Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid emerged with a bold new design that set it apart from its predecessors. It featured sharp, angular lines across its fascia and sides, making it longer and wider than before. This dramatic styling was a departure from the more conservative designs of previous models, and it was a gamble that could either captivate or alienate potential buyers. The Tucson's grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, seamlessly integrated with the LED headlights and running lights, creating a futuristic appearance. Inside, the Tucson offered a spacious and airy cabin, with heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat as standard on the Blue trim. The Limited trim added luxurious touches like a 64-color ambient lighting system and ventilated front seats.

In contrast, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with subtle styling changes. Its front end resembled a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV, with a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo. The Bolt's tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty appearance. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more significant transformation, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing its budget-friendly feel. The RS trim added Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching for a touch of flair. Despite its compact size, the Bolt offered ample headroom and thigh support for rear passengers, and its cargo area, though small for the class, provided practical storage solutions.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its performance, thanks to its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This setup made it noticeably quicker than its gas-powered counterpart. The Tucson's steering was responsive and direct, while its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, maintaining balance through corners. Fuel economy was commendable, with the EPA rating it at 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even greater efficiency with an 80 MPGe rating and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. Its motor, borrowed from the Chevy Equinox EV, produced 210 horsepower and 169 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Bolt from 0 to 60 mph in the low seven-second range. While not the fastest EV, it offered quick acceleration compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. The Bolt's ride was firm but not overly stiff, and its low center of gravity contributed to agile handling on curvy roads. The EPA estimated a range of up to 262 miles on a full charge, with faster charging capabilities allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in just 25 minutes.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid boasted a spacious interior with a cargo capacity of 38.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This was significantly more than competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson offered over 41 inches of front and rear legroom, with reclining rear seats for added comfort. Its dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, and the Limited trim's ambient lighting added a touch of elegance to the cabin.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. While taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel, the rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support. The Bolt's cargo area held up to 16.2 cubic feet, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, enhancing practicality. Up front, the Bolt provided ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, though it required a wired connection for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The interface relied on touch-capacitive buttons, which could be frustrating to use. However, the Tucson provided plenty of USB ports and a Bose premium stereo for an enhanced audio experience.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came equipped with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. While Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, the system offered logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The optional Technology package added features like a surround-view camera system and a wireless charging pad. The Bolt's navigation system could locate charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The Limited trim added advanced features like a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not yet available, but it was expected to perform well based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system and rear-pedestrian alert. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available for an additional cost.