2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a bold new design that set it apart from its predecessors. With sharp, angular cues across the fascia and down its sides, the vehicle was longer and wider, making it unmistakable from the 2021 model. The grille, seamlessly blending with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, provided a dramatic, futuristic look, especially in the top-tier Limited trim with its dark chrome finish. The interior was spacious and airy, featuring heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat in the base Blue trim. The SEL Convenience trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the Limited trim upgraded to 64-color ambient lighting, heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design. The new wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lit up, added to its refreshed look. Despite its EV distinction, the ID.4 lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. The interior, however, carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and an overall feeling of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, with its manual driver’s seat, didn’t feel like much of a downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fibers added a touch of eco-friendliness.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined system horsepower of 226 and 258 lb-ft of torque. The AWD system and six-speed automatic transmission provided a responsive and direct driving experience. The suspension was outstanding, soaking up road imperfections while keeping the vehicle balanced through corners. The Tucson Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined, with the Blue trim level rated at 38 mpg across the board. The upcoming plug-in hybrid Tucson promised even better efficiency with an EPA rating of 80 MPGe and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered two battery pack options: a new 62-kWh pack for the base Standard and S models, and the carryover 82-kWh pack for the Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models. The single-motor RWD models delivered 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, while the dual-motor AWD powertrain upped the output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The ID.4’s regenerative braking system allowed for coasting in its default setting, with a more aggressive “B” setting for increased energy recovery, though it stopped short of one-pedal driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space with 38.8 cubic feet in the trunk and 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. It outperformed competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 in this regard. The vehicle also provided great front and rear legroom, with over 41 inches each, and reclining rear seats. The cargo floor had a dual-level system for a flat loading floor or maximized space, and the interior featured multiple cupholders and decent bottle holders in the doors. The Limited trim’s ambient lighting system added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 lived up to its SUV billing with more interior space than other affordable EVs. It offered more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. With 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the ID.4 provided substantial cargo capacity. It also offered towing capabilities, with a quoted capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. The 2023 updates included a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, though it only utilized roughly 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating, but the steering-wheel controls provided an alternative. The Tucson also offered plenty of USB ports, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trim levels. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster and natural-language voice recognition were also standard. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting, though the voice recognition system often made them redundant. The ID.Light feature provided visual cues for navigation and drive modes, adding a unique touch to the driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’ highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for front crash prevention. The ID.4’s standard driver-assist features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. The 2023 model added Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.