Mid-size SUV of the Year 2022: Hyundai Tucson

It’s a second win on the bounce for the Tucson, with consecutive Mid-size SUV of the Year awards for Hyundai’s sharply styled contender.

It’s not just the design that sets it apart from the crowd in a fiercely competitive class, though, because it passes all of the family car tests with flying colours. There’s plenty of space for five adults, while head and legroom are among the most generous in the class.

That passenger room hasn’t come at the expense of storage capacity, either, because with up to 620 litres of boot space, it also sees off the closest competition. And with clever touches such as a standard 12-volt socket and space to store the parcel shelf beneath the boot floor, it makes it a versatile storage area as well as a large one.

It’s just as pleasant up front, with few rivals able to offer such advanced tech. Go for the top-spec models and you’ll find features such as lane-following assist and a remote-parking feature that lets you roll the car out of a tight spot from the outside using just the key. The dash design is logical, the infotainment tech is one of the most intuitive around, and it all feels very well put together.

That feeling of solidity carries over to the way the Tucson drives, too. Refinement, stability and comfort are all excellent. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox kicks off the range from £28,500 – and the unit is boosted by mild-hybrid tech if you pair it with an automatic transmission.

The full hybrid achieves a WLTP fuel consumption figure of up to 49.6mpg, thanks to its ability to drive in fully electric mode in short bursts. Company car users will be most attracted to the plug-in hybrid, which boasts low BiK rates and the ability to drive on battery power alone for up to 38 miles.

Our choice

Hyundai Tucson Premium 1.6 T-GDi (£30,200)

The electrified models will make sense for the company car user, but for private buyers it’s hard to look beyond the 1.6-litre turbo petrol model. In high-spec Premium trim, a three-year PCP with a £3,000 deposit comes to £407 per month – and that figure includes a £2,000 deposit contribution from Hyundai.

Commended

Kia Sportage

Running the Tucson very close is its Korean compatriot, the Kia Sportage. Mechanically, the pair are very similar; the Sportage also has a range of mild, full and plug-in hybrid powertrains. There’s very little between the two in terms of pricing, although the Hyundai Tucson is ever so slightly more spacious, and marginally more comfortable than the Kia.

Skoda Enyaq iV

A range of fully electric SUVs is now filling the market, and the Skoda Enyaq iV manages to slip into family life completely seamlessly. The cabin is well finished and spacious, the battery powertrain is silent and smooth, and in the right conditions the Enyaq iV promises a range of up to 329 miles between charges.

The 2022 New Car Awards are brought to you in association with Hankook tyres

New Car Awards 2022: the winners

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