2021 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, which had more traditional and intimidating SUV looks. The HR-V’s design was distinctive, featuring upper and lower window lines that converged near the taillights in a triangular point housing the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with the HR-V EX and EX-L sporting a machined finish, while the Sport models had matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all trims except the base LX. Inside, the HR-V’s styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. The EX and EX-L models offered push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L also featuring leather upholstery.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a dramatic new design, with sharp, angular cues across the fascia and down its sides, making it longer and wider than its predecessor. The Tucson’s grille blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a futuristic look. The base-level Blue trim had 17-inch wheels, while the SEL Convenience trim featured 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free smart tailgate. The interior of the Tucson Hybrid was open and airy, with a bulkier center console but an unobstructed view at eye level due to the integrated infotainment display and hoodless driver information display. The Limited trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a 10-color ambient lighting kit, upgraded to 64 colors in the Limited trim.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trim levels. However, the HR-V’s powertrain was considered underpowered for highway driving, and the CVT was deemed ineffective. Despite this, the HR-V’s chassis provided a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads, living up to Honda’s reputation for fun cars. The HR-V’s AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not for rougher terrains, and it lacked towing capabilities.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine combined with an electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All Tucson Hybrids came with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Tucson Hybrid’s steering was responsive and direct, and its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections while maintaining balance through corners. The Tucson Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined, with the Blue trim level rated at 38 mpg across the board. A plug-in hybrid version with a 13.8 kWh battery and an EPA rating of 80 MPGe with 33 miles of all-electric range was expected to be available in the fall.

The 2021 Honda HR-V offered impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the rear seat folded down, the HR-V provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), and 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD) with the seat up. The HR-V led the segment in rear-seat legroom, although front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The interior featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, and a standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, with its longer and wider footprint, offered 38.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk and 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Tucson provided over 41 inches of front and rear legroom, and the rear seats reclined for added comfort. The cargo floor had a dual-level system, and the doors featured angled bottle holders. The front seats had two cupholders in the center console, and the rear seat had a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. The Limited trim’s ambient lighting system added flair to the cabin.

The 2021 Honda HR-V’s base LX trim came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport trim and higher levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was considered small, and many competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features across all trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid’s tech was consistently good but sometimes frustrating. The 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim looked great with the native software but only utilized about 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The interface controls for the infotainment and HVAC were touch-capacitive buttons, which could be frustrating to use. However, the Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, including two for rear-seat passengers, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it got “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. The HR-V’s EX and EX-L trims included Honda Sensing safety features, such as forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and more.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The IIHS awarded the Tucson a Top Safety Pick+, while the NHTSA had yet to test the 2022 model.