Katamereka Cars – Picture three Tucsons parked side by side at a dealership: gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. They look almost the same, but the window stickers range from about $29,000 to well over $40,000, and the EPA ratings differ just as much.
This review covers the 2026 Tucson sold in the US, using Hyundai’s official price sheets (September 2025, updated by a June 2026 release), EPA ratings and published crash-test results. It’s the current model on sale, though Hyundai has already unveiled an all-new Tucson, so expect a redesign soon.
Three Powertrains, Three Price Points
The gas Tucson uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic, while the hybrid and plug-in hybrid pair a 1.6-liter turbo engine with an electric motor. The all-wheel-drive hybrids use a 6-speed automatic, and the new front-drive hybrid trims use an 8-speed. Gas models come in front- or all-wheel drive.
| Version | Starting MSRP | EPA combined |
|---|---|---|
| Gas SE FWD | $29,200 | 28 mpg |
| Gas SE AWD | $30,700 | 26 mpg |
| Hybrid SE FWD | $30,950 | Not yet listed |
| Hybrid Blue SE AWD | $32,200 | 38 mpg |
| Plug-in Hybrid SEL AWD | $40,075 | 35 mpg (gas only) |
Hyundai adds a $1,600 freight charge to every model, so the cheapest Tucson costs $30,800 before taxes (our calculation). The front-drive hybrid trims arrived in June 2026, and their EPA ratings weren’t posted on fueleconomy.gov when we checked.
The Hybrid Is the Easy Pick
The all-wheel-drive Hybrid Blue SE costs $1,500 more than a gas SE AWD. For that, the EPA rating rises from 26 mpg (9.0 L/100 km) to 38 mpg (6.2 L/100 km).
Say you drive 12,000 miles a year. That’s about 462 gallons for the gas AWD model and about 316 for the Hybrid Blue, roughly 146 gallons saved each year (our calculation).
The other all-wheel-drive hybrid trims are rated 36 mpg combined (6.5 L/100 km).
When the Plug-In Makes Sense
The plug-in hybrid can drive about 32 miles (51 km) on electricity, according to the EPA. After that, it runs as a hybrid rated at 35 mpg.
That works best if you can charge at home and most daily trips are short. At $40,075, it costs $7,875 more than the Hybrid Blue SE, so the savings depend heavily on how much you drive on electricity.
Trims Worth Knowing About
The XRT is sold only with the gas engine and starts at $33,225 with front-wheel drive. The Limited is the luxury trim, and in hybrid form it starts at $41,825.
The Hybrid Night, added in June 2026, builds on the Limited with gloss-black wheels and trim, a black headliner, leather seats, a 12-inch head-up display and Bose audio. Hyundai lists it at $44,175 including freight.
Safety Ratings
IIHS lists the 2026 Tucson as a Top Safety Pick+. It earned Good ratings in the small overlap, updated moderate overlap and updated side tests, though the updated moderate overlap rating applies only to vehicles built after March 2024.
Headlights differ by trim. The Limited’s LED projector lights are rated Good, while SE, SEL and XRT headlights are rated Acceptable. NHTSA gave the gas and hybrid Tucson 5 stars overall for 2026.
Should You Wait for the New One
But is it smart to buy a model that’s about to be replaced? It can be, if you find a good deal and like the current design.
If I were buying today, I’d pick the Hybrid Blue SE AWD for its 38 mpg rating and modest price premium over gas.
This review doesn’t cover the all-new Tucson, because Hyundai hadn’t announced its US pricing or EPA ratings at the time of writing.
Prices, specifications, trims and availability vary by model year and market and can change at any time. Check the manufacturer’s official site or an authorized dealer before you buy.
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