Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

This isn’t a funeral – it’s the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and it’s come dressed like it’s got somewhere far more exciting to be.

In a car park full of grey blobs and forgettable family boxes, the Tucson struts in with angular LED lights, a grille you could grate cheese on, and styling that’s trying very hard not to be boring. It is still your standard practical car, just one that’s watched a few too many Marvel films and thinks it’s a bit of a superhero.

Powertrain and Performance

You get a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 215 PS and 350 Nm of torque. That gets you to 62 mph in eight seconds – hardly supercar pace, but quick enough to beat a Corsa with a Halfords exhaust.

There is no plugging in – this hybrid recharges itself like a grown-up. Fuel economy is around 49 mpg, with emissions at 131 g/km, which means it’ll save you pennies while giving you just enough smugness to wave at the diesel crowd.

Cabin and Practicality

Inside, the Hyundai is unexpectedly swish. Twin 10.25-inch screens give you the full spaceship effect, and there’s a satisfying number of actual buttons, so you don’t have to swipe three menus just to defrost the windscreen. Seats are comfy, and there’s enough tech to keep your kids quiet and your in-laws impressed. Boot space? 616 litres, or a sofa-swallowing 1,700 litres with the seats down. Perfect for hauling garden waste, camping gear, or the weight of existential dread on a Monday morning.

Driving and Rivals

It drives exactly how you expect – soft, calm, and about as engaging as a corporate training video. But it’s smooth, quiet, and fuss-free – all a family SUV needs to be. Competitors like the RAV4, CR-V and Kuga all try the same trick. The Tucson just does it with a bit more attitude and fewer beige cardigans.

Final Thoughts

When you’ve accepted that your clubbing days are over and school runs are your new drag races, this is the car you buy or lease. It is not exciting, but it’s clever, sorted, and weirdly likeable, like a smart fridge with wheels.