A pleasant up to date SUV in a crowded segment. Click to Enlarge.
Will the last passenger car maker please turn out the lights when exiting? That’s the way things are heading industry-wide as the 2022 Hyundai Tucson motors into a marketplace overwhelmed by SUVs and trucks. Hyundai Motor America’s total March SUV sales were up 133% compared with March 2020. Hyundai’s 2021 first quarter SUV sales are up 41% year over year. SUVs now represent 67% of total Hyundai vehicle sales. Easy to understand why Hyundai plans twelve new and “significantly enhanced” SUVs through calendar year 2021.
The most notable thing about the latest Tucson is that a sub-compact albeit long-wheelbase version was developed for the U.S. and Canadian markets to meet buyer demand for bigger vehicles. Tucson now offers a 2.5-liter, direct-injected and multi-port-injected gasoline engine as well as a 1.6-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The new 2.5-liter engine, with high-efficiency combustion, cooled EGR and an optimized ITMS cooling system, is rated at 187 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and178 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, with a targeted combined fuel economy of 28 mpg with front-wheel drive. This 2.5-liter engine couples to an 8-speed automatic transmission that adds ratio range at both the top and bottom of output speeds allowing for extra thrust off-the-line and a quieter trip on the crumbling interstates.
Caveat here: The whole industry has moved rapidly toward small displacement force-fed, aka turbocharged, engines, but real-world fuel economy improvements – if any – are heavily dependent on where you drive and how smooth your driving technique is. In stop and go conditions, whether induced by traffic or by drivers that are first to every red light with late braking, will not see any gains in our experience. They might even use more fuel.
Click to Enlarge. Negotiate to decrease.
An option is Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system. The HTRAC was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles. The driver-selectable HTRAC Normal, Sport and Smart modes can help provide confident control in all weather conditions. The Sport setting gives an old-fashioned feel by sending more torque to the rear wheels, for what was once considered by Boomers as a sporty or performance. This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems – it’s claimed – and is tuned to conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill starts.
Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Powertrains
Tucson’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models claim – who doesn’t?- a balanced combination of fun-to-drive performance with excellent economy, compared with a pure efficiency focus as the compromise of driving engagement “by many competitors.” Well, we can’t think of any at the moment.
The hybrid powertrain 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine produces an estimated 177 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, with an estimated 226 total system combined horsepower. The hybrid powertrain also produces an estimated 258 lb.-ft. of torque from the combined hybrid powertrain, with a 44.2 kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery pack. The Hybrid powertrain delivers this through an HEV-tuned six-speed (only 6?) automatic transmission. Combined, this hybrid powertrain is claimed to be 30% more fuel efficient than the standard gasoline engine, with 20% more torque for daily driving. A range of more than 500 miles before refueling is claimed.
Plug-in Hybrid models have a high-output 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected hybrid powertrain coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Plug-in Hybrid battery is larger than the hybrid battery, with 13.8 kWh of power, yielding an estimated all-electric range (AER) of 28 miles and estimated fuel economy of over 70 MPGe. PHEV level-2 charging capability takes less than two hours to recharge the system, using a 7.2kW on-board charger. The Plug-in Hybrid powerplant delivers power through a PHEV-tuned six-speed automatic transmission.
Shared Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Technologies
Both these new powertrains use Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD). This relatively new valve duration technology continually optimizes valve opening duration for optimal power, efficiency and emissions with fewer compromises in key measures of engine performance. For the first time in a Hyundai SUV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models will also have standard HTRAC AWD capability to meet for “eco-focused buyers with specialized modes for greater adaptability to terrain and weather conditions, including Snow mode.” Hyundai’s latest HTRAC® all-wheel drive systems for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid have been tuned at off-road areas to maximize forward traction capability over a wide variety of surfaces. Both hybrid powertrains also use a unique Transmission-Mounted Electric Device (TMED), which helps manage the increased performance required of a hybrid SUV.
Claimed Segment-first Items
- Remote Smart Park Assist allows owners to park and retrieve their Tucson from the tightest of parking spaces from outside the vehicle, a very convenient feature. Before a driver attempts to load passengers or luggage, the remote parking function can prove particularly useful, bringing the vehicle out of a tight space. The driver simply uses the smart key to drive the SUV forward or backward, into or out of a parking space, garage or any tight parking situation.
- Remote Start with Heated and Ventilated Seats uses a cellular data connection via the Blue Link app that allows an owner to warm up or cool down the Tucson remotely. This remote heating and cooling function include heating and ventilation for the front seats.
- Digital Key might be a segment-exclusive feature, supported via a dedicated smartphone app. The Hyundai Digital Key app also allows smartphones to control selected vehicle systems remotely. Users can lock and unlock the vehicle, activate the panic alert and start the engine. Digital Key allows owners to leave traditional keys at home and allows secure sharing of keys with family and friends. Digital Key is currently compatible only with phones using the Android operating system.
- Wireless Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® Tucson now offers an eight-inch color touchscreen coupled with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® to make staying connected easier than ever. Wireless pairing automatically connects an Android or Apple smartphone, so the driver can keep their phone in a pocket, backpack or purse. Owners can also conveniently drop it on an available Qi wireless charger.
SmartSense Safety
The new Tucson – it’s claimed – currently offers more standard and available active safety features than any other SUV in its class to help keep drivers, passengers and others.
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
SUV buyers do not want to compromise when it comes to protecting their passengers, so Hyundai has expanded its SmartSense Safety technologies on the new Tucson. It now offers more features than have ever been available in a compact SUV. This generous suite of advanced safety features goes far beyond the abundance of SUV segment standard safety equipment and includes many innovative driver assistance systems, such as the following:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Junction-Turning Detection)
The new Tucson offers an enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction-turning detection, an advanced safety feature activated when the vehicle senses a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist in front of the car with potential for a collision. The available junction-turning feature can detect an on-coming vehicle when turning left at an intersection and may warn the driver and provide braking assistance to help avoid a collision.
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
BCA helps avoid collisions with a rear side vehicle when changing lanes. When operating the turn signal switch to change lanes, if there is a risk of collision with a rear side vehicle, the system provides a warning. After the warning, if the risk of collision increases, the system automatically controls the vehicle to help avoid a collision. If exiting a parallel parking spot and there is a risk of collision with a rear side vehicle, the system automatically assists with emergency braking.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) helps avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles on the left or right side of the vehicle while reversing. If there is a risk of collision with an oncoming vehicle on the left or right side while reversing, the system provides a warning. After the warning, if the risk of collision increases, the system automatically assists with emergency braking.
- Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) helps prevent accidental lane departure by sensing road markings, automatically steering the vehicle if necessary. Lane Following Assist (LFA) takes LKA a step further and may automatically adjust steering to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane of travel and can help keep the vehicle centered on both highways and city streets.
- Highway Driving Assist
Highway Driving Assist (HDA) is a driving convenience system that assists drivers in maintaining the center of the lane, while keeping a safe distance to the car in front and can help maintain vehicle speeds according to posted speed limits on federal interstate highways. HDA works in conjunction with the navigation system information, smart cruise and lane following assist.
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) offers the driver an enhanced field of vision, displayed within the gauge cluster. If the driver activates a turn signal, an image of the view from the corresponding side mirror is displayed in the cluster display.
- Surround View Monitor
The new Tucson uses cameras to provide the driver with an enhanced, bird’s-eye view of the car’s exterior, giving the driver confidence when maneuvering into or out of spaces.
- Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert
Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) monitors the rear seats to detect the movements of children and pets, reminding drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle; if the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves the vehicle, it will sound the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone via Blue Link.
- Safe Exit Warning
Tucson also offers Hyundai’s Safe Exit Warning (SEW) system helps detect cars approaching from the rear while the Tucson is parked. If a passenger attempts to open the door when a car is approaching from behind, visual and acoustic warnings on the cluster may alert the passengers.
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Using a radar sensor mounted on the lower front grille, Smart Cruise Control maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead by automatically adjusting vehicle speed as needed, even in stop-and-go traffic conditions.
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
Eliminates the need for drivers to manually switch high beams on and off at night for approaching vehicles in the opposite on-coming lane.
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Monitors a spectrum of driver-related characteristics to help detect driver fatigue and alert the driver.
Advanced Infotainment, Connectivity
Hyundai notes that buyers expect a lot from their vehicles. Tucson provides “seamless connectivity and generous protection from driving hazards.” Hyundai’s consumer research says that Tucson buyers want an escape from the daily stress of long commutes, heavy traffic, road hazards and distractions. They also expect to stay connected wherever they go, and “the Tucson provides this capability better than any SUV in the market.”
Tucson’s wireless device charging makes it easier to keep devices charged when on the go. Dynamic Voice Recognition is an advanced voice recognition system that has simple voice commands to conveniently perform specific controls for the cabin, including temperature adjustment, radio, hatch opening/closing, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled seats, and others. The system can also assist with various points of interest (POI), weather status, and stock market data. The Tucson navigation system offers split-screen functionality that enables multi-tasking capabilities. Tucson also offers an eight-speaker Bose® Premium sound system.
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First Look – 2022 Hyundai Tucson
A pleasant up to date SUV in a crowded segment. Click to Enlarge.
Will the last passenger car maker please turn out the lights when exiting? That’s the way things are heading industry-wide as the 2022 Hyundai Tucson motors into a marketplace overwhelmed by SUVs and trucks. Hyundai Motor America’s total March SUV sales were up 133% compared with March 2020. Hyundai’s 2021 first quarter SUV sales are up 41% year over year. SUVs now represent 67% of total Hyundai vehicle sales. Easy to understand why Hyundai plans twelve new and “significantly enhanced” SUVs through calendar year 2021.
The most notable thing about the latest Tucson is that a sub-compact albeit long-wheelbase version was developed for the U.S. and Canadian markets to meet buyer demand for bigger vehicles. Tucson now offers a 2.5-liter, direct-injected and multi-port-injected gasoline engine as well as a 1.6-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The new 2.5-liter engine, with high-efficiency combustion, cooled EGR and an optimized ITMS cooling system, is rated at 187 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and178 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, with a targeted combined fuel economy of 28 mpg with front-wheel drive. This 2.5-liter engine couples to an 8-speed automatic transmission that adds ratio range at both the top and bottom of output speeds allowing for extra thrust off-the-line and a quieter trip on the crumbling interstates.
Caveat here: The whole industry has moved rapidly toward small displacement force-fed, aka turbocharged, engines, but real-world fuel economy improvements – if any – are heavily dependent on where you drive and how smooth your driving technique is. In stop and go conditions, whether induced by traffic or by drivers that are first to every red light with late braking, will not see any gains in our experience. They might even use more fuel.
Click to Enlarge. Negotiate to decrease.
An option is Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system. The HTRAC was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles. The driver-selectable HTRAC Normal, Sport and Smart modes can help provide confident control in all weather conditions. The Sport setting gives an old-fashioned feel by sending more torque to the rear wheels, for what was once considered by Boomers as a sporty or performance. This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems – it’s claimed – and is tuned to conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill starts.
Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Powertrains
Tucson’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models claim – who doesn’t?- a balanced combination of fun-to-drive performance with excellent economy, compared with a pure efficiency focus as the compromise of driving engagement “by many competitors.” Well, we can’t think of any at the moment.
The hybrid powertrain 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine produces an estimated 177 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, with an estimated 226 total system combined horsepower. The hybrid powertrain also produces an estimated 258 lb.-ft. of torque from the combined hybrid powertrain, with a 44.2 kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery pack. The Hybrid powertrain delivers this through an HEV-tuned six-speed (only 6?) automatic transmission. Combined, this hybrid powertrain is claimed to be 30% more fuel efficient than the standard gasoline engine, with 20% more torque for daily driving. A range of more than 500 miles before refueling is claimed.
Plug-in Hybrid models have a high-output 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected hybrid powertrain coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Plug-in Hybrid battery is larger than the hybrid battery, with 13.8 kWh of power, yielding an estimated all-electric range (AER) of 28 miles and estimated fuel economy of over 70 MPGe. PHEV level-2 charging capability takes less than two hours to recharge the system, using a 7.2kW on-board charger. The Plug-in Hybrid powerplant delivers power through a PHEV-tuned six-speed automatic transmission.
Shared Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Technologies
Both these new powertrains use Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD). This relatively new valve duration technology continually optimizes valve opening duration for optimal power, efficiency and emissions with fewer compromises in key measures of engine performance. For the first time in a Hyundai SUV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models will also have standard HTRAC AWD capability to meet for “eco-focused buyers with specialized modes for greater adaptability to terrain and weather conditions, including Snow mode.” Hyundai’s latest HTRAC® all-wheel drive systems for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid have been tuned at off-road areas to maximize forward traction capability over a wide variety of surfaces. Both hybrid powertrains also use a unique Transmission-Mounted Electric Device (TMED), which helps manage the increased performance required of a hybrid SUV.
Claimed Segment-first Items
SmartSense Safety
The new Tucson – it’s claimed – currently offers more standard and available active safety features than any other SUV in its class to help keep drivers, passengers and others.
SUV buyers do not want to compromise when it comes to protecting their passengers, so Hyundai has expanded its SmartSense Safety technologies on the new Tucson. It now offers more features than have ever been available in a compact SUV. This generous suite of advanced safety features goes far beyond the abundance of SUV segment standard safety equipment and includes many innovative driver assistance systems, such as the following:
The new Tucson offers an enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction-turning detection, an advanced safety feature activated when the vehicle senses a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist in front of the car with potential for a collision. The available junction-turning feature can detect an on-coming vehicle when turning left at an intersection and may warn the driver and provide braking assistance to help avoid a collision.
BCA helps avoid collisions with a rear side vehicle when changing lanes. When operating the turn signal switch to change lanes, if there is a risk of collision with a rear side vehicle, the system provides a warning. After the warning, if the risk of collision increases, the system automatically controls the vehicle to help avoid a collision. If exiting a parallel parking spot and there is a risk of collision with a rear side vehicle, the system automatically assists with emergency braking.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) helps avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles on the left or right side of the vehicle while reversing. If there is a risk of collision with an oncoming vehicle on the left or right side while reversing, the system provides a warning. After the warning, if the risk of collision increases, the system automatically assists with emergency braking.
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) helps prevent accidental lane departure by sensing road markings, automatically steering the vehicle if necessary. Lane Following Assist (LFA) takes LKA a step further and may automatically adjust steering to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane of travel and can help keep the vehicle centered on both highways and city streets.
Highway Driving Assist (HDA) is a driving convenience system that assists drivers in maintaining the center of the lane, while keeping a safe distance to the car in front and can help maintain vehicle speeds according to posted speed limits on federal interstate highways. HDA works in conjunction with the navigation system information, smart cruise and lane following assist.
Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) offers the driver an enhanced field of vision, displayed within the gauge cluster. If the driver activates a turn signal, an image of the view from the corresponding side mirror is displayed in the cluster display.
The new Tucson uses cameras to provide the driver with an enhanced, bird’s-eye view of the car’s exterior, giving the driver confidence when maneuvering into or out of spaces.
Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) monitors the rear seats to detect the movements of children and pets, reminding drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle; if the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves the vehicle, it will sound the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone via Blue Link.
Tucson also offers Hyundai’s Safe Exit Warning (SEW) system helps detect cars approaching from the rear while the Tucson is parked. If a passenger attempts to open the door when a car is approaching from behind, visual and acoustic warnings on the cluster may alert the passengers.
Using a radar sensor mounted on the lower front grille, Smart Cruise Control maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead by automatically adjusting vehicle speed as needed, even in stop-and-go traffic conditions.
Eliminates the need for drivers to manually switch high beams on and off at night for approaching vehicles in the opposite on-coming lane.
Monitors a spectrum of driver-related characteristics to help detect driver fatigue and alert the driver.
Advanced Infotainment, Connectivity
Hyundai notes that buyers expect a lot from their vehicles. Tucson provides “seamless connectivity and generous protection from driving hazards.” Hyundai’s consumer research says that Tucson buyers want an escape from the daily stress of long commutes, heavy traffic, road hazards and distractions. They also expect to stay connected wherever they go, and “the Tucson provides this capability better than any SUV in the market.”
Tucson’s wireless device charging makes it easier to keep devices charged when on the go. Dynamic Voice Recognition is an advanced voice recognition system that has simple voice commands to conveniently perform specific controls for the cabin, including temperature adjustment, radio, hatch opening/closing, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled seats, and others. The system can also assist with various points of interest (POI), weather status, and stock market data. The Tucson navigation system offers split-screen functionality that enables multi-tasking capabilities. Tucson also offers an eight-speaker Bose® Premium sound system.
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