2022 Hyundai Tucson vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

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 a parametric grille that hid LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals, forming a unique shape when illuminated. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, making the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim, 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.

Inside, the Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, featuring standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, with sport combination and leather-trimmed seats available on higher trims. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered aesthetic gave a sense of spaciousness. Standard features included roof rails, body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Higher trims offered heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof.

Volkswagen made the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by removing the third row from the standard seven-passenger Atlas, lowering the roofline by 2.3 inches, and shortening the SUV's length by 5.2 inches. This resulted in a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, especially in the SEL Premium R-Line trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels. The base SE trim had 18-inch alloy wheels, while the SE with Technology and SEL trims featured 20-inch wheels. Six paint colors were available, with some requiring an extra cost. The interior offered color combinations like Dark Burgundy over Titan Black, Cinnamon Brown, and Titan Black, all conveying an upscale appearance.

However, the interior had an abundance of hard, glossy plastic, dulling the impression of quality. Storage areas lacked rubber or fabric linings, leading to potential rattles and scraping noises. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line had an MSRP of $52,495, slightly less than the standard Atlas SEL Premium R-Line. Despite some cheap fittings, the Atlas Cross Sport's overall appearance and features made it feel worth the price.

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 engine offered 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed transmission. The hybrid powertrain made the Tucson more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Front-wheel drive Tucsons with the ICE engine had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Adding AWD reduced these figures slightly. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with the most efficient model achieving 38 mpg city/highway/combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to offer 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

Volkswagen offered two engines in the Atlas Cross Sport: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, compared to the turbo-four's 2,000 pounds. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW's 4Motion AWD system available.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line with the V6 engine and 4Motion felt more energetic than the three-row Atlas. However, the V6 was aging, and the drivetrain occasionally lacked refinement. The ride quality varied, with the suspension feeling harsh at lower speeds and too soft at higher speeds. Highway driving was where the Atlas Cross Sport shined, with agreeable ride quality and efficient V6 performance. The 21-inch wheels and Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires looked great but didn't help with urban and suburban ride quality.

The Hyundai Tucson's interior was budget-friendly yet well-appointed, comparable to competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with higher trims offering a leather-wrapped and heated version.

The new Tucson platform provided more space for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin had ample space for a family of four, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, offering exceptional roominess for five adults. Our test vehicle had 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, and rear side-window sunshades helped prevent sunlight from shining into kids' faces.

The interior had plenty of storage space, including roomy door panel bins, a large glove compartment, and a sizable bin under the front armrest. The cargo area offered ample load-floor real estate, with deep wells for carrying items that required restraint. Despite the shorter length and lower roofline, the Atlas Cross Sport's cargo space was still generous, easily accommodating full-size suitcases and other 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. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, but this 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, making it difficult to find the right button while driving.

The base Atlas Cross Sport SE had Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with an 8-inch display and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB-C ports. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity-sensing display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and more USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system provided access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, offering features like remote start, emergency assistance, WiFi hotspot, and natural voice recognition.

Our SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was exceptional for the price point. However, the user experience with the infotainment system could be frustrating, making it advisable to pair a smartphone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The Atlas Cross Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and an automatic post-collision braking system. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and IQ Drive. IQ Drive featured Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, with Travel Assist pairing adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The SEL Premium R-Line included a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree camera system. The Atlas Cross Sport received favorable crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.