2023 Hyundai Tucson Interior and Cargo

Hyundai has taken great strides to improve the interior quality and feel of the new Tucson, and considering the old model already felt great, it means the new one is better than ever. While the base model makes do with stain-resistant cloth in black or gray and relatively hardy surfaces, available from the mid-spec SEL and standard on the Hybrid SEL is H-Tex leatherette upholstery. Reserved for the N Line and Limited are leather seats, a leather steering wheel, and a leather-wrapped shift lever, although only two color choices remain. N Line models benefit from black leather-and-fabric combination seats and red accents throughout the cabin.

The increased wheelbase has resulted not just in increased passenger comfort but also cargo space. With the rear seats in place, the maximum cargo capacity of the ICE model is 41.2 cubic feet. The HEV has 38.7 cubes of space, while the PHEV drops down to 31.9 cubic feet due to the battery placement. With the rear seats folded flat, the cargo capacity increases to 74.8 cubes in the ICE cars, 74.5 cubes in the HEV, and 66.3 in the PHEV.

Interior storage consists of a fixed armrest storage box and a tray, dual cupholders for front passengers, a storage tray beneath the center console, and a rear coat hanger. Rear passengers get dual cupholders mounted within the center seat seatback. Door pockets are sizable all-round.

The base SE specification is equipped with a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, manual air-conditioning, remote release rear seats, a rearview camera with dynamic parking lines, a manually tilting and telescoping steering column, cruise control, a 4.2-inch multi-information display in the hooded analog instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, pedestrian detection, and keyless entry. SEL/Blue specifications are mostly the same and add an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a hands-free power liftgate, dual second-row USB charging ports, dual-zone climate control (SEL with Convenience package), and push-button start. Top-tier models offer an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, and remote park assist.

At the entry point to the Tucson range, the SE trim is equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, dual front USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system. SEL, Blue, N-Line, and Limited derivatives use a larger 10.25-inch display and add SiriusXM and Bluelink. N-Line and Limited trims are equipped with an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system.

Both the eight- and 10.25-inch screens are remarkably clear and, along with the dash screen, are bright enough not to need shrouds to protect them from glare. They're also snappy and responsive and access Hyundai's intuitive interface. The lack of a volume knob could turn out to be contentious, as Honda found out, and is about the only design criticism we could find worth voicing. Another oddity is that only the base eight-inch setup comes with wireless smartphone mirroring; on the 10.25-inch infotainment system, your Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wired.