SUVs are an extremely competitive vehicle class. There are sporty crossovers, great all-around compact SUVs, and luxurious large family SUVs on the market. Vehicles like the Honda CR-V have dominated the SUV class for years, but the CR-V may have some competition. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is an extremely underrated SUV.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is Hyundai’s future

Everything about the 2022 Hyundai Tuscon screams “SUV of the future”. Hyundai began producing the Tuscon in 2004 as the company’s compact crossover SUV. Sedans once dominated vehicle sales, but trucks and SUVs are the most commonly purchased new vehicles on the market in modern times.

Some of the most commonly purchased vehicles include the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 compact SUVs. Korean automaker Hyundai faces stiff competition. The Hyundai Elantra has been its most popular vehicle for years because of its affordability, gas mileage, and safety features. Still, other compact sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla experience almost double the U.S. monthly sales of the Elantra.

The Hyundai Tuscon’s youth may be working against it, debuting over six years after top competitors Honda and Toyota released compact SUVs. However, being newer to the industry isn’t always a bad thing. The Hyundai Tuscon has less history than competing SUVs which means it can deviate from previous designs and experience fewer complaints and expectations. That’s exactly what the 2022 Hyundai Tuscon does. The compact SUV is ushering in a new era for Hyundai as a competitive quality automaker that uses cutting-edge technology.

Why you should look out for the 2022 Hyundai Tuscon

First is the obvious exterior design improvements. The 2022 Hyundai Tuscon features a futuristic front end. Its grille incorporates unique shapes and seamlessly blends in with daytime running lights fit for an alien spacecraft. The body features mesmerizing triangular body lines. The back end’s taillights are easily some of the coolest taillights this year.

According to Car and Driver, the Hyundai Tuscon uses the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine as the Hyundai Sonata but is available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The gas powertrain makes 187 horsepower and comes with an eight-speed transmission. It is available in either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

The hybrid models come standard with all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmissions. The hybrid is estimated to make 227 hp, and the plug-in hybrid is estimated to make 261 hp. The 2022 Hyundai Tuscon doesn’t offer great acceleration but makes up for it with good handling and a quiet, comfortable ride.

The Tuscon came to compete

The newest Hyundai Tuscon is a competitor for the best SUV because it was completely reimagined for the latest model year. It’s practical, comfortable, modern, and slightly more affordable than its competitors. The new Tuscon delivers both more cargo space and rear-seat space than previous models. It also comes with standard safety features like automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

The 2022 Hyundai Tuscon doesn’t offer amazing performance. It’s a compact SUV with a flashy exterior design and a comfortable, spacious interior that uses great materials. The new Tuscon does enough to compete and comes with hybrid powertrain options. It may not be SUV of the year, but it keeps the Tuscon nameplate in the running and gives it a much-needed style update that makes some of the competition feel dated.

Related: Which 2022 Hyundai Tucson Should You Put on Your Wish List?