Honest review of Tucson 2022 SEL

I assume you're only asking about the standard ICE, not the HEV. I bought the Hybrid SEL w/ Convenience package trim. As far as drivetrains go, we love our Tucson. The internal combustion pairs nicely with the electric motor. The drivetrain is getting broken in smoothly and with the warmer weather, our fuel economy is making its way up to the EPA estimates. I was more than willing to trade a few mpgs for a "real" 6spd auto transmission vs. all the CVTs that are on the market and the mechanical AWD standard on the Tucson. I imagine that if you went for the ICE model with FWD, you might be happy as well.

As far as tech, I can understand your hesitancy. There's a plethora of horror stories on this forum and others. My wife was hesitant about the driving assistance package. She got over that very quickly. We haven't had any malfunctions with that. You can turn all the systems completely off. Though one complaint I have is that you can't have regular cruise control. It's either adaptive or none at all. I don't find it to be that big of a deal, but it'd be nice to still have cruise control if the radar ever decided to malfunction.

We've only had two malfunctions, which I count as very minor inconveniences:
(1) Every once in a while we've experienced the car seemingly reset itself when we start it up. It isn't the whole system. The climate changes from "Driver Only" at 68 to dual zone synced at 72 (or whatever number is factory default). It also resets two of the three trip-meters with their respective fuel economy numbers ("trip" and "since refueling"). The "trip" should reset if the vehicle is left off for more than 3 minutes. The "since refueling" should reset when you refuel. This is a VERY minor inconvenience. It hasn't happened while driving, nor do I expect it to. Total it's maybe happened three times.
(2) There have been two instances where my iPhone 11 hasn't connected to Apple CarPlay wirelessly. When I had a chance to shut the car down for a few minutes and start it back up, it connected flawlessly. I also restarted my phone both times in case my phone was causing the problems.

All in all, I'm not bothered by the tech that I don't like, and I love the tech that I bought the vehicle for. We went from 2011 VW tech to 2022 Hyundai tech. It was a HUGE step up, but perfectly doable for us. We are very much in the good so far and "would buy again" camp. Though, if you're really nervous about it, wait a year or so for a different model year. Hopefully by then they'll have worked out some of the kinks and the car market will have settled down.

gks.sun said:

TY! my problem is civic i 2008 and falling apart (170K miles) and i dont want to keep band aiding it. I need an affordable SUV with loads of features but hoping I dont get a lemon. 2022 CR-V is great but the same old design since forever so looking for something fresh

Click to expand...

A year or so ago Honda dealer gave me a CRV as a loaner when my 2012 Odyssey was in the shop. I have no idea what model year it was, but I do know it was the current generation. It had the turbo-charged 1.5 liter engine and the CVT. I hated every second of driving it. It felt extremely underpowered. Felt small, and didn't get the fuel economy I thought it should have with how "economy" it felt. I was convinced that I would never get a crossover because getting a station wagon would provide the same amount of room but better fuel economy. Researching the new Hybrid Tucson with the 6-spd auto transmission and supposedly good fuel economy changed my mind.

Our family loves Honda for the Odyssey and the longevity, but I just can't see buying a CRV. I'm with you on the current generation feeling very dated and bland. I just can't get over the CVT, even with simulated gears. Even the Odyssey is getting pretty dated, but a family hauler is a family hauler. It doesn't need to be all slick and pretty.

Best of luck with your search!

For the 2022-23 Tucson, you definitely want the hybrid. IMO the SEL-C is the best value, 2nd would be Blue, 3rd would be Limited (in VALUE for cost). This is subjective of course, but for $2500 in the SEL-C you get Michelin tires, bigger rims (same as Limited) a pano-roof, gloss trim and cloth details for the interior, and the updated digital dash. For me that was all EASILY worth the $2500 difference, but going into a Limited is another $4K or so, and unless you must have leather, I think that upgrade is diminishing returns (and I had one). I find the differences in the two stereos to be a wash.

Beyond that, it's a no-brainer. I drove the RAV4 and CR-V... and unless you're buying with the intent to also sell soon, it's an easy recommendation. The Tucson completely crushes the competition on power, comfort, and tech. The features per dollar are super-high, the car has blatantly more power, it's way quieter on the road, and handles like a much more expensive car... while the RAV4 and CR-V feel downright cheap by comparison. I also drove Subaru, because years ago (when they had the 6-cylinder)... it was outstanding. Subaru got rid of that engine option... and now the Outback is a dog... slooooow.

Find out for yourself. Go drive all 3 (or 4) if you can... the difference will be crystal-clear. I've rarely driven a car where the test-drive so immediately sold me on the car... as I did in the Tucson Hybrid.

Here's a review I wrote for a UK Tucson forum. Bear in mind, I am talking UK mpg.

A longish read, but hopefully interesting.

Exciting times on Tuesday - picking up my new car. So, drive my old car over to the garage (part exchange), park it up and walk in. Leanne, the sales lady, is with another customer so I wait around till she's finished. I spot my new car - looks nice and shiny in the sunshine. Eventually Leanne finishes up and we get all the paperwork sorted out. I say 'paperwork' but it's all done on a tablet these days. I hand over my old keys and we walk out so I can be given the 'talk' about the features of the new car.

After a 15 minute discussion, of which I remember very little, the sales manager comes out and demonstrates how to move the car forward and backwards using only the key (with me not in). It looks impressive, but I can't think of when I would need it. I must practice it later, just in case.

So, time to drive off, with 12 miles showing on the odo. First stop will be to a petrol station to fill up. We choose Costco as we need some stuff and it's the cheapest one for miles around. Remember, this is the start of the great petrol price war in reverse - it's which garage can charge the most! I must remember to put petrol in and not diesel - and the filler is on the other side from my X3. I join the queue while Norma goes shopping, fill it up and park up.
Shopping over, it's time to go home. I like how the seats can be folded down from the boot. Came in very handy just now.

The drive home illustrates how much I hate the active lane control. I do hope there's a way of turning it off for good [no there isn't, as I found out later]. Fuel consumption seems OK - and I love the camera that comes on in the display when you use an indicator. It means I don't have to turn my head too much to see the blind spot area.

Home - and the car sits there for 2 days. Not that I don't want to drive it, but I actually have nowhere to go. So, I install my dashcam and try and work out some of the controls and settings. I can play music and plays with a USB stick but, horror of horrors, it doesn't sort by filename, but by track title (metadata for those in the know). That's rubbish. Android Auto works though, and I can use that to play music and plays. [Note - I can fix that with my MP3 files and software, but I shouldn't have to].

By the weekend, I've used it quite a bit. Consumption is getting better, but I still haven't had a long journey in it. On Saturday, we went on a 25 mile journey and that was OK. I was still getting used to it. The views when reversing (back and overhead) are very good. I can't see me using the sunroof very much, but who knows. The suspension is a bit wallowy at low speeds, but firms up when going a bit faster. Seems OK and Norma doesn't feel queasy in it (always a good test for a car).

The following weekend was the crunch test - a 130 mile trip down to Coventry, mainly on motorways. This was where I found another issue with the USB stick. Every time the car reminded me of something (a 'bong' for a car overtaking or a chime for a speed camera) the music or play would pause. And there was a lot of them on the motorway. It had to go. I changed over to Android Auto using my phone to see whether that would also do it - and it didn't. Phew. Otherwise, the car would have been rejected (yes, it was that bad). Fuel consumption there and back worked out at 41.5mpg, which I thought was good considering the car was still running in. Seats are comfy enough and the seat ventilation is nice on my legs – can’t feel it on my back though.

The speedo accuracy was also tested (my dashcam has GPS built in and displays the GPS speed). At 32 on the clock, it's 30 on the GPS. At 51 on the clock it's 50 on the GPS. At 71 on the clock, it's 70 on the GPS. I'm very happy about that. Better than my X3 and much better than my wife's RAV4.

However, I still had some niggles - chief was the active lane assistant. I think it's dangerous, so I have to ensure it's turned off each time I drive. I also am fed up with the 6 'bongs' every time I start the car. I wish that could be disabled. [Edit – Just been told that they don’t come on if I put the seat belt on before I start the engine – I will try that next time I am out].

In the meantime, I've joined some forums (including this one) which provided me with some answers to other questions. I can now have the digital speedo displayed, I can see the engine temperature and I am getting familiar with the voice control. I’ve also found all the different fuel consumption figures (which, as I am sure you have noticed, is one of my obsessions).

I have had one instance of the aircon resetting itself to 22 (I wondered why I was getting hot) which also reset the distance since last fill up display. However, since then I've upgraded the firmware to the latest (Feb 22) version, so I'll see if that fixes it. The old firmware was dated July 21 (which was interesting as the car wasn’t built until early Feb 22) and the new one has changed some of the displays, hopefully for the better.

I drove from Buxton back to Rochdale (about 40 miles, mixed traffic, some motorway) and got nearly 60mpg - which was very impressive and much more than I expected.

I've installed the Bluelink software on my phone. That works OK but will insist on telling every time I unlock the car. But doesn't cancel the notification when I relock it. However, it does show me a record of every journey I take and where the car is located - which is nice. I haven't messed with the other things it can do yet.

Another long motorway drive down to Coventry and back today. Fuel consumption is getting better. Overall, I’m up to 41.7 (over 850 miles) and todays drives were around 43-44. I did notice that when I went over 70 (cruise control set to 71), I got a constant faint ‘bong’. It’s yet another setting. So that’s been turned off. The blind spot notification works well, if a bit over enthusiastic (but better that than it tells me too late).

So that’s about if for now. Overall, I am delighted with the car. I even cleaned it (which is not something I normally do myself) as it was looking a bit dusty.

Here's kind of my long review I've been wanting to do on my Intense Blue 22 SEL w/Convenience and Premium packages (basically limited trim with the smaller screen and a few less electronics). I liked this package because it got the cool wheels, sunroof, leather heat/cool, bigger dash, but retained the wireless android auto. I've owned mine for about 5 months now, 7k miles on it.

I wrecked a Honda HRV (smaller than the CRV) that I loved for interior room and gas mileage, wanted something just a little bigger for my growing family. I drove the CRV, CX-5, Rav4, Nissan, Outlander, and a few others around the class. As a tall person (6'4") a big requirement was being able to sit comfortably and still see underneath the rearview mirror. That eliminated half the class.

Comfort: Best of all I test drove, the seats are so supple and supportive, and they fit my body. The 19" wheels are a little harsher ride than the lower trim 17" wheels, but it was still such a huge upgrade to me. This car feels like the most luxurious thing I've ever owned, it seriously feels so premium which is crazy considering what class it's in

Visibility: One of the best I drove, can easily see out the sides and have yet to find a blindspot.

Power: It's "fine". Wasn't the fastest I drove, but has enough off the line to make me smile in sport mode. Struggles on the freeway to stay in 8th gear, with a headwind I find it shifting to 5th at times (turning 4k RPM at 80mph), and passing at speed you can tell it's really struggling to give you everything. Still better than my Honda was, but gas mileage suffers at freeway speed because of the power. Depending what you came from you may be disappointed here, the Hybrid models have a lot more power and probably solve that issue

Electronics: I'm a nerd, I was so excited to see how much tech was included. It was absolutely overwhelming the first 2 weeks I owned it, that steering wheel has like 20 buttons on it! Now that I own it, I LOVE this aspect of the car. Everything feels very intuitive, very few complaints or issues. Occasionally wireless android auto does weird things, but I think that's more Google's fault.

Cruise control: hate it. It only does the auto-distance mode, which is way too reactive and it acts like a yo-yo or randomly slams the brakes. If I'm in traffic I just disable cruise now, which sucks

Lane Keep/Lane Follow: I turned off Lane Keep which just beeps and buzz's at you when you deviate from the lane. It's annoying, so annoying. However...Lane Follow is one of the best tech features on this car to me! I turn it on often, which is a simple button press on the steering wheel. Makes long trips so much less tiring, and does an amazing job at keeping you in a lane with cross winds!

Backup cross traffic alarm has saved me a few times already, great feature

Reliability: This is a fairly low tech engine with a proven standard automatic transmission. There is some concern about the design of the valves and oil buildup, but I'm not worried. So far reports of issues were only on very very early models and mainly from the Korean made hybrids. The Alabama Tucson's seem to be rock solid, and Consumer Reports is rating this car top of the class in predicted reliability. Every first model year car will have issues, so far I'm impressed how few there are

Interior Noise: Best in class based on what else I tested. Period.

Audio: Bose system is fine, not great bass, rear speakers suck. It's passable

Anything else? I'm so happy with this car, I'd highly recommend it.