New Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale from £39,330
Bold new-look SUV now offers hybrid, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and conventional powertrains
The introduction of a new plug-in hybrid powertrain option for the new, Mk4 Hyundai Tucson means the SUV offers "the widest range of electrified powertrains in its class".
The radically overhauled SUV - revealed earlier this year ahead of a market launch at the beginning of 2021 - is also available with mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines and a 227bhp hybrid powertrain.
The new plug-in hybrid system is priced from £39,990 in entry-level Premium trim and £42,030 in top-rung Ultimate guise. It uses a 177bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 90bhp electric motor for combined outputs of 261bhp and 258lb ft - matching the mechanically identical new Kia Sorento PHEV.
Electric power comes from an underfloor 13.8kWh lithium ion polymer battery, which Hyundai claims offer up to 31 miles of zero-emissions running.
The car is equipped with a 7.2kW onboard charger, and while Hyundai has yet to confirm official charge times, charging from empty to full should take around two hours from a 7kW wallbox.
Drive is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox, with the electric element taking over propulsion duties automatically at low speeds, or on demand via a driving mode selector.
The four-wheel-drive system means the Tucson PHEV is equipped as standard with a Terrain Mode selector that varies power delivery to each axle according to driving conditions, optimising traction and stability.
Save for the addition of a charging port, the Tucson PHEV will be largely identical to the conventionally fuelled car, both inside and out, though a price premium is to be expected to account for the added functionality.
Customer deliveries of the plug-in car will begin in the coming weeks. Full WLTP-certified CO2 and consumption data will be published when the homologation process is complete.
*READ MORE*
*Hyundai Tucson review*
*Kia details plug-in hybrid Sorento ahead of 2021 debut*
