2022 GMC Terrain vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front featured the new face of Hyundai vehicles, with a parametric grille hiding LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear had toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, with high-end trims featuring premium fascias, skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof.

The interior of the Tucson was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and available sport combination and leather-trimmed seats on higher trims. The dashboard featured horizontal lines and an uncluttered aesthetic, giving the cabin a sense of spaciousness. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and the option of a sunroof.

GMC updated the Terrain’s front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim for the 2022 model year. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The AT4 was marketed as a “small off-road SUV” and included a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, the blacked-out AT4 treatment, and a black leather interior, along with several packages that brought the MSRP to $41,810, including the destination charge.

The Terrain was available in more affordable SLE and SLT trim levels with standard front-wheel drive, while the Denali trim added a layer of luxury. The Terrain’s interior quality reflected its entry-level status, with materials and execution that didn’t quite meet expectations for a vehicle with a price tag above $40,000. The optional head-up display projected information onto a clear plastic panel rather than the windshield, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not particularly intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, the Terrain offered a roomy interior with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Tucson Hybrid was more powerful and fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated 37 mpg combined. The ICE engine had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined for front-wheel drive models. All-wheel drive was standard on the Tucson Hybrid and available on ICE models.

The forthcoming Tucson plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was expected to deliver 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range. The Tucson PHEV would take around two hours to charge its 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Hyundai also planned to introduce a performance-focused Tucson N model.

Every 2022 GMC Terrain had a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which offered better acceleration and towing capacity, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The torque was available between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, but there was a delay off the line as the engine revs built. The Terrain AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance and had a four-wheel independent suspension.

The Terrain AT4 was tuned for a good ride and decent handling on pavement, with thick tire sidewalls that helped soak up bumps. However, the sport-terrain tires didn’t offer much grip when taking curves or corners at speed. The Terrain AT4’s powertrain met expectations for fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg, and the test vehicle achieved 26.2 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with an interior that was at least as nicely appointed as its competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on all but the base model. The Tucson offered three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The new platform made the Tucson more spacious, with more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The rear seats offered two inches more legroom than the RAV4, and the cargo area measured 74.8 cubic feet.

The GMC Terrain’s interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, offering proper support, plenty of legroom, and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain had a cargo space of 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor. Folding the rear seat down created 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and the front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trim levels offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality, with touchpoints that were difficult to use while driving. The Tucson also had a fully digital instrument cluster available on higher trims.

GMC offered Terrain buyers two different infotainment systems. The SLE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali had an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen offered connected navigation, natural voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain also had a Tire Fill Alert system and a remote engine starting system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, which included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.

Every 2022 GMC Terrain had a GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly “Good” crash-test scores, with a “Marginal” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness.