Used Hyundai Tucson (Mk4, 2020-date) buyer’s guide: stylish, multi-award winning SUV

Verdict

Not only was the Hyundai Tucson our Mid-size SUV of the Year in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, but it was also our sister title Carbuyer’s Car of the Year in 2022 and then its Best Family Car in 2023. Unsurprisingly, in various group tests the Hyundai saw off almost all of its competition, including premium rivals from Lexus, as well as the Tucson’s sister car, the Kia Sportage. This all gives a pretty good idea of the Hyundai’s breadth of abilities. And when you also factor in an easy ownership experience (although some owners report a wide variation in dealer care), the Tucson is a true star of its class.

You don’t have to go back very far to find a Hyundai product range that was uninspiring, yet still desirable for its great value, generous equipment levels and an emphasis on practicality. But for a while now, the company’s products have been far more exciting, thanks to more cutting-edge design and tech, while the value card is one that Hyundai doesn’t play nearly as much. 

Take the Mk4 Tucson, for example. When it was launched in 2021, it was priced from £28,495 and the range went up to more than £37,000, which was no bargain for a mid-size SUV. However, this was a car that looked great, had a superb cabin, was well equipped and came with one of the best warranties on the market, all of which add up to make the Tucson a great used buy now.

History

The fourth-generation Tucson went on sale in the UK in January 2021, with Hyundai offering a 148bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, or a mild hybrid (MHEV) with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmissions. There was also a 227bhp Hybrid that came only with a six-speed auto box, plus a 177bhp mild hybrid with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Initially, this was the only Tucson offered with four-wheel drive, but in March 2021 a plug-in hybrid appeared, with 261bhp and four-wheel drive as standard. 

A facelifted Tucson has just reached showrooms, with refreshed styling inside and out; some items previously controlled by the touchscreen are now activated by buttons. The engines and transmissions are carried over without any changes.

Which one should I buy?

All of the powertrains are nice to live with, while every Tucson is well equipped. The base SE Connect comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, digital dials, sat-nav and Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. Also included are cruise control, 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and a rear camera. 

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The N Line edition adds 19-inch wheels, ambient lighting, heated front seats, LED headlights and rear privacy glass, plus suede and leather trim, while the N Line S also has a panoramic glass roof, a heated steering wheel, premium audio, an electric tailgate and extra driver-assistance systems. 

The Premium model has adaptive cruise control and front parking sensors, while the Ultimate has leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and ventilated front seats, and heated outer rear seats.

Alternatives to the Hyundai Tucson Mk4

The Tucson sits in a crowded segment, and is up against some talented rivals. Closely related is the Kia Sportage, now one of the biggest-selling cars in the UK, while the Volkswagen Group trio of the SEAT Ateca, Skoda Karoq and VW Tiguan are all easy to live with; the same goes for the Audi Q3, which is related to these three. 

The Mazda CX-5 is excellent to drive, as is the Ford Kuga, while the Citroen C5 Aircross, Vauxhall Grandland and Peugeot 3008 share much and are plentiful. The Nissan Qashqai is another good all-rounder, like the Toyota RAV4, while the MG HS is a better car than you might think, if not quite as impressive as the Hyundai.

What to look for

Economy drive

Hyundai claims that over 200mpg is possible with the PHEV. However, most drivers average 40-50mpg.

Light up

Some owners have had problems with the GPF (particulate filter) light illuminating. The key is to decelerate heavily under engine braking. 

Release me

All Tucsons have a mechanical release for the fuel filler flap, apart from the PHEVs, where it’s electronic – and can be temperamental.

Going spare

All Tucsons come with a tyre repair kit; space savers are available, and a full-size spare will fit under the boot floor of most variants.

Interior

Aside from everything being a bit dark, the Tucson’s cabin is a great place to spend time. Not only is it very well equipped, even in entry-level form, but there are also plenty of high-quality materials, so you could easily think you’re sitting in something more expensive. 

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There’s digital instrumentation and a 10.25-inch touchscreen that’s very user-friendly, with all of the key functions easy to access. Cabin space is excellent too, with lots of space for four adults, although the middle seat in the back suffers from a prominent transmission tunnel. Boot space is good, offering 620 litres with the seats up, or 1,797 litres with them down (1,737 litres in the plug-in hybrid).

Prices

There’s no shortage of Tucsons for sale. Most with four-wheel drive are plug-in hybrids; you’ll be doing well to find a two-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid. Ultimate is by far the most common trim level available.

Running costs

All Tucsons need to be serviced every 12 months or 10,000 miles, with services alternating between Minor and Major. Costs vary depending on which service is needed, but as a rule of thumb you should budget £275 and £520 respectively. Once a Tucson reaches its fifth birthday, though, it’s eligible for cut-price servicing, and the costs drop to just £129 and £219. 

All fluid changes are included in the price, but the brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years or 20,000 miles, the coolant every 12 years or 120,000 miles, and the oil in the transfer box and rear axle every six years or 60,000 miles. The 1.6 T-GDi engine is chain-driven, so there are no cambelts to replace, and the Tucson has a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Recalls

Hyundai has recalled the Tucson seven times so far. The first came in July 2021 because some cars had faulty airbags; plug-in hybrids were recalled two months later, because of immobiliser glitches. Sub-standard brake parts led to recall three, in December 2021, then in March 2023 came the next campaign, once again because of problematic immobilisers. Like before, only a software update was required. 

There were two further recalls in 2023, the first in July because of servo problems that could lead to a lack of power assistance for the brakes. A month later, more than 2,700 Tucsons were recalled because of faulty rear electric windows. The most recent recall was issued in March 2024 because some Tucsons came off the production line with faulty airbags.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

There were no Hyundais in the 2024 Driver Power New Car survey, but in the 2023 poll the Ioniq came 11th out of 75 and the Kona managed 16th. However, there were three Hyundais in the 2022 survey, with the Kona finishing fourth, while the i10 and Ioniq came a rather less impressive 62nd and 65th respectively. In general, Hyundai owners like their cars’ value, reliability, quality and low running costs.