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.
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.
