Hybrid Hyundai Tucson is crossover SUV overload

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- There are seemingly zillions of compact crossover sport-utility vehicles out there.  Automakers are producing them faster than Cheerios.  So, what do you want?

My guess is that most want something stylish, dependable, comfortable, loaded with standard perks, peppy, value-laden and capable of bypassing gas stations for hours at a time.

Which means you might be looking for the recently tested 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited Hybrid AWD.

Thoroughly reworked for the 2022 model year, Hyundai went out of its way to provide something for all tastes.  For compact crossover SUV shoppers, this Tucson is the buffet line of your dreams.

The shape is decidedly sporty.  On the front end, the winged, jewel-like grille incorporates LED lights for an eye-catching look straight out of Tiffany & Co.  In profile, the Tucson is sleek, accented by a long hood for this segment.  Rear lights span the entire width of the back end, with nice angular cuts emphasizing the lighting scheme.

Hyundai calls it "Sensuous Sportiness."  Sure, I'll bite.

Interior space is more plentiful in the new Tucson, and the instrument layout is top-notch.

My tester included an all-touch 10.25-inch screen, which made navigation a quick-look snap.

It had a bottom line of $38,730, a bit hefty even with the hybrid technology.  But get this: everything on the tested vehicle was standard.  And everything was a full boat.

Standard perks included a panoramic sunroof, leather-trimmed seats, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, smart cruise control, a hands-free power liftgate and multiple vehicle monitors.

Yes, this is a Hyundai product, not a Mercedes-Benz.

On my Tucson, power was provided by a 1.6-liter turbo-4 hybrid engine with a robust horsepower rating of 226.  That translated to aggressive starts off the line and a satisfying bump on freeway entrance ramps.  The Tucson effortlessly moved in and around tight groupings of traffic on city streets and busy freeways.

With the hybrid system, all that power comes guilt-free.  The tester was rated at 37 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

In sum, this is the compact crossover SUV in full.  In a very competitive segment, the 2022 Tucson has earned a spot on the podium.