Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota bZ

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, a continuation of its fourth generation, was known for its striking design, characterized by sharp angles and innovative features like headlights that seamlessly integrated into the grille. This design choice, while bold, resulted in a cohesive and modern appearance that stood out even in a neutral color like white. Unlike some luxury brands that often replicate a singular design across different models, Hyundai maintained a unique style for each of its vehicles. The Tucson offered various trims, each with distinct features, from the SE's 17-inch alloy wheels to the Limited's dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights. Inside, the Tucson's cabin was modern and refined, with technology that was accessible and user-friendly, although some controls, like the touch-capacitive volume buttons, were less favored.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota bZ presented a refreshed look with body-color trim options that improved its aesthetic appeal over previous models. The interior featured a cleaner dashboard and center console, enhancing the sense of quality and organization. The XLE trim, with its fabric seats, offered a distinctive pattern that was both upscale and practical for hiding dirt. The bZ's 14-inch center touchscreen integrated climate controls, which, despite initial concerns, proved functional with large dials and buttons for essential functions. However, the digital driver display's placement and size were less ideal, often obstructed by the steering wheel. Overall, the bZ's design improvements made it more appealing, though some elements, like the driver display, still needed refinement.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. While adequate for city driving, the engine struggled with highway acceleration and passing maneuvers, often requiring heavy throttle input and resulting in noticeable engine noise. For those seeking more power, the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants offered 226 and 261 horsepower, respectively, though they featured a unique button-style shifter that required some acclimation. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, providing a comfortable and composed driving experience.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a single electric motor and a 57.7-kWh battery pack in the XLE FWD, delivering 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. This setup provided an EPA-estimated range of 236 miles. Upgrading to the 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 horsepower and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor AWD models, available only with the larger battery, produced 338 horsepower and offered a range of up to 288 miles. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter for versatile charging options. While the bZ excelled in efficiency, its performance was less impressive, with limited passing power and a choppy ride on uneven surfaces. The FWD model's handling was further hindered by its tires and steering, making it less suitable for spirited driving.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered impressive cargo space, with up to 74.8 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded, and 38.7 cubic feet with them in use. This made it one of the leaders in the compact SUV segment, second only to the Honda CR-V. The Tucson's hands-free power liftgate, available on SEL trims and above, provided convenience without the need for awkward foot movements. Inside, the Tucson comfortably accommodated five passengers, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows, making it suitable for longer trips. The cabin featured numerous storage solutions, including deep cup holders and a center tray with a wireless charging pad.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on an EV platform with a battery under the passenger compartment, offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance, facilitating easy entry and exit. Both front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment available in the XLE and Limited trims. The bZ's interior lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with a large bin under the center armrest and a tray beneath the console. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom, though foot space was limited. The bZ provided 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the power liftgate, with an underfloor storage well for additional room. Folding the rear seats expanded cargo capacity to 56.9 cubic feet, though the sloped rear window limited maximum space.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson's standard infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, praised for its user-friendly operation. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with a fully digital instrument panel, though this upgrade sacrificed wireless connectivity for smartphone integration. The Tucson's remote start system was notably advanced, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and simply drive away once inside, thanks to key detection.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came standard with a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the driver display's placement and data density were criticized, the central touchscreen was generally easy to use, despite lacking a home screen for simultaneous data display. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and various connected service plans. The Drive Connect feature powered the navigation system and voice assistant, which performed well in testing.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added advanced features like a 360-degree parking camera system and Hyundai's Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson received high safety ratings from the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ designation, though its standard headlights were rated as "Acceptable."

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park Assist. While the bZ's safety features generally performed well, its adaptive cruise control was inconsistent in traffic. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech as "Good," but its headlights received a "Poor" rating, and frontal-impact crash tests earned "Acceptable" ratings.