2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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. Up front, it featured Hyundai's new vehicle face, 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 mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear had toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, making 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 cabin was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and available sport combination and leather-trimmed seats on higher trims. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was described by Land Rover as "modernist" and "reductive," emphasizing clean and simple design. For those seeking attention, the Range Rover Sport offered limited flashy options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle arrived in subdued Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with various upgrades bringing the MSRP to $98,420. Highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights. The interior boasted luxurious materials like Windsor leather upholstery and Ultrafabrics, with a high-tech appearance and sustainable materials.

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, making it more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson Hybrid was particularly impressive, maintaining performance even during a 7,000-foot elevation change. Front-wheel drive Tucsons with the ICE engine achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, while AWD models saw slightly lower figures. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with up to 38 mpg combined. A plug-in hybrid version was also announced, offering an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with around 25 miles of electric range.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the SE and SE Dynamic models, with the SE Dynamic boasting 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The SE P360 model provided 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, offering 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric range. A 523-horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was available for early-build 2023 models but was temporarily off the menu. The Range Rover Sport's 395-horsepower inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The P400 drivetrain achieved an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined, with our test vehicle averaging 22.3 mpg. The Range Rover Sport's new vehicle architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and it featured an adaptive damping air suspension, Dynamic driving mode, and various advanced driving technologies. However, it struggled to match the driving dynamics of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also enjoyed lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapping and heating available on higher trims. The new Tucson platform provided more space for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the Toyota RAV4. The cabin had ample space for a family of four, with more passenger volume than the Honda CR-V, RAV4, and Ford Escape. The 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Subaru Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly larger than the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat, a dual-level cargo floor, and a hands-free liftgate on mid-grade models and up.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport preserved the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable inboard armrests. Our test vehicle featured Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and available massage functionality. The rear seat, though improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent thigh and lumbar support but had a slouched posture. Rear occupants had manual side sunshades, air conditioning vents, power ports, and heated outboard cushions. Storage space was decent, with various bins and trays, and the cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare tire was included, along with handy storage contraptions and netted pockets.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a robust 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. The driver had a 4.2-inch multi-information display. Moving up 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. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, incorporating climate control and radio/media functionality. The touchpoints were responsive, but the lack of physical differences made it challenging to use while driving. Steering wheel controls and voice commands were more reliable, though the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. Wi-Fi access required an extra-cost data plan. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform was designed to learn user habits, but it often proved confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature, for example, was difficult to disable. The native digital assistant struggled with simple tasks like finding a Starbucks, and the Alexa integration required logging into an Amazon account. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but was difficult to access.

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, 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, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with numerous advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard, aiding in water crossings. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology struggled on freeway curves, requiring driver intervention. The system performed poorly when lane lines were inconsistent, making it challenging to trust.