As the MB Sustainability Forum Project Head, it was not lost on me that I had not yet made the shift to electric or hybrid to embark on a greener lifestyle. To be perfectly honest, the ‘pause’ was for reasons beyond having to prioritize my living expenses, as there was a nagging reservation about electric vis-a-vis the infrastructure here in the Philippines. If an EV was to be the only car I’d be using; I felt it was still premature to make that drastic a move. Issa (Litton) drives a Toyota Cross hybrid; and by all accounts, is extremely happy with it.
I liked the lines of the new model Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and have a great friend in Atty. Anna Lyne San Juan-Ponferrada of the Prince Motor Corporation. Their Hyundai - Commonwealth dealership has consistently gone beyond the call of duty in service, and ‘spoiling’ their clients. So I started inquiring about the Tucson Hybrid, and my reading up on the 2025 model had me generally encouraged about its performance and efficiency. So I was really excited to own my very first hybrid.
Beyond the obvious advantage of being exempt from coding and consuming much less fuel, it does feel good to have taken that step on making a contribution, no matter how small, to reducing carbon emissions and adopting a more sustainable outlook as a consumer.
I’ll engage in standard ‘car-talk’ later in this feature, but for now, let’s first discuss my subjective first impressions!
First impressions
With your first hybrid or EV, the thing you’ll have to get used to is the silence when you start the car! You don’t get the sound of the engine starting, the motor running, and the ‘humming’ while idling. This one is especially disorienting when it’s time to shut down the car, as there have been instances when I’ve stepped out of the car and walked away, only to realize I’ve not turned the car ‘off’. So there’s that embarrassing turn around, and a sheepish heading back to the car.
Safety seems to be an obsession with EV’s and hybrids, and this is especially true with the Tucson Hybrid. The E-motion drive system produces a diverse range of ‘bells and whistles’ that alert you to a myriad of circumstances. It’s like the car is saying, “You can’t say I didn’t warn you!” And honestly, it does take some adjusting if you’ve been driving regular cars a lot; which is me, as I don’t have a driver.
When you’ve stopped at an intersection, waiting for the light to change, if the car ahead of you starts moving, there’s a sign that lights up with an alert noise. If you have cars or motorcycles getting too close from any angle, indicators light up, also signaled by a chirp. Same thing if you start swerving or changing lanes, and this one I found a little distracting at first, as the car tries to right itself, and avoid the swerve. And when you’re in reverse, there’s a hum that envelopes the car, similar to the sound you’d imagine an aura would make, only going silent when you get out of the reverse gear.
So it’s chirps, bells and whistles, and things lighting up in the dashboard — all done with intent and purpose, connected to safety and an early warning policy. The technical term for all this is the Hyundai Smartsense suite — advanced driving assist systems that include Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Specs and features
The Tucson Hybrid is a 1.6-liter, four cylinder T-GDI engine that’s been paired with a 47.7 kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWH lithium-ion battery pack. It’s a front wheel drive with a six-speed automatic transmission. And that would be my version of ‘car-talk’; practically gibberish to me, but I know there are many who’d be nodding their heads right now.
Aesthetically, there’s a refreshed exterior design. The parametric grille has more angular lines and LED daytime running lights. Giving a wider appearance thanks to tweaking, are the headlight housing and lower part of the bumper. Decorative skid plates have now been integrated into the rear bumper molding, complimented by a new 19-inch alloy wheel design.
Seat yourself inside the Tucson Hybrid, and there’s a refreshed dashboard design — the display for the infotainment and information cluster are housed in 12.3-inch displays. And in terms of smartphone connectivity, there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless charging and multiple USB-C ports. The car comfortably seats five, with good leg room for the rear seats. There’s a retractable sun roof; and a climate control system equipped with dual knobs and a touch-sensitive panel. There’s an option for the AC to operate on a Driver Only basis.
It’s been less than a month using the Tucson Hybrid, and since I’m so bad with manuals, I’m certain there are many features I’m not even aware of. So while there’s still a world of discovery to look forward to; I can already say I’m very happy to have made the move to go hybrid!