many hiccups.
Unlike other EVs, the Tucson plug-in has a steering with center-to-center play, then enough friction and weight to register as distinct. Force doesn’t respond in a linear way to changing road conditions, so it feels numb in a way that’s completely familiar to many electric car drivers.
One thing that is also very familiar, is the shiny black plastic layer on this Tucson Plug-In Hybrid. For a car that costs more than $44,000, its jet-black cabin and mid-tier finishes are the most obvious place for improvement. The interior, on the other hand, offers a lot of usable space, with incredible head and knees for front and rear seat passengers.
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
Test drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 2022, Nashville, TN
The Tucson PHEV’s underfloor storage can hide small electronics, charging cables and possibly a signature loaf of bread.
How does all of this compare to the RAV4 Prime? Tucson Plug-In Hybrid can’t be beat Toyota RAV4 Prime in electric range (42 miles) or gas mileage (38 mpg combined), but Tucson overtakes RAV4 Prime About the price. It costs $36,645 for the base SEL, compared to the $41,515 sticker price of the RAV4 Prime SE. The more famous Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited costs $44,445, compared to the RAV4 Prime XSE’s Monroney figure of $44,835.
Worth noting: the RAV4 Prime’s 18.1 kwh battery pack means it’s eligible for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit. In Tucson, the credit is $6,587 due to its smaller 13.8 kWh package. The credits make the price difference negligible. For most drivers, the difference will depend on taste and availability.
The Tucson PHEV drives at a slightly lower speed, that’s for sure. But its exterior has a special appeal, and its EPA-rated 33-mile electric range seems within reach. For RAV4 Prime, it was a matter of finding one on the lot. Training wheels have never been so expensive – but always important.
