Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Highlander

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 reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird when illuminated. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson's wheels varied by trim, with 17-inch alloys on SE, SEL, and Blue trims, and 19-inch alloys on the SEL with the Convenience Package. High-end trims featured premium fascias, skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgraded trims offered heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, sport combination, and leather-trimmed seats on higher trims, and an uncluttered dashboard design that enhanced the sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Despite its spacious interior, the exterior design made it appear smaller. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions for iPads and juice boxes. The XSE trim featured a bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension.

Highlander trims included L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base L trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, pushbutton start, proximity/remote keyless entry, three-zone climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Higher trims added features like LED fog lights, a smart key system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power liftgate, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, power moonroof, wireless device charging, and second-row captain’s chairs. The Limited and Platinum trims offered high-output LED fog lights, heated and ventilated front seats, genuine leather upholstery, acoustic noise-reducing windows, a hands-free power liftgate, and advanced tech features like a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 360-degree parking camera.

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 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid engine made the Tucson more powerful and fun to drive, especially in high-elevation conditions.

The Tucson offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on ICE models and standard on hybrid models. The ICE engine achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. The AWD version had slightly lower figures. The Tucson Hybrid was more fuel-efficient, with 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to offer around 25 miles of all-electric range and a total system output of 261 horsepower.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, with a tap-shift function and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on certain trims. The Highlander featured drive modes including Sport, Normal, and Eco, as well as AWD modes for Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal.

The V6 engine provided good pickup once the Highlander was moving, with plenty of power for highway overtakes and a throaty exhaust note. The Highlander’s handling was commendable, with the XSE trim’s sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, comparable to top competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. The Tucson provided ample passenger space, with more rear legroom than the RAV4 and comparable headroom to other compact SUVs. Its 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was competitive, with a dual-level cargo floor and remote release for folding the rear seats.

The Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, it offered 48.4 cubic feet, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The Highlander featured quick-release latches for easy seat folding and pull-straps for lifting the third-row seats. Higher trims included a power liftgate, with hands-free functionality on Limited and Platinum trims. The Highlander’s interior was practical, with deep cargo pockets, extra ledges, and a spacious center console. The second-row captain’s chairs provided a center aisle to the third row, which was more suitable for short trips.

The Hyundai Tucson came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims 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 touchscreen was available, but required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen integrated climate control and media functionality, but the lack of physical buttons made it challenging to use while driving.

The Toyota Highlander featured a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy use. Higher trims offered a wireless charging pad, USB and USB-C ports, a digital instrument panel screen, and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, though it was less intuitive than the base screen.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with 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. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, surround-view parking monitor, head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling intrusive on certain roads.