A simple two-trim lineup defines the 2024 Tucson PHEV: the base SEL and the feature-filled Limited. The plug-in hybrid powerplant is made up of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor; their combined output is 261 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission completes the picture along with standard all-wheel drive.
With its 13.8-kWh battery on board, the 2024 Tucson PHEV supplies an all-electric range of 33 miles before turning duties over to the gas-burning engine. Under combustion power, the vehicle remains efficient, achieving 35 miles per gallon (combined city/highway), which translates to 80 MPGe overall when the electric range is factored in. A regenerative braking system adds incremental power to the battery by harvesting the mechanical energy that is a by-product of stopping the car.
The SEL is technically a base trim, but it’s set up with plenty of great features, starting with heated front seats, proximity keyless entry, Digital Key, wireless phone charging, a hands-free liftgate, automatic on/off LED headlights, heated exterior mirrors, roof rails, push-button start, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and two zones of automatic climate control.
Besides its longer list of standard amenities, the Limited has a different appearance, dominated by a blacked-out exterior treatment. Those aforementioned additional features include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, a power front passenger’s seat, driver’s seat position memory, a heated steering wheel wrapped in leather, projector-type LED headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient interior lighting (64 colors).
Both trims receive the Hyundai SmartSense safety technology bundle, including adaptive cruise control, safe exit warning, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and junction turning detection, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, driver attention warning, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, and rear occupant alert. As the top trim, the Limited gets more technologies: parking sensors (both front and rear), navigation-based adaptive cruise control with highway driving assist, reverse parking collision-avoidance assist, a surround-view monitor, a blind-spot view monitor, and Hyundai’s self-parking technology, Remote Smart Parking Assist.
The ’24 Tucson PHEV’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system is filled with features to keep you entertained and connected. Those components are navigation, smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, HD radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It also has voice recognition as an alternate way of controlling those features. The Limited rises over the SEL’s good but more basic audio system with a top-quality Bose unit. Both trims have Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car services enabled as well.
