2021 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Honda HR-V featured a unique, approachable look, differentiating itself from Honda’s larger SUV family such as the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot which possessed more traditional, upright roof lines and authoritative front ends. The HR-V presented a softer and friendlier aesthetic, characterized by distinct design elements such as upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights into a triangular point also housing the rear door handles.

Most trims of the HR-V came equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, with a special machined finish gracing the HR-V EX and EX-L trims. The Sport model was distinguished by matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, offering a more rugged appearance. Fog lights were standard across all trim levels, excluding the base LX.

Inside, the HR-V maintained a simple yet functional design. While it didn’t boast luxury car status, material quality and fit and finish held up well in previous tests, ensuring it felt substantial and well-built. EX and EX-L trims featured conveniences like push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L further offering leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and in the U.S., Hyundai decided to offer the long-wheelbase version with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. The Tucson sported Hyundai’s new vehicle face, resembling the Santa Cruz truck with a parametric grille hiding the standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When illuminated, the lighting formed a shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird’s wings.

The Tucson's side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, featuring a silver D-pillar that visually connected the window surrounds to the rear, providing a unique floating roof effect. Its rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, excluding the base model, providing a distinctive look among compact SUVs.

Wheel sizes for the Tucson ranged from 17 inches on SE, SEL, and Blue trims to 19 inches on the ICE-powered SEL with the Convenience Package. Four different wheel designs, including a darkened version on the Tucson N-Line trim, distinguished the vehicle further. High-end Tucsons boasted premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof, alongside features such as roof rails, body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass.

Inside, the Tucson provided a well-appointed ambiance with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, sport combination seats on the N-Line, and leather trim on the Limited model. Hard and soft-touch surfaces lent it an upscale feel relative to its price point, complemented by horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered layout for a spacious feel.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Paddle shifters were included in higher trims. While all trim levels offered AWD, FWD was standard.

However, the HR-V’s powertrain remained unchanged from previous models, and this stagnation showed. It felt underpowered for highway driving, with the CVT compounding the issue by being ineffective. Competing models, like the Kia Seltos with its 175-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-four and the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter Subaru Crosstrek, offered more robust engine options.

Yet, the HR-V’s chassis compensated with an engaging driving experience on winding roads, adhering to Honda’s reputation for making fun cars. It offered decent ride quality as well, a testament to its subcompact crossover status, resembling a lifted, enlarged subcompact hatchback.

Conversely, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with two engine options: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a hybrid version featuring a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine offering 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. A plug-in hybrid variant was also planned.

Though the ICE engine increased power compared to the previous model, adding six horsepower and three pound-feet of torque, it remained unremarkable. However, Hyundai aimed for a 28 mpg combined rating, improving efficiency by three miles per gallon over the older engine.

The hybrid powertrain stood out, making the Tucson Hybrid significantly more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. It maintained performance even through challenging terrains, such as a 7,000-foot elevation change test.

AWD was incorporated in the standard Hybrid and available in ICE models, proving effective in off-road conditions at high speeds, comparable to Subaru’s reactive AWD system. The front-wheel drive Tucson boasted impressive fuel efficiency, especially the hybrid model, with ratings of 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming PHEV model, expected to provide around 25 miles of electric range, promised even greater efficiency and power with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque.

The 2021 Honda HR-V impressed with its cargo space, featuring the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, borrowed from the Honda Fit. Folding the seat down revealed 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 cubic feet for AWD models), while keeping it up still allowed for 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures exceeded those of competitors such as the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek, though the Kia Seltos and the upcoming 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more cargo space.

The HR-V also excelled in passenger space, second only to the Subaru Crosstrek within its segment, with a notable emphasis on rear-seat legroom. However, front-seat legroom, and front and rear headroom, were average.

Interior storage solutions were not particularly ingenious, but controls were practical, with large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob in easy reach. The narrow center console featured a large shift lever, sacrificing some cupholder space for ease of use. A standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel facilitated a comfortable driving position.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, built on a new platform, offered increased space for passengers and cargo, rivaling prominent competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. The Tucson's upscale interior provided more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape, with a cargo area of 74.8 cubic feet, comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and outmatching the Escape significantly.

Front passengers received a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, upgrading to an eight-way version with lumbar support on higher trims. Optional features included three-stage heated and ventilated front seats, memory settings for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. A tilt and telescoping steering wheel, standard on all trims, came leather-wrapped and heated in higher trims like the Limited.

The rear seats in the Tucson, offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4, combined with a dual-level cargo floor (available on ICE models). A 60-40 split-folding bench seat in the rear accommodated adults comfortably, with remote release for folding the seats and a hands-free liftgate available on mid-grade models and up.

The base 2021 Honda HR-V LX was equipped with fundamental tech features including standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. However, to access more advanced infotainment technology, buyers had to upgrade to the Sport trim. The Sport and higher trims included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio offered on the EX and EX-L trims.

Even with these upgrades, the HR-V’s infotainment system remained plain but functional. It was user-friendly with no significant issues reported in navigation. The two available USB ports were positioned conveniently in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter, preventing the need to place the phone in cupholders or storage bins. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was relatively small compared to competitors, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims were notably absent, losing Honda some points.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a robust set of standard tech features. An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports were standard. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was present in front of the driver.

Upgrading to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control with ionizer functionality. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster.

A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, though it necessitated USB connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit incorporating all climate and media controls on a flat surface, with word markers indicating functions, complicating usability while driving. Steering wheel controls and voice commands became essential. Despite some design drawbacks, the touchpoints were responsive.

The 2021 Honda HR-V scored highly in crash tests. The IIHS gave it top “Good” scores in all areas except for the headlights and LATCH ease of use, securing “Marginal” and “Poor” (depending on trim level) and an “Acceptable” rating, respectively. The NHTSA awarded the HR-V five stars overall, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing.

Honda Sensing safety features were included only on the EX and EX-L trims, comprising forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda’s LaneWatch system. The higher trims also benefited from dynamic gridlines on the rearview camera.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson’s safety ratings were pending from IIHS and NHTSA. However, it came with the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, offering standard features like forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert, comparable to Subaru’s EyeSight system.

Additional safety features available included blind-spot warning with collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, forward and reverse park distance warning, and remote parking assist, akin to those found in luxury SUVs.

Hyundai’s warranty offerings were extensive, with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, 7-year anti-perforation warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary routine maintenance.