Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was priced at just over $50,000 for the base Hybrid LE, with the Limited trim reaching $61,800 in Canada. It featured minimal appearance changes, with a new Cypress Green paint colour being the most notable update. The design was described as over-styled, with exaggerated forms and a lack of subtlety both inside and out. The interior was criticized for its mismatched textures, reflections, and a lack of quality in materials and controls. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander Hybrid was noted for its quiet ride on the road.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson maintained its fourth-generation design introduced in 2022, with a contemporary and handsome styling. The Tucson's design was praised for its taut angles and unique headlight integration, creating an athletic presence. The interior was modern and refined, with technology packaged in an approachable manner. However, the absence of a volume dial was noted as a drawback. The Tucson offered a range of trims, each with distinct features, and the Ultimate trim was particularly well-equipped with advanced driver assistance technologies.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, producing 243 combined horsepower. It featured standard all-wheel drive and a Predictive Efficient Drive system aimed at maximizing fuel efficiency. However, the Highlander Hybrid's performance was described as lacklustre, with limited high-speed passing power and a soft suspension that made the driving experience unengaging. The SUV was best suited for city and suburban driving, with a focus on fuel economy rather than excitement.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Preferred came with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. While the non-hybrid powertrain was adequate for city driving, it struggled with highway acceleration and passing maneuvers. The Tucson's handling and ride quality were praised, offering a comfortable and well-rounded driving experience. More powerful hybrid versions were available, but they came with a proprietary button-style shifter design that required some adjustment.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered seating for seven or eight people, with standard second-row captain’s chairs and a third-row seat best suited for occasional use. The interior featured three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a range of comfort features in the Platinum package. However, the third-row access was tight, and the storage areas were unlined, leading to potential noise. The Highlander Hybrid provided 453 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,387 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson provided up to 2,119 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 1,097 litres with the seats in use. It featured a hands-free power liftgate in higher trims, offering convenience when loading items. The Tucson accommodated up to five passengers, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The interior included deep cup holders and a centre tray with a wireless charging pad, enhancing practicality and convenience for everyday use.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology for 2023, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment systems. The Limited trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a JBL sound system. However, the controls for the digital display were not intuitive, and the graphics lacked contrast. The Drive Connect service plan offered additional features, including a cloud-based navigation system and an Intelligent Assistant voice recognition system.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came with a fully digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. While the infotainment system had an intuitive layout, it lacked wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The volume control was a haptic toggle, which some users found inconvenient. However, the touchscreen and haptic buttons were functional with gloves, which was beneficial in cold weather. The Tucson's remote start system was praised for its seamless integration, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and drive away without additional steps.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. This included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, ensuring a high level of safety for occupants. However, the ADAS occasionally struggled with lane navigation in certain conditions.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered a range of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Ultimate trim added advanced features like a 360-degree parking camera system and Hyundai’s Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson received a "Good" rating in most IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for crash-prevention technology. The NHTSA awarded it five stars in a frontal crash test and four stars in a rollover test.