The Hyundai Tucson has been a major hit in the compact crossover segment, and Hyundai isn’t letting up on the throttle as it continues to offer a wide range of trims and variations, including the gas-saving Tucson Hybrid.
Having reviewed the Tucson Hybrid extensively in the past, it’s refreshing to get one in with a sporty appeal in the new Tucson Hybrid N-Line, which is a new trim for the 2024 model year. Hyundai’s N-Line offerings have been a success in offering something more appealing to the lighthearted enthusiast. The Hyundai Tucson N-Line exclusively comes as a hybrid, which adds the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and electric motor for added performance over the base naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. The power from the hybrid drivetrain is good enough for a 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds. Apart from the hybrid, there’s also more of a sporty appearance added to a decent hybrid crossover, which may help introduce more people to the world of hybrids.
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Remaining mostly unchanged, the Hyundai Tucson keeps pace to compete well within its segment and even somewhat into the midsized crossover realm. The Tucson Hybrid N-Line gets the smooth-operating hybrid powertrain that I praised in previous reviews. The hybrid system, good for 227 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque is more desirable for people like me over the lackluster-accelerating non-hybrid Tucson outside of the new N-Line trim.
Overall, the powertrain performs well to give a balance of power from its electric motor to aid the 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The only issue I have with the system is it often is slow to respond to full-throttle applications where the 6-speed automatic transmission must kick down, and then the engine seems to have a second delay before kicking in. Otherwise, the system works well to deliver about 36 mpg on the highway and 37 mpg in the city.
The interior of the Tucson Hybrid N-Line receives a bit of sporty treatment with darkened trim, shifter buttons, and a splash of N-Line trim accents. The front heated seats are also sporty to add a bit of extra support. Outside, the 19-inch alloy wheels are unique to add a bit of sportiness, as well as darkened exterior trim accents like the large LED-lit front grille. The infotainment system, fed through a 10.25-inch touchscreen, is simplistic and very responsive with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration via USB connection only despite having a wireless phone charging pad.
The fundamentals of a compact hybrid crossover are well intact, but the Tucson N-Line trim adds a newfound appeal to what may otherwise be another overlooked crossover in the suburbs. The pricing positioning works well also, starting at $36,405, with the N-Line being positioned just below the top-level Limited trim. My test vehicle comes in just around that base pricing, at $38,400 with Hyundai bundling up its mid-range features list for specific trim levels.
