The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is on no one’s list of the best off-road SUVs, but that doesn’t mean Tucson buyers don’t want some of the go-anywhere looks that lead many buyers to the non-car side of the dealership. Hyundai will accommodate them with a new, rugged-looking XRT Trim.
The 2022 Tucson currently sits third in our list of the best compact SUVs. It’s a strong value, with so much standard content that our reviewer listed “giant touchscreen could show lots of fingerprints” as one of the vehicle’s few limitations.
But it is a crossover — built on the frame of a car, not a truck — which makes it more of a soft-roader than an off-roader.
But the XRT package does lend a new toughness to Tucson’s look. Hyundai asks $31,400 for a front-wheel-drive Tucson XRT and $32,900 for an all-wheel-drive model. Each also requires a $1,225 destination fee.
Reworked front and rear fascias use black plastic in place of chrome to hide scratches from the underbrush. Thicker black plastic body cladding does the same around the fenders.
Roof rails and a tow hitch enable you to carry more with your Tucson. However, we should note that towing capacity, at 2,000 pounds, remains low for its class. Side steps help you load those roof rails easily.
Inside, the XRT comes with black cloth upholstery and all the same equipment as the Tucson SEL with the Appearance package.
Shoppers should note, however, that it is easy to pay less for most of the same equipment if the black plastic body cladding isn’t important to you. A Tucson SEL with the optional Convenience Package, a trailer hitch, and a roof rack costs over $1,300 less than the XRT.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
