Hyundai retains only the hybrid powertrain for the facelifted Tucson, but it gets AWD and a beautifully reworked interior.
It is actually better than we thought!
Singapore – Hyundai has steadily moved the Tucson away from being that bargain basement SUV it was once seen as. If you still hold that impression, you’d be surprised at how far ahead the current generation car is. First unveiled in 2021, the fourth-generation Tucson followed in the footsteps of the Avante sedan, where Hyundai set the bar of quality significantly higher for both cars.
Small Tweaks, Visually Better
More than twenty years since the first Hyundai Tucson hit our shores, the Tucson returns with a few external tweaks to keep it looking as fresh as when it was first launched (or fresher lah…). For the facelifted car, Hyundai has stuck to their guns, with their somewhat polarising Parametric design direction. But with the re-working of a few bits of trim, especially its front lighting signature; the new Tucson is visually more cohesive.
This N Line variant is the fancier, full-fat version of two trims available, therefore it has larger 19-inch wheels, body-coloured fender flares, sportier bumper styling, and gloss-black trim where things are meant to be frosted silver. It also comes finished with a sportier twin tailpipe.
One of my favourite exterior design features is the rear wiper, which is neatly tucked under the wing à la Range Rover Velar. Not only does it look neater, it also means that it does not trap leaves and twigs when parked. However, I am not quite a fan of the placement of that rear emblem, as it seems like it was there to cover a design afterthought… Almost like someone, at the eleventh-hour had the brainwave of executing the hidden wiper, but the rear windshield had already been created with a space to accommodate a base-mounted wiper.
New Furniture
The most obvious changes are from the inside. A new dashboard, complete with a new Panoramic Curved Display housing twin 12.3-inch screens, sits atop a “ledge”. At the lower-half of the dashboard, a control panel with a series of physical buttons, provides for easy access to the infotainment’s entertainment. Below that, virtual buttons for setting the car’s climate control. I like that while many manufacturers have over the years, reduced their button count to neaten things and cut cost; Hyundai on the other hand had stubbornly stuck to their guns, by ensuring that commonly-used features are easily found.
For the driver, there is a windshield-projected 12-inch Head-up Display, for easy access to crucial driver information. Hyundai has also done away with that push-button drive selector, and have moved the wireless charging pad in its place. Like most of their current range, the drive selector is now a column-mounted twist affair.
Since this is the N Line car, it comes equipped with exclusive suede seats. While I am not a fan of suede (the material, not the band), as they tend to trap heat, the front seats are ventilated, which is a huge plus.
At the rear, there is sufficient headroom even for those who have slightly taller-than-average torsos, since the Tucson’s roofline is relatively straight. I would find that leg space could be improved upon that little bit more.
This is nothing new, but Hyundai has also added adjustment rocker buttons for the front passenger seat. This can come in handy, especially for those dealing with a child’s seat at the rear.
At 620 litres, the Tucson’s boot is among the best-in-class. For the sake of comparison, the Mazda CX-5 makes do with 442 litres, the Toyota Corolla Cross has 425 litres, the Nissan Qashqai, 504 litres, and the new MG HS, 507 litres. The Volkswagen Tiguan on the other hand, which is the only Category A COE car amongst its brethren, has a 557 litre boot, which can be expanded to 652 litres with the rear seats slid forward.
Now You Can Go Softroading Too
The turbocharged 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain is largely carried over from the prefacelifted car, but Hyundai has performed a few tweaks to it, therefore it now has a system output of 212hp and 367Nm; which means a power reduction of 18hp, but torque has gone up significantly by 102Nm.
With the facelift, the Tucson Hybrid receives AWD, which contributes to the SUV’s already confident handling. Off-the-line, the AWD system transfers around half of its drive to the rear axle, which gives the car improved traction; since more of the car’s weight now sits on the rear wheels. While cruising, the Tucson Hybrid drives only with its front wheels, helping reduce fuel cost. On consumption numbers, on paper, the Tucson Hybrid does a combined 15.2km/l, which is not far from the 15.8km/l I achieved.
The Korean carmaker has also taken advantage of the car’s hybrid system to execute its secondary role of torque vectoring; which primes the car before corners, and helps to reduce pitch. I like that the steering feels pleasantly weighted, and the SUV steers with an accuracy, which is closely matched by the corner-loving Tiguan. But where the Tiguan struggles, the Tucson does better in its ability to accelerate briskly out of corners.
I like that the engine and the hybrid system transition smoothly while on the go, with that amount of refinement dialed in, the cabin is truly a pleasant place to be in. Perhaps if I do have one major complaint. That would be that the four-cylinder does get very vocal, even with the slightest enthusiastic prod of the accelerator. This is by far the car’s only achilles heel.
But there is actually another. And that is its price. At S$257,999 (accurate at time of publishing), The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid N Line is one of the most expensive compact SUVs in its class. But for that price tag, you do get a lot of car, including an extensive list of active safety features.
Far From Being Bargain Basement
I mean, the Tucson Hybrid does have a lot going for it. A well-sorted suspension, paired with the advantages of torque vectoring, makes for a car which sits in that sweet spot of delivering superb road manners, while still being a comfortable daily drive. It is also as well-equipped, as it is well put-together. But this Czech-built SUV is going to set you back a hefty bit of coin.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good handling | Very expensive |
| Quality interior | Overly vocal engine |
| Well-equipped |
2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid 1.6 AWD Turbo N Line
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric hybrid |
| Layout | 1,598cc, inline 4 |
| Power / torque | 212hp / 367Nm |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Automatic |
| Efficiency | 15.2km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 52 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 8.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 186km/h |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Komoco Motors |
| Price | S$257,999 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Aside from its price, Hyundai’s compact SUV hits just about all the right notes |
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