2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT AWD test drive review

It takes a lot for a compact crossover SUV to distinguish itself from the competition these days, but Hyundai appears to be up to the task with the 2022 Tucson. Now with an off-road oriented XRT trim and a style refresh for its fourth iteration, the Tucson is looking more attractive than ever to potential buyers. Just don’t get too excited about the off-roading prospect. Check out Hyundai listings

Price and value 

Excluding hybrid models, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson comes in five trims with an MSRP range of $25,800 for the base SE to $35,300 for the top-tier Limited trim. Each gas powered Tucson has a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional for $1,400. Some of the major differences among trim levels are noted below. See all Tucson listings

• SE: $25,800 See listings

8-inch color touch screen display

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Rear Occupant Alert

• SEL: $27,100  See listings

Proximity key with push button start

Heated front seats

Bluelink connected car system

• N Line: $31,200 See listings

N Line unique exterior stylings

Leather sport seats with cloth inserts

Bose audio system

• XRT: $31,850 See listings

19-inch black alloy wheels

10.25-inch digital instrument cluster

XRT exclusive black cladding

• Limited: $35,300 See listings

10.25-inch touch screen navigation

Remote smart parking assist

Panoramic sunroof

Our 2022 Tucson XRT tester — which is based on the SEL trim with the Convenience Package — came with all-wheel drive and carpeted floor mats, which brought the total price to $34,840 after freight and handling fees. Judging solely on looks, we’d go for either the XRT or N Line trims with maybe a slight preference for the latter, purely because we have little to no use for roof racks and cross bars.

Would we pay $31,000–$34,000 for our Tucson of choice? Ultimately, we think we would. With its long list of standard safety features and little amenities, it’s hard to argue the value for the price.

Performance 

It’s best to set expectations from the get-go here. When you read that the Hyundai Tucson XRT is the off-road trim, that title comes with a bit of an asterisk. If your off-roading consists mainly of driving on unpaved but not-too-crazy paths, then sure, call it an off-road vehicle. Just know that this little guy definitely wasn’t made for serious rock-crawling. But as a daily driver that can act as your weekend getaway car to the mountains, it does a pretty good job. 

Engine and drivetrain

No matter which Tucson you drive (excluding the hybrids), you get a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This puts out a decent 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. 

Fuel economy 

According to the window sticker, our XRT tester was rated at 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. Our real-world numbers were pretty consistent with those ratings.

Acceleration and handling 

No, it’s not exactly zippy off the line. Every time we mashed the accelerator to the floor, we would pep talk the Tucson into getting up to speed while patiently waiting for the numbers to climb. Car and Driver tested the 2023 Tucson (which has the same engine as our 2022) and found that it accelerated from 0-60 in 8.8 seconds. But once it gets there, it’s pretty easy to handle.

Braking 

The Tucson’s brakes were responsive but not too touchy. Everything worked as expected. 

Interior comfort and convenience 

While we wouldn’t call the Tucson XRT luxurious, it far exceeded our expectations. True to form, Hyundai managed to add some generous features for the price. From the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob to heated front seats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, we were pretty pleased. 

Seats

The cloth-covered seats were comfortable enough — the driver’s seat is power adjustable and includes lumbar support, which is nice. But what really blew us away was how much space there was around the seats. Sitting in the back, I could stretch my 5-foot-9-inch self all the way out without running into the back of the first row.

We were also impressed by how much headroom we had in the front and back. Some compact crossovers are a little too compact, but that’s not the case with the Tucson. We’re still trying to figure out how Hyundai carved out that much room on the inside.

Climate control 

We loved how easy it was to operate the dual automatic temperature control with physical buttons below the touch screen. Our XRT tester also came with heated front seats, and though we never needed them in the summery weather, we’re always grateful for the option. Add it to the list of little luxuries that make the Tucson a pretty good deal for the price. Well done, Hyundai.

Cargo space and cabin storage 

For cargo space, we give the Tucson XRT top points. For a car of its size, we were pretty amazed at how much room there was to store things in the back. Specifically, you’re looking at 38.7 cubic feet with the seats up and 74.8 with them down.

If you’re using this to haul your outdoor recreational gear, you shouldn’t have any trouble stowing everything you need in the cargo area. And, of course, the roof rails and cross bars are there in case you need something extra. See Tucson listings

The category of cabin storage is where we’d dock a few points. The side pockets on the passenger doors only had space to hold a water bottle, so a center console storage cubby is really the only place to hold your stuff up front. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re the type of person who’s used to toting around a plethora of accessories. 

Infotainment system 

We can’t help feeling that Hyundai made the infotainment system with someone exactly like us in mind. We appreciate a simple touch screen with quick access to the main three to four apps we typically use — and bonus points if it still comes with physical buttons for climate control. 

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the 8-inch display, and that’s exactly why we like it. You can upgrade to a 10.25-inch display if you want, but that comes with a little hitch: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only available with the smaller screen. You’ll have to pull out your cable for the bigger display.

Exterior appearance and functionality 

Hyundai did a great job updating the Tucson in its fourth generation to look a little leaner and meaner on the streets than the one that came before. Looks alone might persuade you to pick this compact crossover SUV over other options. The sharper angles and body definition are noticeable on each trim, but the off-road styled XRT is marked by distinct blacked-out cladding, roof rails and other style elements. The most amusing were the side steps — which didn’t feel particularly necessary given that this car doesn’t sit very high off the ground.

Wheels 

You’ll know you’re driving the XRT trim when you see the Tucson’s 19-inch black alloy wheels. Though a little too dark for our liking (we prefer the wheels on the N Line trim), we have to say that they did a pretty decent job of keeping road noise to a minimum. 

Lights and turn signals

The LED lights and turn signals did their job nicely, but what we really appreciated was how cool the daytime running lights looked right up against the grille. It’s definitely a stylistic step up from the previous generation. 

Front and rear windshield 

Visibility out the front was good. The rear windshield came with privacy glass, which darkened things ever so slightly in the back. As both a driver and a passenger, we never felt claustrophobic inside the cabin.

Cameras and side mirrors 

The Tucson XRT has a rearview camera with parking guidance, but there’s nothing up front. That’s another reason to strike extreme off-roading from your list of things to do with this car.

Safety 

As with any new vehicle, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT comes with a solid assortment of standard safety features. These include:

• Automatic emergency braking

• Blind spot collision-avoidance assist

• Lane keeping and lane following assist

• Rearview camera

• Rear seat alert

• Smart cruise control with stop and go

• Forward collision-avoidance assist

• Driver attention warning

• Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist

• Downhill brake control and hill start assist control 

Awards and ratings 

U.S. News & World Report put the 2022 Hyundai Tucson on the lists of Best Compact SUV for the Money, Best Compact SUV for Families and Best New Cars for Teens. It’s also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick for 2022.

Final impression 

The Hyundai Tucson XRT looks better than ever,  and for under $35,000, it manages to pack in quite a few luxuries, tech and safety features. Other vehicles in its class may get slightly better gas mileage or offer more power, but when it comes to value and attractiveness, the Tucson XRT should make consumers pretty happy. 

FAQs 

Is the 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT a good off-roading car? 

The Tucson XRT is available with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system and is styled for off-road driving. However, you won’t want to scale any massive boulders or particularly rough roads with this compact SUV. Load up your gear and head for the hills, but stay away from extreme conditions. 

What is the cargo capacity?

With the seats up, you get 38.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the back. With the seats folded down, you get 74.8 cubic feet.

Is the Hyundai Tucson fun to drive?

With 187 horsepower, the Tucson has some decent oomph, but it’s not the most zippy thing on the road. However, when it comes to comfort, performance, safety, functionality and design, J.D. Power gives it an 85 out of 100 rating. 

Want to take the Hyundai Tucson for a test drive? Find hundreds of new and used options on KSL Cars.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.