Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid emerged as a bold departure from its predecessors, showcasing a striking new design that was both longer and wider. Its sharp, angular lines and dramatic grille, which seamlessly integrated with the LED headlights, gave it a futuristic appearance. Despite its aggressive styling, the Tucson Hybrid maintained a spacious and airy interior, with a centre console that felt bulkier than necessary but offered an unobstructed view thanks to the hoodless driver information display. The interior was equipped with standard heated front seats and cloth upholstery, while higher trims added features like a 10.25-inch digital driver information display and ambient lighting. The Tucson Hybrid's design was a gamble, with its hard creases and unique grille, but it certainly stood out in the crowded SUV market.

In contrast, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with only slight styling changes that made it resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The Bolt's tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space, offering a more upright driving position and ample headroom for both front and rear passengers. The interior featured a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen, with a focus on practicality and storage. Despite its budget feel, the Bolt provided adequate cargo capacity and a flat floor for rear passengers. The Bolt's design was more conservative, focusing on functionality and practicality rather than bold aesthetics.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. When combined with the electric motor, the system produced 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it noticeably quicker than its gas-powered counterpart. The Tucson Hybrid's steering was responsive and direct, while its six-speed automatic transmission managed shifts admirably. The suspension excelled at absorbing road imperfections, providing a balanced ride through corners. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the hybrid achieving 6.4 L/100 km combined, a significant improvement over the gas model. The plug-in hybrid variant offered even greater efficiency, with a 2.9 Le/100 km rating and 53 kilometres 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, delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with immediate pedal response. One-pedal driving was available, offering medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low centre of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. With a full charge, the Bolt offered up to 422 kilometres of range, an improvement over previous models. The Bolt's charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing for a quick recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space, with 1,097 litres in the trunk and 2,108 litres with the rear seats folded down. This surpassed competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson provided excellent front and rear legroom, with reclining rear seats for added comfort. Its dual-level cargo floor allowed for a flat loading surface or maximized space, while the interior featured ample storage options, including cupholders and bottle holders. The Ultimate trim's ambient lighting added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt provided a more upright driving position, with plenty of space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered ample headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. While there was no frunk, the Bolt offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Ultimate trim, though it only utilized about 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The interface controls were touch-capacitive buttons, which could be frustrating to use, but steering-wheel controls offered an alternative. The Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium audio system in the Ultimate trim.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but Bluetooth pairing allowed for music streaming. The optional Technology package added features like a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped locate charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. Vehicle-to-load charging was also available, allowing the Bolt to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with safety features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, and lane-keeping assist. Upgrading to the Preferred trim added blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Ultimate trim included a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist, and unique features like blind-spot view monitor and remote smart park assist. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs with such advanced technology.