Hyundai Tucson vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, introduced as part of the fourth generation in 2022, maintained its striking design into 2024. Its styling was characterized by taut angles and unique elements like headlights that seamlessly blended into the grille, creating a contemporary and handsome appearance. Even in a typically unflattering white, the Tucson managed to look sharp. Unlike some luxury brands that scale designs across models, Hyundai gave each vehicle a distinct style. The Tucson's interior mirrored its exterior's modernity, with a refined cabin packed with technology. However, the absence of a volume dial in favour of touch-capacitive buttons was a minor inconvenience. The layout of controls, particularly those near the shifter and cupholders, was thoughtfully designed, though it required some familiarization.

In contrast, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The Bolt EUV body style returned, offering a tall and narrow stance that prioritized utility and interior space. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space. While the cabin was dominated by hard plastics, the Bolt maintained a budget-friendly feel with some padded touchpoints. The RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, adding a sporty touch to the interior.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson in Canada came equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive. While the non-hybrid powertrain was adequate for city driving, it struggled to accelerate quickly on highways, requiring heavy throttle input and generating noticeable engine noise. For those seeking more power, the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid offered 226 and 261 horsepower, respectively. Despite its power limitations, the Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, providing a comfortable and well-rounded driving experience.

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. The Bolt's acceleration, estimated in the low seven-second range for 0-100 km/h, was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. One-pedal driving was available, with adjustable brake regeneration levels. 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 an estimated range of 422 kilometres, an improvement over previous models. The Bolt also featured a Tesla-derived North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, with increased charging speed from 55 kW to 150 kW.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered impressive cargo space, with up to 2,119 litres available with the rear seats folded and 1,097 litres with them in use. The Preferred trim featured a manual liftgate, while higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate, which operated intuitively by simply standing near the rear bumper with the key fob. The Tucson accommodated up to five passengers comfortably, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were particularly spacious, making it suitable for long trips. The cabin featured deep cup holders and a centre tray with a wireless charging pad.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt provided a more upright driving position, offering ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats were also upright, with sufficient headroom and thigh support. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, which was small for the class but still practical for most users. A large bin under the floor and easy-to-reach release latches for the rear seatbacks added to its versatility. While there was no frunk, the Bolt offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson featured a standard infotainment system with a fully digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. While the layout was intuitive, the lack of wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay was a drawback. The volume control was a haptic toggle, which some found less convenient than a traditional dial. However, the touchscreen and haptic buttons were glove-friendly, a practical feature in cold weather. Hyundai's remote start system was also noteworthy, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and simply drive away once inside.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came equipped with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. While Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, the system offered enough browsing control via Bluetooth. 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. It also included navigation assistance for finding charging stations and preconditioning the battery for optimal charging rates. The Bolt's vehicle-to-load charging capability allowed it to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Ultimate trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, and Hyundai's Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson received high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it a "Good" score in most crash tests and a "Superior" rating for crash-prevention technology.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to perform well based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost.