Difference between the 2021 Ultimate Hybrid and the 2023 Ultimate Hybrid

[Tealover]

Hi. We had a 2021 Ultimate Hybrid (230 hp) which was stolen and so we have replaced in with a 2023 Ultimate MHD hybrid.

The 2021 model had an electric motor which would cut in and take over driving the car for a mile or two, if the battery was sufficiently charged (more than 50%), and the road was level or downhill. That car achieved about 45 mpg.

The replacement 2023 model has a 48 volt battery, but it does not appear to "cut-in" like on the 2021 model and simply supplements the performance of the petrol engine. It looks like the car achieves about 35 mpg.

Does anyone know why Hyundai made this change?

(The 2021 model seems better for fuel economy - it seems odd that Hyundai would want to make a change to the Tucson range that results in worse fuel economy)

[Deleted User 1711]

Hyundai have not changed the range between 2021-early 2024, I say this as a new facelift model has just become available.

You have not got a like for like model. The Ultimate model comes in petrol only, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plugin variants. Your 2021 was a Ultimate full hybrid (HEV), your 2023 is the mild hybrid (MHEV) which does not have an electric motor like the full hybrid and so will not get the same economy as the 2021 model.