2025 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid

We applaud Hyundai for offering a choice of drivetrains in its best-selling Tucson SUV lineup. This particular version is the most efficient yet also the most powerful. That’s mainly thanks to a beefy electric motor energized by a similarly meaty battery.

Unlike a regular hybrid, this battery can be replenished by plugging into a charger. It gives the driver the option to travel for a meaningful distance (up to 33 miles in this case) as a purely electric vehicle before the gasoline side kicks in. Keep the battery topped up overnight, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) like this Tucson might only need gas for longer trips.

The rest of this excellent SUV is also well thought-out and equipped generously — with plenty of safety equipment, contemporary tech, space, and good old-fashioned comfort. Topping it all off is one of the best warranties available.

The gasoline-only Tucson and the Tucson Hybrid are each reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of plug-in hybrid SUVs, including the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.

This generation of Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid SUV launched for the 2022 model year and sees a mild revamp for 2025. The front and rear receive minor revisions, and the cabin gains more tech (including over-the-air updates). These changes also apply to the gasoline-only Tucson and Tucson Hybrid models.

Rivals like the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Prime and Ford Escape PHEV (and smaller Dodge Hornet R/T) all begin in the low-to-mid $40K region, with the RAV4 Prime nearer the top of that table.

Before buying a new Tucson Plug-in Hybrid compact SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are average for the class. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is slightly stronger here, but the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid beats its Ford Escape PHEV rival. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid enjoys 261 horsepower from its gasoline/electric drivetrain, making it the most muscular Tucson. Just one thing to bear in mind if this model might seem a little pricey — the Tucson Hybrid (without the plug-in function) has the same torque: 258 lb-ft. That would make it similarly swift when accelerating away from a standstill.

We reckon either of these two SUVs would be a great choice. The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid can be lively from when the light turns green to overtaking on the freeway. Power output sits between the Toyota RAV4 Prime (with 302 horses) and the Ford Escape PHEV (210 horsepower).

During our stints in the driver’s seat, we’ve been pleased with the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid’s smooth ride quality, its composure through the corners, and the relatively quiet cabin. We’d be more than willing to take a Tucson Plug-in Hybrid for a long trip.

The standard all-wheel-drive system can adjust how much power goes to each wheel, bringing an extra degree of stability and effectiveness to the plug-in Tucson’s cornering abilities.

A small difference in the 2025 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is the inclusion of a new Baby Mode. It’s a driving mode that smooths acceleration so as not to unsettle the little bundles of joy snoozing in the back.

Fuel Economy

This aspect is where the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid pulls away from its brethren. It can run for 33 miles on battery power alone. After that, when operating as a regular hybrid, it achieves 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving — a 2-mpg deficit against the Tucson Hybrid.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, however, pulls away from its Hyundai rival, able to cover 42 miles and rated at 38 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Ford Escape PHEV manages 37 miles on electricity and 40 mpg in hybrid mode, but this model is front-wheel-drive exclusively. The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid shares a drivetrain with this Hyundai and therefore performs in much the same way. Hyundai says the battery in the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid can recharge fully in around two hours when connected to a 240-volt supply.

We’ve always appreciated the comfortable seats and excellent outward vision of the Tucson lineup. Hyundai has increased the size of the infotainment touchscreen, set it onto a redesigned dashboard, and added physical controls for the heating/air conditioning system and the audio system’s volume and tuning functions (which addresses one of our few earlier complaints). The steering wheel and door panel accents have been redesigned, and there’s now a shelf above the glove compartment.

Higher trims gain a gear shifter that’s been relocated to the steering column, freeing up space in the center console.

The large battery of the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid has an impact on what is still a relatively generous interior space. Rear legroom is 39.5 inches — a couple less than its Tucson stablemates, yet more than adequate for a typical family. Cargo capacity takes a larger hit. Behind the rear seats of the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is a luggage area of 31.9 cubic feet, which opens out to 66.3 when those seats are folded. Compare that with the rest of the lineup’s 38.7 and 74.5 (or 74.8 in the non-hybrid model).

Even then, we wouldn’t call this anything like a deal-breaker, and other plug-in hybrid SUVs also have to make the same kind of trade-off. For reference, the Toyota RAV4 Prime has 37.8 inches of rear legroom, plus maximum cargo volumes of 33.5 cubic feet (rear seats up) and 63.2 cubic feet (rear seats down).

Both the front and rear fascias have been tweaked, although the overall look is preserved. That’s fine by us — we always liked the multiple lights in the grille. You can tell a Tucson at night quite easily. Now there are two fewer lights, making a total of eight, but they keep the effect. The 2025 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid also offers fresh wheel designs.

Anyone who stopped themselves from buying a new Tucson Plug-in Hybrid SUV before, because they thought the rear wiper was too short, has no excuse now. The 2025 model’s is three inches longer, clearing a larger section of the rear window.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Back in the bad old days, Hyundai could offer wireless phone integration with its smaller infotainment touchscreens, but not with the larger ones. Which always had us wondering why. Every new 2025 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid gains a large 12.3-inch touchscreen and, hooray, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. In addition, the infotainment system can now receive over-the-air updates, and gains USB-C ports.

Highway Driving Assist
We’re always impressed by how well Hyundai’s driver assistance features work (as well as those from brand cousins Kia and Genesis). Many of our owner reviews say the same thing. We’ve found vehicles so equipped can shoulder much of the driving for long highway stretches with just a light but attentive hand on the wheel.

Hot stuff
As well as the standard heated front seats, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid has a heated steering wheel in the Limited trim, as well as heated rear seats with more precise temperature control.

Head-up display
A new 12-inch color head-up display makes it into the higher trim of the 2025 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid. When using the onboard navigation system, this display can show directions from Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Fingerprint sensor
We could say it’s a bit gimmicky, but this new feature in the top Limited trim does bring greater security.

Remote Smart Parking Assist
Exclusive to the top Limited trim, this feature allows drivers to inch their SUV into or out of tight parking spaces while standing outside the vehicle.

A turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine provides the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid with the combustion action, while an electric motor completes the picture. Together, they create 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which goes to a standard all-wheel drive system through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Hyundai’s warranties are unbeatable. New-vehicle coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain and battery warranty for the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid lasts 10 years or 100,000 miles. Hyundai also includes free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, plus five years of roadside assistance at unlimited mileage.

Safety Ratings

The Tucson lineup was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and took a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.